Last chorus as Cork's Martin Leahy ends marathon Dáil housing protest

After four years of weekly protests outside Leinster House, Cork housing activist and singer Martin Leahy has finished up after 200 lunchtime performances.

Once a week since May 2022, come rain, shine, or even a visit from then US president Joe Biden, Martin Leahy travelled from Cork to Dublin’s Kildare St to perform his song ‘Everyone Should Have A Home’. Mr Leahy said it has been a very enriching experience and 200 seemed a good number on which to finish.

“It’s been brilliant being part of the huge, positive community of housing activists, but I also feel very angry and frustrated at the Government, that people would have to do this at all, give up their time to fight for such a basic human right,” he said.

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said Mr Leahy was owed a debt of gratitude for highlighting homelessness in such a dignified and compassionate way.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Mr Leahy’s protest had been inspiring and put the Government to shame.