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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.
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So €7k of cocaine and €6.5k of cannabis found. Not exactly jaw dropping amounts for a 100 gardai and even more customs officers involved. I thought the Garda were lacking resources? Doesn’t seem so here, more like overkill .
@Brian Smith: Well Said
Couple of oz of weed.
No biggie in any other country.
@Brian Smith: When marijuana eventually is legalised wait until you see who gets the licences to sell it, friends of those in high places ! Joking aside, it will free up Garda resources and become a revenue stream for the state. Its only a matter of time.
Free the weed.
@Patricia McCarthy: …the focus of today was intelligence gathering…really?! Complete failure so…
100 Gardai to seize, what is in an overall sense, a small quantity of drugs. No doubt there is diligent work going on etc, but we have to start asking ourselves what is the point in it all? Nothing is being stopped for such a huge investment of resources, and we are continuing to leave the safety of our people who use in the hands of those looking to make a quick buck.
@Diarmaid Twomey: equates to about 135 quids worth of police work per Garda, wow!
That’s definitely over €6,500 worth of cannabis in that picture. Only needed 100 gardaí to seize it, too. Money well spent, lads.
100 Gardai to seize that?? Ffs. What a waste of resources
Stop wasting my tax money.
@Michael Grogan: Great comment. Try saying that to people affected by recent events/ tragedies in Foxrock, Athy, Laytown, just to mention a few- in a matter of days..???
@Margate: It takes 100 Gardai to take €13,000 worth of drugs of the street. I’ll say it again. Stop wasting my tax money.
They should’ve used some of those 100 Garda on speed checks on motorways and roads where no pedestrians/ houses or accidents ever happen. Much better use of resources, and make sure they get lots of overtime as well!!!!!
Complete waste of Gardaí resources!
Legalise, regulate, tax!
Gardai only enforce the law, and well done to them as far as I am concerned, good job
What a waste of time and resources. 100 people involved in a small bust. The cost of paying their overtime is probably triple the amount they actually found.
Great, now put them away for a 5 year suspended sentence
@Alan Wallace: i enjoyed that. very good read. thumbs up
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