Focus Ireland founder Sister Stanislaus Kennedy dies aged 86

Kenneth Fox

Social justice campaigner and homelessness advocate Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, known to many as Sr Stan, has died aged 86.

She died on Monday morning after a short time at the St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.

Born Treasa Kennedy on June 19th, 1939, near Lispole, on the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry, Sr Stan was one of five children as part of a farming family.

At the age of 18, she joined the Sisters of Charity and was professed in January 1960. She was based in Co Kilkenny initially, where she spent 20 years developing social services.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a master’s in social policy from University College Dublin, graduating in 1969 and 1980, respectively.

She spent a year with a group of eight young women who were homeless, living with them on the top floor of a building that she had rented out on Eustace Street in Dublin.

In September 1984, her study was published, and heeding the women’s advice, she established Focus Ireland (then Focus Point) at the end of the following year as “a point in Dublin for homeless people, a point where people could get their life together”.

She founded the Immigrant Council of Ireland in 2001. In a statement, their chief executive, Teresa Buczkowska said: "Sr. Stan, as we affectionately knew her, was a courageous and intrepid woman.

"She established many social justice initiatives to address the challenges of her time, but she was always thinking about the future. Sr. Stan understood how important it is for every human being to have a sense of home, and the challenges facing migrants in a new country.

"With this in mind, she funded the Immigrant Council of Ireland to ensure that everyone who makes Ireland home feels that they belong. Sr. Stan was pivotal to our success as an organisation. She helped us and guided us in more ways than we can describe.

"As a migrant woman myself, I am immensely proud to continue her legacy through the work of the Immigrant Council, but we will miss her guidance, courage, and strength. I will miss her.’

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, also released a statement and said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sr Stanislaus Kennedy - a passionate advocate for helping those in need.

"In 1985, she founded Focus Point, now known as Focus Ireland, to support those experiencing homelessness. I met her many times over the years and always admired her tireless advocacy and her ability to inform policy. She had great energy.

"She was a true Christian who dedicated her life to helping those on the margins. My thoughts and prayers are with Sr Stan’s family and friends at this time."