THE PHRASE “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” was called into question in Dublin yesterday as 40 diners were treated to a free picnic on the Millennium Bridge.
Shoppers were distracted from their mission, bikes were parked, waiters carried chairs over the road and donated food was dished up by volunteers.
Speaking at the “flash feast”, the location of which was revealed using social media at the last minute, co-founder Sam Wilson said: “This is what unemployed architects do. It’s part of the idea of using public space for community purposes. In a lot of estates today people don’t know their neighbours so this is a way to change that.”
Yesterday’s feast aims to get people around the country to host a local lunch with neighbours for “Street Feast” on August 28th.
So far communities are planning feasts in Dublin, Wicklow, Galway, Mayo, Cork and Tipperary, according to the organisers.
At one flower-laden table at yesterday’s picnic, sisters Laura and Christine Walsh from Dublin chatted with Maria Juarez from Argentina. “We were just handed two tickets walking over the bridge. It looks very nice,” said Christine.
“I heard it on the radio this morning,” said Juarez. “I never thought I’d find it because I don’t have internet to check the details.” The menu of salads, lasagne and pizza was donated by local restaurants including La Taverna, Milano and Queen of Tarts. Sebastian Hobart, owner of Foam cafe said: “Anything that brings people into the city centre is helpful.”
Some of the diners who’d been alerted through social media brought their own food with allotment greens a popular choice. The less virtuous went for doughnuts or chocolate brownies.
Seán Harrington, project architect for the bridge, cycled down for a look. “It’s such a great idea. It’s fantastic when people use the city’s spaces. They should do it every weekend,” he said.
Barbara Brennan from Ashbourne, Co Meath, held a party last summer during the first event. “My husband and I moved to the estate without knowing anyone. I just went round and introduced myself. On the day, my parents lent me a big tent. We had face-painting, wheel-barrow races, the kind of games we played as kids and don’t cost anything.” Since then, she holds regular tea-parties with her neighbours and says people are asking how they can help this time.
For details and DIY kit for holding a party on August 28th see streetfeast.ie