Ballyfermot Building Blocks-Joe Duffy Returns Home To Help Out
Updated : Jun 19, 2009
RTE broadcaster Joe ‘it’s up on me screen’ Duffy will return to the place were he grew up to assist in a home building project for families facing crisis in Ballyfermot.
Habitat for Humanity Ireland, a non-profit housing organisation, is set to break the ground on its biggest building project to date.
Construction on 16 three-bed homes in the Elmdale area of Ballyfermot is due to begin in a matter of weeks, The Evening Herald reports.
The charity has already built five houses in Ballymun and eight refurbishments have been completed since it first came to Ireland. And a spokesman for the organisation confirmed that Joe Duffy and Finbar Furey will attend a launch ceremony on June 25.
“Joe is a local lad, he grew up in Ballyfermot. We're delighted that he has been able to come on board,†the spokesman said.
“We hope he will be able to put the first few bricks down. He has been tremendous at opening doors for us in the area.â€
The charity, which was established in 1976 in America, builds inexpensive housing with the help of local communities, who offer services in decorating, gardening or whatever way they can.
Homeowners are selected to partner with Habitat for Humanity Ireland, based on a particular set of criteria, and must commit to 500 hours ‘Sweat Equity', putting their time into the building of their home.
The land for the project in Ballyfermot was donated by Dublin City Council and eligible applicants must be on its housing list.
Like Joe Duffy VeryHappyPig never forgot it's roots. VHP always returns home to help mess up the pig stye he grew up in!
