Dublin Simon client Shane Byrne set to participate in the 2024 Homeless World Cup

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Wishing the best of luck to one of our clients, Shane Byrne, who has been selected to participate in this year’s Homeless World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, from the 21st to the 28th of September. Growing up, football was always a passion for Shane, but he never imagined having an opportunity to represent his country. Behind this amazing achievement are the immense challenges he faced while experiencing homelessness. Despite the many obstacles, his dedication, determination, and resilience have brought him to this moment of triumph. 

“When I was homeless, it was rough. I had nowhere to call home. I was always living in fear and looking over my shoulder. My drug addiction was bad and I didn’t want to stop. I wasn’t living, I was just existing. I knew that there was something better than this, and when I started looking for help, I was getting it. I went back to treatment, attended a day programme, and got referred to Ellen Hall, one of Dublin Simon’s Recovery Services.   

The staff there was brilliant and the support that they gave me was unbelievable. They saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Being in Ellen Hall helped me to regain structure and get a routine back in place, which motivated me to start playing football again. My friend got me into the Irish Homeless Street League and from that point onwards, I never missed a training session. I was invited to attend trials for the Ireland squad for 5 weeks, every Saturday. I didn’t think I was going to get picked because I didn’t believe in myself. But I kept showing up and all the staff kept pushing me and supporting me along the way. Eventually, I did the trials, and I got selected. When I received the news, I was delighted.  

Now, I can’t wait to go. I’m living for it. I’ll be competing against different countries and teams, all coming from the same background as me. Apart from the health benefits, playing football has given me a sense of belonging and hope for the future. I have made great friends, and I feel like I am part of a family.” 

We could not be prouder of Shane – we know his journey will inspire many others! When he is back in Ireland, he also looks forward to participating in our Home Run event, taking place on Saturday 5th October. 

#DublinSimon #HomelessWorldCup #Seoul2024HomelessWorldCup #Seoul2024HWC #SuccessStory