Services

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ONE supports the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless veterans and the provision of other advice and support through its nationwide network of Branches and Veteran Support Centres.

Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel-ONE) is a registered charity for veterans of the Irish Defence Forces. ONE was established on 10 March 1951 and its primary objective is to support the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless veterans in its Veterans’ Homes and the provision of other advice and support to veterans through its nationwide network of Branches and Veterans’ Support Centres.

ONE’s services are available to all veterans of the Defence Forces and we also facilitate homeless veterans from other countries living in Ireland from time to time. ONE currently provides accommodation (board and lodging) for approximately 51 veterans, who otherwise would be homeless, in its four residential homes in Cobh, Athlone, Dublin and Letterkenny. ONE has created a nationwide network of Veteran’s Support Centres and is developing a 6-bedroom facility in Cork City leading to the availability of 57 single rooms for homeless veterans.

The foundation of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉIreann (ONE) is its branch structure. There are currently 38 Branches within ONE together with three Area Councils, with each branch being aligned to one of these. This provides a unique network for our volunteer members to maintain contact with veterans and provide assistance where necessary. Comradeship is at the heart of our branch network and uses the term comrade deliberately because it evokes a sense of shared experience, a shared culture, a shared set of values, and a willingness to serve.  Being part of a veterans’ association helps preserve a sense of identity and a sense of belonging.  It also evokes a sense of shared responsibility for those less fortunate than us.

Veterans' Support Centres

ONE is developing a nationwide network of Veteran’s Support Centres to provide veterans with information, advice, someone to listen and somewhere to meet with former comrades. These can be described as a cross between Advice Centres and Men’s / Women’s Sheds. It is hoped that by providing early intervention, we can alleviate social stresses and significantly reduce homelessness among veterans. Veteran Support Centres, staffed by volunteer members from our branches, are now located in: Custume Barracks (Athlone); Athy; Casement Aerodrome; Cavan; Curragh Camp (Kildare); Aiken Barracks (Dundalk); Finner Camp (Donegal); Dún Ui Mhaoilíosa (Galway); Stephens Barracks (Kilkenny); Limerick; McKee Barracks (Dublin); Collins Barracks (Cork); Cathal Brugha Barracks (Dublin) and Cobh (Cork). Work is underway to complete further Veteran Support Centre in Wexford. A decision is awaited on the location of the Centre in the North-West. Of the fifteen Veteran Support Centres, eleven are located within a Defence Forces installation, with four located outside – Athy, Cavan, Cobh and Limerick.

Homes for Veterans

The provision of accommodation and sustenance for homeless veterans is achieved through our homes as follows:`

Brú na bhFiann, our Dublin Home, is located in Smithfield and has facilities for 35 veterans. The House Managers Richard/Sinead may be contacted on 01 485 0600.

Brú Doire Feá (Beechwood House), our Donegal Home, is located in Letterkenny and has facilities for 6 veterans. The House Manager Aiden may be contacted on 074 917 7219 or 086 603 9063.

Brú Chostúim (Custume House), our Westmeath Home, is located in Athlone and has facilities for 5 veterans. The House Manager Paddy may be contacted on 090-6450930 or 086 335 9583.

Brú na Farraige, our County Cork Home which opened in October 2021, is located in Cobh and has facilities for 5 veterans. The House Manager John may be contacted on 083 088 2933.

Brú uí Choileáin, our Cork City Home is being planned and will have facilities for 6 veterans.

Support

The following additional services are available to veterans

ONE employs four Veteran Support Officers (VSOs) to develop a counselling service for veterans in partnership with the HSE.  They can be contacted here – Head Office VSO: Steven Shields, 086 138 0825, or email: HQVSO@oneconnect.ie and Brú na bhFiann VSO: Tony Stafford, 087 280 8750 or email onecaseworker1@gmail.com. Cork/Kerry VSO, Audra Larkin 085 218 2620 / email: cork-kerryvso@oneconnect.ie. Our fourth VSO in the South Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow area will be announced soon.

ONE completed a training/education course for Branch Welfare Officers in 2020 and in 2022. ONE conducted two Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Courses in 2022, one course in Dublin, one in Clonmel and another scheduled for Co Cork in March 2023. These courses were open to veterans from all organisations. Over seventy veterans have been trained as MHFA in 2019, and 2022 and are operating throughout the country. It is intended to run further training/education courses.

ONE is cooperating with Section-38 Hospitals to create a pathway for veterans who need long-term The first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Royal Hospital Donnybrook in 2019. Having met the Leopardstown Park Hospital Board together with IUNVA and ARCO, they are now considering an MOU between the Hospital and ONE. Discussions had also commenced with Clontarf Hospital but an arranged meeting had to be postponed due to Government restrictions and HSE COVID-19 protocols.

ONE initiated a strategy to ensure that we are a diverse and inclusive Veteran’s Organisation that: draws from the breadth of those who served in the Defence Forces; gains strength from that range of knowledge, experience and talent; and welcomes, respects and values the unique contribution of every individual.

Advocacy

ONE unashamedly advocates in support of veterans, particularly on behalf of those who are less fortunate. The majority of veterans, irrespective of the length of service, are very successful in new careers or happy in retirement.  However, there is quite a number who need help from time to time. There is a dual challenge in providing this help: ignorance of the issue and ignoring the issue. Both of these have to be addressed. The Sleeping Flags Awareness Campaign, launched in February of 2019, was aimed at those who were ignorant of the plight of some of our veterans. We must constantly work on awareness and ensure that those who are aware don’t just ignore the issuers involved.

One Branches

The foundation of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉIreann (ONE) is its branch structure. There are currently 38 Branches within ONE together with three Area Councils, with each branch being aligned to one of these. This provides a unique network for our volunteer members to maintain contact with veterans and provide assistance where necessary. Comradeship is at the heart of our branch network and uses the term comrade deliberately because it evokes a sense of shared experience, a shared culture, a shared set of values, and a willingness to serve.  Being part of a veterans’ association helps preserve a sense of identity and a sense of belonging.  It also evokes a sense of shared responsibility for those less fortunate than us.