Two Irish Civic Groups Seek Public Support Amid State Neglect
Disability Power Ireland (DPI) and the Muslim Sisters of Éire (MSOÉ) are both civic organisations without regular State funding. DPI is seeking public support through a partnership with Lush Cosmetics, while MSOÉ is asking for donations directly from the public.
Disability Power Ireland (DPI) and the Muslim Sisters of Éire (MSOÉ) are two Irish civic organisations that have recently made appeals to the public for monetary support.
DPI and Lush
DPI, established in 2022, is a grassroots group which expressly advocates for the disabled population’s right to bodily autonomy, work, housing, accessibility and assistance. It is most well-known for leading the Scrap the Green Paper Campaign, which successfully forced the Government to drop the Disability Green Paper just four days into Simon Harris’ first term as Taoiseach.
The organisation has engaged with the Oireachtas and media publications like The Ditch, arguing against austerity policy and speaking out against Green Paper creator Heather Humphreys’ presidential campaign.
Starting from Thursday 6 August, Lush Cosmetics will be selling a limited edition soap called ‘Access All Areas’ in their Irish stores for €8.5.
75% of net proceeds, or €4.9 from every bar sold, will be donated to DPI. DPI intends to use this money to fund their advocacy work and the upcoming Power Parade and Festival in July 2027.
Lush Cosmetics is an independent British beauty company which has publicly supported the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) since 2023. Its founders, the Constantine family, have donated over €300,000 to the British Greens and have successfully sued BDS target Amazon.
MSOÉ’s GPO Soup Run
Established in 2010, MSOÉ is an organisation founded and run by native-born and migrant Muslim women. MSOÉ and its supporters – many of whom are neither Muslim nor female – engage in a wide range of activities, including poverty relief work, migrant and family support, women’s empowerment programmes, youth activities, Islamic events, interfaith dialogue and more.
They are perhaps most well-known for their weekly Friday Soup Run at the General Post Office (GPO) on O’Connell Street in Dublin 1, where an assembly of vetted volunteers provide hot meals and pantry goods to hundreds of people.
In order to continue doing these soup runs, MSOÉ has recently asked the public for donations. One meal can be provided for €3.5. Donations can be made at this link.
Like DPI, MSOÉ receives no regular funding from the State, with the exception of a 2023 grant of €13,350 earmarked for a youth summer camp and well-being initiatives.
