Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has launched what the the Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homeless charity, is calling its ‘most important Christmas appeal ever’.

The charity, which expects to support over 10,000 people in 2021, said it has experienced one of the most challenging fundraising years in its history and now needs to get public support to keep their important work going heading into the Christmas period.

Peter McVerry Trust’s fundraising appeal is using the theme ‘Live Simply, Share Generously’, a quote from Fr Peter McVerry’s interview with Tommy Tiernan on RTÉ earlier in the year.

Stephen Kenny, the manager of the Irish men’s football team, launched the appeal at the charity’s latest social housing scheme a few hundred metres from the Aviva Stadium, on Haddington Road, where the charity has created 18 social housing apartments by refurbishing two vacant buildings. Tenants will now be moving into these homes in time for Christmas.

Stephen Kenny said: “I’m delighted to be able to help Peter and the Peter McVerry Trust launch their Christmas Fundraising Appeal this year. I have huge admiration for the work Peter McVerry Trust does with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities for many years.

"I sincerely hope that the public will come out and back this appeal so that the charity can raise the money it needs to continue to support people right across Ireland. “I’m delighted to be able to launch the 2021 Christmas Fundraising appeal from the charity’s latest social housing project only minutes from the Aviva Stadium. These apartments are an example of how Peter McVerry Trust is delivering solutions to the challenges they and the people they support face on a daily basis.”

Fr Peter McVerry said: "We are delighted that Stephen Kenny has launched our Christmas Fundraising Appeal 2021. We know that Stephen has used his profile to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness on many occasions. We are grateful to him for giving up his time at such short notice as he approaches what is an exceptionally busy period for him.

“I hope that the public will support us in any way they can. We fully appreciate that many have faced incredibly difficult times and do so on a daily basis, as we see this in our work every day. However, for many in society they remain in a place of relative comfort and we hope that they appreciate the message in living simply and giving generously.”

The public can support the charity’s appeal by visiting www.pmvtrust.ie or calling 01 823 0776.