Hundreds fed at Christmas Day dinner

Hundreds of people were given dinner at the RDS in Dublin on Christmas Day by the Knights of Columbanus.

The event, also attended by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, has been organised by the lay Catholic organisation every year since 1924 and it has seen a doubling in the number of dinners served in just three years.

The Knights served 500 dinners at the Dublin event and another 2,000 were to be distributed to those in need through the St Vincent de Paul Society, Alone, Simon, Age Action, Dublin City Council and other charitable organisations.

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Faith Ojo, from Ballymun dancing with Ellen Ward, from Scoil Rince Bastable, Dublin who helped entertain at the 90th year of the Knights of St Columbanus annual sit : Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

The issue of homelessness has been increasingly in the public eye since the recent death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie (43) just a short distance from Leinster House.

Last week, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin opened a diocesan homeless hostel run by Catholic social support agency Crosscare that can accommodate 35 people.

In his Christmas message, delivered on Christmas Eve at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dr Martin said: “Crosscare is doubling its supply of food; later today the Knights of Saint Columbanus will host their annual Christmas lunch at the RDS and will have to double the number of people it serves compared to last year.

“Economic recovery and sustainability can be measured by the standards of International Financial Institutions, but the picture will be incomplete when it is not accompanied by a brutally honest index of social casualty.”

Today’s menu included traditional Christmas fare including turkey, pudding, tea and coffee.

Transport was provided for guests and over 300 volunteers helped with the preparation of the dinners. Back-packs containing a fleece, washbag, hat and gloves, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and nail clippers were provided for each guest.

Entertainment included performances by traditional Slovakian dancers, Scoil Rince Bastable and Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke who sang accompanied by former member of the Dubliners Eamonn Campbell.