4. Cáitriona Twomey and
Cork Penny Dinners

Penny Dinners is one of Cork's oldest caring organisations. While there is a formal record in the Irish Examiner in 1888 concerning its set-up at Drawbridge Street (see Irish Examiner, 1888), its roots can be traced as far back to the soup kitchens run by the Society of Friends (Quakers) during the Great Famine in the 1840s. The practice of paying one penny for a quart of soup and half a loaf of bread was established then. Hence, the name Penny Dinners was attained.

Today, Penny Dinners is located in Cork City, on a side street known as Little Hanover Street. With its wooden sign, welcoming smell and open door, Cork Penny Dinners was and continues to be a symbol of hope and compassion for the people of Cork. In an atmosphere of safety, warmth and support, the kitchen’s friendly volunteers produce freshly made and nourishing meals seven days a week and offer support to the homeless community, families, the elderly and all those in need. Anyone can fall into poverty or loneliness, and it is tough to get out of it, explains Caitríona Twomey, the driving force behind the charity, on the Two Norries Podcast (2020). Coming into Cork Penny Dinners is a big step, she adds. “It is a survival step, so if people want to sit, we let them sit, and if they want to talk, we talk” (C. Twomey, personal communication, January 24, 2024). In the face of hard times, sometimes a cup of tea, a handshake, or a friendly chat can go a long way.

With an increase in poverty levels, homelessness, lack of humanity, and fears among many people concerning food security, Caitríona tells us that Cork Penny Dinners aims to make the world a better place. Ultimately, “we want people looking at it, rather than for it”, she explains (C. Twomey, personal communication, January 24, 2024). The charity’s ethos is founded on mutual respect and regard for the dignity of all, and its objective is based on values including:

Humanity—understanding humanity and what it means. By practicing humanity, “we learn that we are all the same, people are full of heart”.
Care—being caring and practicing care means being adaptable and flexible.
Equality—“being non-judgmental, asking no questions, and enabling people to just be. You need to create the environment for equality to grow.”
Love and compassion—“whatever hits the heart plays on the mind”.

Cork Penny Dinners relies entirely on voluntary contributions to operate, and all its services are free of charge. The charity has developed social inclusion programmes to support people based on needs and the core values of Cork Penny Dinners. These include:

Enactus—Cork Penny Dinners, in collaboration with University College Cork, created an inclusive programme aimed at students in the locality based on supporting young people to develop life skills such as cooking on a budget, and centres around fostering positive mental health with a programme designed to cater for a wide range of issues.

Cork Music DoJo—in helping those who need a voice, Cork Penny Dinners is passionate about bringing music to service users. This belief fuelled the development of a space to play. Guitar classes are provided on the premises every Monday at 7 pm.

The Cork High Hopes Choir—is a unique initiative bringing together singers affected by homelessness. It was created by David Brophy, the former principal conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. The choir members are currently working hard to realise their lifelong dream of one day singing in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Penny Dresses—strives to improve the lives of children and families, offering free communion dresses to struggling families. Each year, friends of Penny Dinners, including designers and stylists, pull together to ensure that no child misses out on the magical experience of shopping for a communion outfit.

Cork Penny Dinners Mindfulness—strives to nourish people, not just physically but spiritually. Experienced professionals run regular mindfulness sessions, allowing service users to benefit from mindfulness and equipping them with coping strategies. The sessions also provide a social outlet.

Recovery services—an addiction recovery group run through Cork Penny Dinners has helped people turn their lives around. The group members have also raised a lot of money for charities, such as climbing mountains. In 2024, the Penny Dinners Recovery Team won the Dragon Boat Race.

At the time of writing, Cork Penny Dinners has recently established a new premises, Croi na Laoi Wellness Centre, at James Street, Cork. The centre is grounded in mindfulness and well-being concepts and offers a range of services, from learning how to cook to medical support. The wellness centre also contains a garden of remembrance dedicated to the memory of service users who lost their lives.

Caitríona Twomey

Volunteer Coordinator and Trustee at Cork Penny Dinners

Caitríona Twomey, another of Cork’s trailblazing women, is a volunteer coordinator and Trustee at Cork Penny Dinners, providing meals to those in need all year round. She became involved with the charity through her father, Tom Lynch, who would devote much of his Christmas Day to cooking and serving hot meals for the homeless community in Cork. “My father never told us where he was going, which only fuelled my curiosity,” explains Caitríona, “I was thrilled when he agreed to let me come with him one year. From helping out, I was shocked to see the number of people suffering” (Cork Penny Dinners, n.d.: Cork Penny Dinners Trustees). She has since taken up the role herself, working alongside others to facilitate non-judgmental support for those in most need, the homeless and those falling through the cracks of the welfare support system. “The greatest gift is to give”, says Caitríona, who has dedicated her life to easing other people’s suffering (C. Twomey, personal communication, January 24, 2024).

Over the last twenty-plus years, Caitríona has overseen the expansion of Cork Penny Dinner’s range of services and social inclusion programmes, helping people address addiction issues and supporting positive mental health. She was also the catalyst behind the set-up of the Croi na Laoi Wellness Centre at James Street. Her trained background as a psychotherapist attests to this. “I believe in our ethos of being non-judgmental as that was firmly rooted in my childhood”, explains Caitríona, “my strong points are many, my weak points even more. However, myself and the volunteers do a magnificent job every day of the year. We serve!” (Cork Penny Dinners, n.d.: Cork Penny Dinners Trustees).

I am truly grateful for the incredible team of volunteers that I have the privilege to work alongside. Their unwavering dedication, support, and genuine care are a constant source of inspiration for me. Each member of the team brings their unique strengths and kindness to our work, creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both volunteers and the individuals we serve. I am humbled by their tireless efforts and thoughtfulness, and I feel blessed to be a part of such a compassionate and dedicated community. Together, we are able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we support, and I am continually uplifted by the generosity and empathy of my fellow volunteers

(C. Twomey, personal communication, May 24, 2024)

A Cork Person of the Month Hall of Fame Award is one of many awards acknowledging Caitríona’s dedication to serving those in need by addressing poverty, hunger and homelessness.

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Caitríona Twomey for her support and contribution to the text.

Website: https://www.corkpennydinners.ie/

References

Cork Penny Dinners (n.d.). About Us [online]. Available from: https://www.corkpennydinners.ie/about-cpd-l [Accessed 27 June 2024].

The Two Norries Podcast. (2020) #7 Cork Penny Dinners with Catriona Twomey. Youtube [online]. Available from: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/7-cork-penny-dinners-with-catriona-twomey/id1521401277?i=1000487710805 [Accessed 27 June 2024].

Twomey, C. (2024) Personal communication, 24 January.

Twomey, C. (2024) Personal communication, 24 May.

(1888) Introduction of the Cork Penny Dinner Movement into Cork. Irish Examiner. 15 March [online] p. 2. Available from: www.irishnewspaperarchives.com [Accessed 27 June 2024].

Caitriona-Twomey