Bringing together two of people's greatest loves, music and football, through the city's original football club and Dublin's biggest band in years, Bohemian FC have unveiled their 2021 away jersey in conjunction with music group Fontaines DC and Focus Ireland, with a design that highlights the unacceptable level of homelessness across the Irish state.
Irish football team Bohemian FC are a rare beast in the sense that they are very self aware, both of the wider world and of their responsibility within it. They aim to have a net positive impact on society and are acutely aware of their obligation to use football as a force for good whenever possible. And so it is that they have used the platform of their away shirt to put out a message highlighting the unacceptable level of homelessness across the Irish state. To achieve this they have partnered with Grammy Nominee artists Fontaines DC and Focus Ireland, the latter of which have been working on tackling homelessness for over 35 years.
The jersey pays homage to Dublin and Ireland in its design, which features Celtic knotwork, the Poolbeg towers, Grattan Bridge lamps, the 'Dublin in the rain is mine' Fontaines lyric, and Patrick Pearse's quote 'Beware of the Risen People' from the wall of Kilmainham Gaol. This quote embodies the human spirit and that there is hope for everyone even when at their lowest ebb. 15% of the jersey profits will go to Focus Ireland.
Daniel Lambert, Bohemian FC, Chief Operating Officer (COO): "With massive thanks to Des Kelly Interiors, it is brilliant to link up with Fontaines DC who are no strangers to Dalymount Park, and Focus Ireland who do such essential work combatting homelessness across the country.
"We know that football and music both have enormous power to reach people and engage people. Homelessness is not something that must exist, it can, and it should be solved, and we need to ensure as a society that it is not normalised and accepted."
Tom Coll, Fontaines DC drummer, said: "We're extremely proud to be a part of the new Bohs kit in conjunction with Focus Ireland as they are two organisations that we hold very close to our hearts.
"Bohemians and the work they do on a social inclusion, humanitarian and the community development level is something that we are proud to support in any way that we can. We used to rehearse in a little shed in Phibsborough years ago and the spirit surrounding Bohs is something that we found both welcoming and a true necessity to forward thinking, socially conscious action on a community level."
"We've worked with Focus Ireland in the past and we've found them to be a genuinely amazing charity in their work both on a grassroots level and also in the battle to shape adequate policy on sustainable housing provision for people who need it."
"Anyone living in Dublin city knows that the homeless crisis has gotten to the stage where large scale government action is needed immediately and without question. We hope that this kit can raise some money for Focus Ireland to work towards a fairer Ireland for everyone.”
Pick up the Bohemian FC 2021 away shirt at shop-bohemianfc.com
