Hundreds of people attended a vigil for homeless woman, Ann Delaney, in Aungier Street in Dublin last night: where they sang her favourite song, Aslan’s ‘Crazy World’, released red balloons, and remembered the former nurse as a woman who wrote poetry and “always had a smile” despite her difficulties.
“We love you Ann.. this is for you,” those gathered called out, as the Aslan song was sang by those gathered.
“This is simply lovely. Little did Ann know when she was going through the rough of it, that her spirit didn’t flounder in fact it was infectious. She made an impression on those who walked pass her. A beautiful soul remembered in a touching manner,” wrote one woman on X. Others praised the vigil as “moving” and “affirming”.
Organizers of the vigil said they also wanted to send “all our love” to the woman’s family who are understood to have attempted to intervene over the years to help Ms Delaney who had suffered from mental health problems and then alcoholism.
vigil for Ann Delaney on Aungier Street RIP Ann shame on this government credit, @robbiekane74 @DublinLive for covering this and the fantastic work Chris does, @run_soup89131 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YBfkEsAEPo
— The Irish Fox 🦊 (@Lad10Irish) February 26, 2024
Volunteers at the Liberty Soup Run, who provide assistance to homeless people in Dublin, say that they wanted to remember Ann as a “special lady”, at the memorial service held at 8pm last night after an outpouring of sadness at the news that the woman died while sleeping rough at the weekend.
Flowers, candles, mementoes and mass cards have been left at the spot where she died throughout the day yesterday, with memories of Ms Delaney being shared online.
Activists from the soup run said that they were feeding up a hundred people a night and that the government needed to do more to provide housing and services for homeless people.
That reaffirmed my faith in humanity.
Need to get a plaque put up in her memory #Annie pic.twitter.com/YP2SeSKJ2d
— Michael D Macauley 🍉 (@MDMA_9) February 26, 2024
Those who remembered her also posted memories online of a “lovely” woman, while one man remembered a poem Ann had written and given to him. Speaking to Dublin Live, one woman remembered stopping regularly to have a chat or say a prayer with Ann.
Another woman, Sarah, who read a poem dedicated to Ann, called The Queen of Our Streets, remembered that Ms Delaney kept her sense of dignity by offering something in return for a request: “she would never ask for something without giving something in return; she’d say could you get me a newspaper and I’ll write you a poem or tell you a story about my day.”
We paused for a moment at the dedication to Ann, a poor, cheated, homeless lady who died on Aungier St.
Some mother's child.
My wife chatted to her most days.
A lovely, lost creature.
God, a toss of a coin can determine life's journey.
Bullshit aside, it's heartbreaking
RIP Ann pic.twitter.com/g9QNvTcikW— Roy Curtis (@RoyCurtis68) February 26, 2024
I saw this lady a few times over the last few weeks. I saw her on Saturday afternoon a few hours before she passed, there was someone sat with her. talking to her. We really do need to do a much better job of looking after each other. RIP Ann. https://t.co/mzAbQi0apo
— Joe Dunne (@joedotdunne) February 26, 2024
I kept a handwritten poem from her that she gave me last year. Just saw her there on Thursday. Very sad. RIP Ann. https://t.co/OjqbqGTXwg
— Duane Doogan (@DuaneDoogan) February 26, 2024