500 people sat down for a Christmas dinner at the yearly free-lunch event at the RDS, while an additional 5,000 benefited from special takeout.

The Knights of Columbanus were responsible for organising the event, which is in its 99th year.

While cooks prepared supper, volunteers greeted groups of men and women, young families, and individuals who may have otherwise spent Christmas Day alone with open arms.

According to Trevor McNamara, the chair of the organising committee, homeless persons receive a meal at this event that they would not otherwise obtain.

“We make a little bit of extra effort once a year to make Christmas Day a little bit special,” he stated on Newstalk radio.