Ennis Artist Launches Mobile Shower Service to Support Homeless Community
photo: Andrey_Popov
Every Monday and Friday morning from 10am, artist Fiona Faulkes sets up a mobile shower unit at Friars Walk bus park in Ennis to support people experiencing homelessness. The initiative, which began in August 2025, provides homeless individuals with access to basic hygiene facilities that were previously unavailable in the town. According to homelessness charity Mid West Simon, there are around 14 people sleeping rough in Ennis at any given time, although that number can change depending on weather conditions and other factors.
Ms Faulkes was inspired to create the service after her own experience of homelessness while living in London for five years. During that time, she understood first-hand the difficulties faced by people without access to proper washing facilities. After moving to Ennis and raising her children, she wanted to give back to the community. One of the first issues she became aware of was the lack of somewhere for homeless people to shower and clean themselves.
The mobile shower unit operates from a specially designed tent, with water heated using a gas cylinder. While simple in design, the facility has already become an important support service for those who use it regularly. Around seven people currently depend on the shower service. Ms Faulkes admits the setup is not perfect, but she believes it is an important beginning.
She explained that maintaining personal hygiene while homeless can be extremely difficult and emotionally draining. Something as basic as washing in a public toilet can become humiliating and exhausting. Through the project, she hopes to restore a sense of dignity and self-worth to those living on the streets.
Ms Faulkes described her own homelessness as the result of relationship breakdowns and poor life choices. She also highlighted the challenges people face when trying to leave homelessness behind, explaining that breaking away from street life can be difficult because of social connections and unhealthy environments. However, she believes recovery is possible with the right support.
Currently, the shower service is mainly used by men, but Ms Faulkes plans to expand it to women in the future. She hopes to make the women’s service more private and supported by female volunteers only. Her long-term vision is to develop the initiative into a small care centre offering additional services such as haircuts, nursing support and a safe place for people to connect.
The project has already had a positive impact on users. One volunteer, who was previously homeless himself, said he was the first person to use the shower in 2025. He explained that having access to a shower helped restore his confidence and dignity, particularly when entering shops or interacting with the public.
Niall Garvey, Chief Executive of Mid West Simon, welcomed the initiative and said any service supporting homeless people is valuable. While Limerick has a drop-in centre for homeless individuals, Ennis currently lacks similar facilities, making Ms Faulkes’ mobile shower project an important community resource.
