The Church of Ireland Bishop for Clare is urging people to walk in the shoes of those who are trapped in poverty this Christmas.

This festive season, close to 128,000 people will be celebrating the holiday season in their own way.

The latest available local authority figures show, however, there were 109 adults and 40 children living in homeless shelters in Clare as the year draws to a close, a rise of 20% on the same time last year.

Bishop of Killaloe, Limerick and Tuam, Michael Burrows says without truly imagining what it's like not to be be able to make economic choices, we can't understand what it's like for those who are powerless this Christmas.