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'You're giving back dignity': Meet the man who fits dentures for the homeless outside the GPO

Kevin Shanahan sees around 20 people during each of his O’Connell Street nighttime sessions.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

LEIXLIP DENTAL TECHNICIAN Kevin Shanahan sets up his equipment outside the GPO in Dublin after work each Friday evening.

He sees about 20 people during each session – and puts in 15-20 hours of work each week at his lab. His clients, he said, have trouble getting medical cards as they often have no fixed address.

More and more people have been seeking his services in recent months, Shanahan said. Asked why he decided to volunteer his services, he responded:

When you look at someone with no teeth they’ve lost their confidence they’ve lost a bit of dignity. When you give someone teeth you give them a little bit of confidence and you’ll find they’ll smile more – so you’re building a person from the inside out.

Volunteers also provide haircuts outside the northside landmark each Friday – and two groups give out sandwiches, soup and other hot food.

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    Mute Paraic Marren
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    Aug 24th 2022, 4:05 PM

    Well done, PSNI!

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Aug 24th 2022, 5:00 PM

    These individuals do not represent the vast majority of normal, peace -loving people. Allowing such a raggle-raggle bunch to use the acronym IRA is a complete misnomer. They are NOT an army. They should be correctly referred to as the IRI (I = Individuals) or IRT (T for Thugs or Terrorists) & that would be much more to the point & would present a true picture of those they represent.

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Aug 24th 2022, 5:37 PM

    @Richard Ahern: the previous incarnation were the same. Any group killing innocent men, women, and children, involved in racketeering, kidnapping, the drug industry, armed robbery for “army funds” and organised crime in general, falls into that category.

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    Mute frank griffin
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    Aug 24th 2022, 6:10 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: stupid comment

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Aug 24th 2022, 6:41 PM

    @frank griffin: it’s a factual comment. Are you telling me that the previous incarnation represented the vast majority of peace loving people and didn’t engage in the acts that I listed? I don’t think so.

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    Mute David Kelly
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    Aug 24th 2022, 7:33 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: do some proper research

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    Mute James Beattie
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    Aug 24th 2022, 10:27 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: extremely stupid comment. Little knowledge is a dangerous thing

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    Mute Mick Thornton
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    Aug 24th 2022, 9:23 PM

    But can’t arrest anybody in relation to what happened to Noah Donahue,strange!!

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    Mute Stephen Lambkin Moroney
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    Aug 24th 2022, 6:26 PM

    You mean this is still going on ?

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