Hundreds of people gathered at the RDS for the annual Christmas Day dinner for those in need.
This year marked a centenary of the event, which is organised by the Knights of St Columbanus. The dinner was first provided by the group to about 500 mostly homeless men in Dublin’s Mansion House in 1924. After 70 years there, it was moved to the RDS in 1994 to cope with growing demand from those in need of support or who might otherwise spend the day alone.
The venue was full on Christmas Day as people received light refreshments on arrival, before being served a three-course meal of soup, a traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and ham with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding.
Several musicians and other performers also provided entertainment, while more than 300 volunteers distributed a further 5,000 dinners and 2,500 festive gift bags to people isolated in their homes.
There was a free shuttle bus for people to and from the RDS, with pickup points in central Dublin, including Clery’s clock on O’Connell Street, the Four Courts and the Mansion House.
Daniel Branagan (42) from Clondalkin is an ex-addict who grew up in the city centre. He said he is hoping to have his own accommodation in about five or six months. “I brought myself up from a young age,” he said. “I’ve been around the block time and time again. I’ve been to the RDS a couple of times. It’s a great service. There are great volunteers. They do it for us. My heart goes out to them sometimes. For them to do this for us is very, very special. It’s great to see people in here enjoying themselves. I know a lot of people here and a lot of people here know me.”
Lauren O’Flaherty (30) from Tallaght has been homeless for two years and it was her first time using the service.
“I never knew this was on, but my friend here, Dano, beside me, said it was, and I’m happy I came out,” she said. “I’m hoping to not be homeless by next year. I’m hoping things go well with the whole housing crisis. But for now, I’m looking forward to my dinner. It’s amazing to see the volunteers spending Christmas with us when they could be spending it with others.”
She said she planned to spend a lot of the day at the RDS before returning to her hostel later on. “It’s better to come here and do this to kill a few hours rather than sitting back in the hostel, you know?”
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Matthew Brady (29) from Blanchardstown has been homeless for 15 years and was also using the service for the first time.
“They were saying it to me all week about coming out here,” he said. “I wasn’t going to come, but the two of them were at me to come, so I said I’d go, and I’m actually delighted I came. It’s a bit of a laugh. I knew everything was going to be all right because I’m in town 15 years and I know everyone. It’s deadly here. I really appreciate everything that’s going on. Thanks a lot to every one of them here.”
Maria Byrne (61) from Navan Road, is an institutional abuse survivor, who said she was introduced to the service by the late activist Christine Buckley. “I was badly beaten and sexually abused by a priest,” she said.
“I didn’t think there was help. I didn’t think there was a life there. But I’m so happy now. I’m enjoying life. We’ve had soup so far now, and the rest is coming.”
The Knights of St Columbanus partnered with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Alone, Simon, the Health Service Executive, Dublin City Council, Age Action Ireland and other groups to organise the event.
