ABOUT 5,000 people visited Dublin city yesterday “from all over the country” to take part Dublin City Senior Citizens’ Day.
Friends of the Elderly spokesman Dermot Kirwan said the event was a success: “The good weather made it and I met people who had travelled from as far away as Donegal and Waterford.”
Participants availed of free events such as a raffle in the Ilac Centre, tea and coffee in the Kilkenny Design Centre, a free glass of wine with lunch at Boyer’s department store, a screening of Casablanca at the Irish Film Institute, as well as free entry to the Book of Kells, Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle.
In its third year, this was “by far the biggest and best one so far”, Mr Kirwan said.
“There was a fantastic raffle in the Ilac Centre with free raffle tickets and all the traders gave in prizes. The Writer’s Museum was packed out for its readings. The GPO was thronged for its free music event and the Georgian House museum had full tours going all day.” He said most events were within easy walking distance of each other and maps for the events were available from Dublin Tourism offices at O’Connell Street and Suffolk Street. “So people had their free travel passes, came into the city, got their maps and planned their days. It was fantastic.”
Friends of the Elderly, which organises the event, had “just a week” to publicise this year’s day, but next year would have a fortnight, he said.
“So we are planning to publicise it far more widely, on billboards as well as with inserts in the major newspaper titles around the country. We’re also thinking of moving it a week back from the whole Christmas rush because it’s big enough now to go as a standalone event.
“It has everything going for it. It’s on a Monday which is a quiet day for the city centre, and the older people are great shoppers. They know value when they see it and they’ll go for it, so when any shop is offering discounts or a free gift that is going to get them in.
“It’s also about bringing older people into the city, giving them the freedom of the city for a day.”
The day is also supported by Dublin City Council, Dublin Tourism, the Transport 21 Project Office, Dublin City Business Association, Dublin City Business Improvement District, Dublin Bus and the Dart.
