Caitríona Twomey, Penny Dinners volunteer co-ordinator, said everyone in the charity was deeply honoured to be given a reception in City Hall.

Caitríona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners, who was part of the High Hopes Choir that sang for Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland in 2018, said 'we could feel his humility, we could see the smile that was very special to everybody and we all felt it together as we were all looking at him.'

Dr John Foran, who leads the cardiac care team at the Mater Private Hospital, is urging women over 50 years old to prioritise their heart health, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in Ireland.

Cork Penny Dinners has, in recent years, run a first communion 'shop' to help families finding it difficult to make ends meet ahead of children celebrating the event.

The city centre busking marathon is the brainchild of two Cork singer-songwriters, Whitechurch native Dylan Brickley and Farranree man Korey Power, who have each year put together an all-day show outside Brown Thomas with their friends from Cork’s music scene.

More than 30 volunteers worked all day, preparing more than 1,200 meals for people in need. 

'As a man you feel like a failure': Cork man speaks frankly about sleeping rough in the city and the daily struggles faced by those living without a roof over their heads.  

Each year, Whitechurch native Dylan Brickley and Farranree man Korey Power put together an all-day show outside Brown Thomas with their friends from Cork’s music scene.

Caitríona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners expressed her gratitude to all those who ed the event. 

Preparations for Christmas are in full swing at Cork Penny Dinners, and this year the charity expects to feed in the region of 350 people at its temporary premises on James Street on Christmas Day, writes CHRIS DUNNE

This Christmas Day, volunteers in one of Cork’s oldest charities will be working hard to deliver meals and food hampers and to make sure next Wednesday is not just another day. Donal O’Keeffe looks back almost 137 years to the founding, by some of the city’s most influential women, of Cork Penny Dinners

Caitriona Twomey from Cork Penny Dinners told The Echo that she and the other volunteers do not feel threatened by the people who use their service, but that they worry for others.

The Echo is ing the work of the centre by pledging 100 Christmas dinners to their annual appeal, at a cost of €2,000, on behalf of its print and online readers.

Every year since 2021 Dylan Brickley and Korey Power have held the busking marathon from Cork's vibrant music scene, raising money for Cork Penny Dinners.

The organisation, which is one of the city’s oldest charities that s people in need, has moved around the corner from its existing site on Little Hanover St, to the Croí na Laoí Catríona Twomey Wellness Centre on James St.

Penny Dinners’ volunteer co-ordinator Caitríona Twomey said the was of “absolutely invaluable help” to the Little Hanover St charity.

Catriona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners said there was 'no point of bringing in a budget that falls short of long-term solutions'

The event is dedicated to raising awareness and to creating a space for conversation.

Infant needs in general have increased dramatically by 22.4% from 2020 to 2024, driven by substantial rises in the costs of baby milk formula and nappies.

Beekeepers can now easily deliver donations of frames full of honey to Cork Penny Dinners on Little Hanover St. 

The initiative is a collaboration between Cork Penny Dinners, Churchfield Community Trust and Cork Prison.

“A life saved not only has a profound impact upon the individual life saved, but also on society as a whole”

Cork Penny Dinners opened a first communion 'shop' to help families finding it difficult to make ends meet. 

“Everything is geared toward keeping the children happy and giving them a memory for life, the way I my communion as one of the happiest days of my life.”

The legendary broadcaster served who served as RTÉ’s Chief News Correspondent, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021.

It has become a New Year tradition in recent times that Cook Street Italian restaurant Il Padrino treats volunteers from Cork Penny Dinners to dinner

Founded in 1958, the Cork Youth Orchestra is a 143-strong orchestra of talented musicians aged from 14 to 19 hailing from Cork city and county.

“We have the place pretty much ship-shape now to start it all over again tomorrow, and we will be out later tonight, on Christmas evening, to give dinners to anyone who is sleeping rough tonight.” 

“When you’re out there, playing your heart out, and people know it’s to raise money for Penny Dinners, I think that’s when the spirit of Christmas really comes alive on the streets of Cork.” 

Some of Cork's finest singers took to the streets to raise funds for Cork Penny Dinners.

Between now and New Year’s Day, Penny Dinners will serve an estimated 10,000 meals, offering a free Christmas dinner to anyone in Cork who needs one. Donal O'Keeffe visits of Cork’s oldest charities.

The charity’s volunteers expect to serve in excess of 1,500 meals on Christmas Day.

John's family say they can never repay the people of Cork for all of their kindness, but four months after his disappearance, they worry that he may have been confused the night he vanished and sought shelter.

Latest figures show that 201 dependents in Cork and Kerry accessed emergency accomodation last month. 

Cork Penny Dinners’ volunteer co-ordinator Caitríona Twomey said that she felt Budget 2024 was “an election budget and it will fall flat”.

Caitríona Twomey, of soup kitchen charity Cork Penny Dinners, said that some parents have been left with no option but to phone them mere hours before the school run.

As candles flickered along Albert Quay, those present marked World Suicide Prevention Day, ing all of those lost, and all of those left behind.

During their day assisting the Cork Penny Dinners, the Turas Nua personnel helped with meal preparation and cleaned the Wellness Centre, saving those working with Cork Penny Dinners a significant amount of time.

The foods are displayed on shelving in discreet areas of schools and creches to make the service as low-key as possible

As we continue our Volunteers of Cork series, TIMOTHY O’MAHONY pops along to Cork Penny Dinners to meet some of the volunteers

Barnardos’ Cost of Living Crisis — Impact on Children Report 2023 revealed 37% of parents have had to go without or cut down on heating, while 23% have had to do the same in relation to electricity, and 20% when it came to food.

Penny Dinners has donated 36 dresses and 24 pairs of shoes to help Cork families in need as many struggle with the costs of the special day. 

A play is to be performed at the Croí Na Laoí Caitríona Twomey Wellness Centre on James’s Street. Donal O’Keeffe finds out how ‘Behind the Curtain’ is intended to raise awareness of the services available in the wellness centre

Also present were past finalists, and speaking to The Echo, organiser Paddy O’Brien said it had been a wonderful afternoon of singing

Ms Twomey has served Cork Penny Dinners for almost two decades, and in that time the city’s oldest charity has gone from serving about 500 meals per week to often serving over 1,000 meals in a single day.

The meeting heard that almost 3,000 households nationally had been served with eviction notices since the intention to lift the ban had been announced, and in Cork more than 1,000 people were facing eviction next month.

Speaking to The Echo, Caitríona Twomey said she believes the measures “don’t go anywhere near enough” to have a significant impact.

“We’ve seen how successful the High Hopes Choir has been, and how wonderful it is for the people who are in the choir to be part of something." 

The High Hopes Choir was formed in 2014 under the tutelage of David Brophy of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and now the High Hopes Orchestra hopes to replicate its achievements.

“With Penny Dinners, it is not only what they do themselves, but also what they encourage other people to do by their example, they spread kindness in our city, and that is a very good thing."