Residents of the north inner city might be familiar with the occasional early morning sight of Capuchin Friars wearing their traditional brown habits making their way past rows of red brick cottages, offering pastoral care to the local community, including the practical supports provided through the Capuchin Day Centre.

When it started back in 1969, the centre catered to 50 males on daily basis – and later started to also see families coming through its door. They provide on average 350 hot breakfasts and 550 lunches each day. The mission is simple - no one goes hungry - but there’s a suite of other services on site, with everything from haircuts and showers to clinical services available.

A recent €10,000 donation from Fórsa will directly support these essential services, helping the Capuchin Day Centre continue its mission of care, compassion and practical support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Founded by Capuchin Friar Brother Kevin Crowley and inspired by the spirit and values of St Francis of Assisi, the Day Centre was established to relieve the hardship faced by people who were homeless or struggling to meet their basic needs. Over more than five decades, it has grown into one of Ireland’s most respected and trusted frontline services for those in need.

A core principle of the Capuchin Day Centre is dignity and respect. Everyone who comes through its doors is treated as a guest and welcomed without judgement. Support is offered on a “no questions asked” basis, ensuring that no one goes hungry or is turned away.

Fr. Kevin Kiernan, Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap), current Capuchin Director of the Day Centre is passionate about the work, saying: “Core to the Day Centre’s mission is the absolute unconditionality of access to the majority of services irrespective of age, race, gender, nationality and religious or political beliefs.”

The Centre continues to be guided by the Irish Capuchin Friars, who remain actively involved in its daily life, helping ensure that the Centre’s services reflect both its charitable mission and high standards of care. In August 2022, Fr. Kevin Kiernan became Capuchin Director, taking over from Brother Kevin Crowley following his retirement. Alongside a skilled team of professional staff and a large group of dedicated volunteers, the Day Centre relies in no small part on public support in the form of financial contributions to meet the high demand for its services.  

Fr. Kevin expressed his gratitude for the recent donation received from Fórsa : “We rely on the public for the vast majority of the funds needed to run these services. We are very grateful for the generous donation from Fórsa last December– it is thanks to the generosity and compassion of supporters like you that we can continue to open our doors to anyone seeking support and a warm welcome. It means we can offer a hot meal, along with many other essential practical supports and hopefully our guests, adults and families from all walks of life, also feel a sense of belonging and community.”

The scale of the Centre’s work is significant. In 2025 alone, it provided 331,300 hot meals to adults and families and distributed more than 77,300 food parcels. Its family services provided 6,545 infant packs containing basic care essentials like nappies and formula milk to families. The Day Centre also provided over 7,500 showers for people sleeping rough and 189 onsite haircuts with the voluntary support of Haircuts for the Homeless. In partnership with SafetyNet, the Day Centre supported 3,434 people through clinics, including GP, nursing, chiropody and dentistry.

Speaking about the donation, Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said: “As a union we advocate for a fairer, more equal and inclusive society. We are proud to support organisations that care for vulnerable members of our communities at times of great need. The Capuchin Day Centre is a remarkable organisation without which many people would suffer greatly."

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