Book of condolence for ‘pioneering force’

A book of condolence has been opened in City Hall for Sr Stan who passed away this week.

The social justice campaigner and founder of homeless charity Focus Ireland, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy from Dingle, died on Monday.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy described her as one of Ireland’s most compassionate and visionary voices. “Sr Stan was a pioneering force in social justice who dedicated her life to the service of the homeless, the marginalised, and the forgotten. Her work was rooted in empathy and action.

“Her legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Irish society, most notably through the founding of Focus Ireland in 1985, an organisation that transformed the national response to homelessness and gave dignity and hope to thousands.

“Her groundbreaking research into homelessness among women revealed truths that had long been ignored, and she responded not with outrage alone, but with solutions.”

He added: “She was never afraid to speak truth to power. Her voice was steady, her convictions unwavering, and her compassion boundless.

“She leaves behind a legacy of courage, kindness, and transformative change.

“Her work will continue through the organisations she founded and the countless lives she touched.”

She was also the founder of the Immigrant Council of Ireland whose CEO Teresa Buczkowska said: “Sr Stan, as we affectionately knew her, was a courageous and intrepid woman. She established many social justice initiatives to address the challenges of her time, but she was always thinking about the future. Sr Stan understood how important it is for every human being to have a sense of home, and the challenges facing migrants in a new country.”

The book of condolence can be signed by the public in the atrium of Cork City Hall Civic Offices, Anglesea Street, between 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday until 14 November.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.