Luke, a homeless man in Cork

I recently met a young man in Cork city center around 1 AM. My friend and I initially offered him some coins and started a conversation with him. Surprisingly, he didn’t ask for money, alcohol, or cigarettes unlike many other homeless—he just asked for some food. I found him interesting, and we ended up having a deep conversation.

He reflected on his past and explained to us that, one day, a girl was being abused by some men who were trying to physically force themselves on her. Luke and his friend Daniel tried to rescue her, but they were caught by the Gardaí for getting involved. They were prosecuted and convicted for manhandling the men who were assaulting the girl. Since then, no one has been willing to hire Luke. Still, he wants to work, earn his own money, and live an honest life. He wants to be himself again—but he’s simply not getting a chance.

There are many people like Luke who still hold on to hope after hitting rock bottom.

I’m not judging the situation or taking sides, but sometimes, unfortunate things happen in life. What matters is never giving up. Hope is a powerful force that keeps us going. I truly admire his courage to face the world, accept what has happened, and keep moving forward.

Beyond his past and present struggles, in just a short conversation, Luke called us friends. He was genuinely happy that we spoke with him. What I took away from that night is this: even a small conversation can make someone’s day. Taking the time to listen can help ease a person’s psychological trauma.

So, start listening. Be the reason behind someone’s happiness.

I feel blessed to have had that conversation with Luke.

Luke, a homeless man in Cork city.

Source: From Luke and image generated by AI