Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Leon Farrell via RollingNews.ie

RDS Christmas Day dinner for homeless to be held as takeaway service outside Mansion House this year

Those in need can attend the mobile kitchen between 10am and 1pm on Christmas Day.

EVERY YEAR, VOLUNTEERS provide dinner to hundreds of poor and homeless people in Dublin’s RDS on Christmas Day. 

Over the last 96 years, the Knights of St Columbanus have provided Christmas Day dinner to over 3,400 people every year through sit down meals and a home delivery service for the homeless and those in need in the community. 

However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the event will not be going ahead as usual this year. 

The Knights of St Columbanus, who host the event, have made the decision to instead invite Dublin’s homeless, and anyone in need, to attend their pop-up mobile kitchen outside the Mansion House this Christmas Day. 

People can attend the mobile kitchen between 10am and 1pm to receive a traditional festive takeaway meal while following all Covid-19 restrictions. 

Volunteers will also dispatch some 3,000 pre-prepared Christmas dinners and goodie bags from the RDS, as they have done for the last several years. 

These meals are collected and delivered to homes by charities such as St Vincent de Paul, Alone, Age Action, Simon and Peter McVerry Trust.

While social distancing and government guidelines will be followed on the day, all arrangements are subject to changes in accordance with evolving Covid-19 measures. 

It has been noted that there will be no seated dining facilities available outside the Mansion House and meals are available for takeaway only.

“On behalf of our guests, we sincerely thank our many volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment, and our sponsors and donors,” committee chairperson Paddy Sheridan said. 

“The Knights of St Columbanus hope this initiative will deliver some level of comfort and Christmas spirit to those in need in our capital city on Christmas Day, while providing some short respite to the courageous charities who work tirelessly with the homeless year-round, such as the Capuchin Day Centre and Merchants Quay Ireland,” Sheridan said. 

“The Knights of St Columbanus would also like to take this moment to express their deep sorrow and condolences for all those who have suffered loss, illness, loneliness or stress in recent times and are committed to working in a spirit of charity, hope and spiritual fellowship for all who are in need,” he said.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
23 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonnie Marre
    Favourite Jonnie Marre
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 11:56 AM

    Take away? To where?

    302
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Margaret Doyle
    Favourite Margaret Doyle
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:24 PM

    @Jonnie Marre: I was wondering about that myself.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Mc Meel
    Favourite Liam Mc Meel
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Jonnie Marre: to outside the building and eat it on the grounds

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Ó Móráin
    Favourite Graham Ó Móráin
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 11:57 AM

    Could they not even set up tables and chairs outside? Jesus Christ, as if that wasn’t grim enough.

    253
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vanessa
    Favourite Vanessa
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:36 PM

    @Graham Ó Móráin: That would be outside dinning (I’m about the sad irony aware)

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz O'Neill
    Favourite Liz O'Neill
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:27 PM

    That’s just plain miserable. Set up a large marquee on the rugby pitch with socially distanced tables so that people can eat their Christmas meal with some dignity!

    236
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ccara
    Favourite ccara
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:43 PM

    @Liz O’Neill: Can you imagine the outrage then from the twitching curtains brigade :(

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Critical Thinker
    Favourite Critical Thinker
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 3:02 PM

    @George Demo: well, the government seem to have a bottomless pit of billions.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Demo
    Favourite George Demo
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:32 PM

    The volunteer organisations are doing there best, over 300 meals are handed out outside the GPO every Monday evening to the homeless nobody ever asks where are they going to sit down to eat it,

    110
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Keane
    Favourite James Keane
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 2:16 PM

    Fair play. I helped out at that for two years back in the 00′s at the RDS. The atmosphere was great and I a great chat with the guests who genuinely really appreciated it on the day.
    Brian Kennedy even turned up one of the years and played a few numbers on stage, what a legend. I think that was 2006 or 2007.
    Forget about the fact they can’t hold it indoors, just great to still see it happening for the unfortunate folk despite all the odds.
    A lot of unnecessary negativity in these comments.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Ahern
    Favourite Richard Ahern
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 5:30 PM

    @James Keane: Well said James Keane.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie O'Neill
    Favourite Eddie O'Neill
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:11 PM

    Well done Knights of St Columbanus.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Top Horse Shop
    Favourite Top Horse Shop
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:32 PM

    Should let the homeless eat in the Dail,it would be heated and nobody there ,the politician’s will be at home, dining well no doubt

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
    Favourite Patricia O'Reilly
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:49 PM

    @Top Horse Shop: or the convention centre..

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Coen
    Favourite Peter Coen
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:11 PM

    Is there no room at the Inn?

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Freda Hanratty
    Favourite Freda Hanratty
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:58 PM

    No chance that Mehole and leaky Leo will have to sit in the cold with a takeaway dinner! Their houses will be full to the brim with food, drink and PEOPLE! Disgraceful!

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Critical Thinker
    Favourite Critical Thinker
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:52 PM

    So instead of a controlled indoor environment, they’ll have people queuing up over a limited time period and then gathering on the street to eat their Christmas dinner. Not much sense from an epidemiological point of view, but horrific from a societal perspective. Covid is destroying humanity

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sandra Molloy
    Favourite Sandra Molloy
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:29 PM

    This shouldn’t need to be an annual event in a non 3rd world country

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Flynn
    Favourite Danny Flynn
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 1:22 PM

    Is there no shame in government’s around the world that are elected by the people to look after the people that they let this happen

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie O'Reilly
    Favourite Eddie O'Reilly
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 12:49 PM

    That’s shocking and should be manageable

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzanne Gilligan
    Favourite Suzanne Gilligan
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 4:47 PM

    Take away. To where. I feel heartbroken for anyone in the position but seriously they can’t eat on the street.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ivan Genockey
    Favourite Ivan Genockey
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 7:27 PM

    That’s great,
    Take away to a cold wet doorway.
    Surely we have enough indoor places to social distance people.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Doyle
    Favourite Stephen Doyle
    Report
    Nov 27th 2020, 5:27 PM

    Let’s hope for unusually high temperatures.

    7
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds