The organisers of Dublin Senior Citizens Day hope “every town and city in the country” will hold similar events next year.
Now in it fourth year, the day sees venues, shops, restaurants and cafés in Dublin city-centre offering special offers and events to senior citizens. This year it falls on Monday November 29th.
Among the offers will be free tours of Dublin Castle State Apartments; free entry to the An Post museum at the GPO O'Connell Street along with live music and unveiling of the Christmas crib; two tickets for the price of one at the Savoy cinema O'Connell Street; cut price tickets for special showings of the 1954 movie Sabrina and the 1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with free tea and biscuits at the Screen cinema Townsend Street and half price high tea at the Gresham Hotel, O'Connell Street.
“This is about encouraging older people to spend time in their city, to enjoy it,” said Dermot Kirwan of Friends of the Elderly. “It’s a day when they get in a get their Christmas shopping started. Last year it brought an extra 5,000 citizens into the city.
“As far as I know Dublin is the only city in Europe which has a special day dedicated to its senior citizens. And it has become a national day. Last year senior citizens from all over the country came up on the early trains, using their free travel passes, had a great day out and then got the late trains home.
“I know Clonmel and Carrick-on-Shannon are doing similar things this year. But next year we are going to get on the phones and encourage every town and city in the country to join in.
“It’s a win-win day. The senior citizens have a great day out and its great for business in the city.”
To avail of the offers anyone over 66 should carry proof of age. A list of participating venues is available from Dublin Tourism offices and at www.dublinseniorcitizensday.ie.
