The recently-formed community group, D7 For All, are organising a “Solidarity Gathering”, this Sunday, March 12th, from 2pm to 5pm. The event, taking place in the heart of Stoneybatter is intended to extend a warm-welcome to those who live in the area, be it long-established residents, refugees or other newcomers.

Speaking on their community group, a spokesperson for the organisation said, “Dublin 7 for All is a large and growing group of people living in Dublin 7 who want everyone who lives here to know that they belong and they are welcome.”

The gathering, which is set to celebrate Dublin 7’s diversity, is also set to feature some notable music acts, with Irish Women in Jazz's Saturn of nnothersday and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin among those due to make an appearance tomorrow.

There will be something for every age at D7’s event, with stalls from MASI, CATU, entertainment for children, home baked goods and takeaway options from the area’s local businesses.

Another representative of the hundred-strong organisation continued: “We’ve organised a welcome - a Solidarity Gathering - in the heart of Dublin 7 in Stoneybatter for this Sunday, from 2pm to 5pm, in front of Kavanagh’s pub at The Triangle, to allow everyone to express our community spirit and ensure that everyone living here feels valued and welcomed.”

“There have been recent protests staged locally, which we see as driven partly by a fear-based response to the housing crisis, and partly by a fear of the unknown. The answer is to work together to build community.

“Ireland is famous as the land of ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’, and Irish people are welcomed and made feel at home all over the world. And indeed, many of the locals who live in Dublin 7 are ‘blow-ins’ from all across this country!” they added.

“We in Dublin 7 for All want to live up to our proud history and experience, in an Ireland that’s welcoming to everyone: wherever they may be from, and for whatever reason now find themselves making Ireland - and in particular Dublin 7 - their home.”

Set to be a fun-filled day for the whole family, the newly-founded organisation hopes tomorrow will be one of many events organised in the future to help grow and extend the hand of friendship to all Dublin 7 residents.