The annual Christmas Day Dinner drive which provides Christmas dinners to those in need will turn 100 years old tomorrow. 

This year, the drive will provide meals to 550 people in the RDS, and nearly 5,000 takeaway meals. 

Chairperson Trevor Macnamara told Newstalk Breakfast that the RDS would soon be a hive of activity. 

“The numbers are increasing year on year, but it’s mainly to do with the agencies that are just able to reach out further into the community for Christmas,” he said. 

“We’re in awe of the agencies and the organisations that work with people in the community right throughout the year. 

“They take a day off on Christmas Day and we just do our little bit to help get people food and a little bit of Christmas cheer out to people in their homes.” 

Charity Worker Linda Pickett dancing with Tommy Ryan and Susan Collins dances with Matt Browne at the Crosscare Hot Food Shelter Christmas diner in the RDS,on Christmas Day :Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland. 25/12/2010

Mr Mcnamara said that it would be a busy day for multiple organisations tomorrow. 

“So, ALONE, the HSE, Age Action, Focus Ireland and Meals on Wheels, there’s a large number of people who actually use the RDS a bit like a fast food takeaway drive through tomorrow morning,” he said. 

“We’ll have 500 guests coming in - we lay on a transport shuttle bus service from the Dublin city centre because there’s no public transport tomorrow. 

“It’s organised by the Knights of St Columbanus, our records indicate that in 1924, there were 500 men sat down for Christmas dinner hosted by the Knights in the Mansion House in Dublin. 

“Then in 1924, we kind of outgrew the Mansion House and expanded our operations.” 

You can donate to the drive at christmasdaydinner.com or Christmas Day Dinner on idonate.ie. 

Mr Macnamara said donations would be greatly appreciated due to the rise in the cost of food over the last few years. 

Featured image: Plates of food prepared to serve by, from left, Pauline O'Reilly, Claire O'Reilly, Jayne Gilbert and Moira MacManus at the Christmas Day Dinner for the homeless in the RDS organised by the Knights of Columbus. Photo. Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland. 25/12/2009