Marking 25 Years of Commitment: A Special 17 October Commemoration in Dublin
This year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, held on 17 October, was a truly special edition in Dublin, as it marked the 25th anniversary of commemorating this event in Ireland.
The ceremony took place at the Human Rights and Poverty Stone, a symbolic and deeply moving location. It was a privilege to have the event led by David Donoghue; Co Facilitator of the UN negotiations on the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. His presence reminded us of the importance of keeping international attention on the fight against poverty.
The theme this year was “Working Together with a Radical Hope and Decisive Action to End Poverty & Leave No One Behind”. You can find the 2025 national booklet here.
We were honored to also welcome the Lord Mayor of Dublin councillor Ray McAdams, who reaffirmed the city’s commitment to fighting poverty and supporting the most marginalized.
A special message from the President of Ireland was also read aloud, underlining the national significance of this day.
“May I commend all those who today, in recognition of our shared vulnerabilities and our shared responsibilities, raise their voices in solidarity with impoverished families and children across the world, for your determined pursuit of human rights for all our fellow global citizens“.
Throughout the ceremony, powerful and emotional testimonies echoed from individuals and groups who know poverty first-hand. Participants included members of ATD Ireland, the Dominican Justice Office Young Mother’s Network (YMN), Pavee Point, Exchange House Ireland, Matt Talbot Community Trust, Westcourt Justice Centre Belfast and Merchants Quay Ireland. We heard stories of coming through addiction, the poverty faced by the Traveller Community, living in direct provision, mental health and more. We heard how people give back to their communities despite experiencing real hardship and the speakers shared through poetry and creativity. Some speakers have been present at 17th October for almost all 25 years and spoke about the importance of it and the poverty stone. Each voice brought stories of struggle, resilience, and hope.
“I come here with my testimony of hope for the next friend that walks in. We are all friends. We just want the same – no poverty. There is so much hunger out there. I grew up in the streets – we had nothing.” Ann-Marie
“For my family, and I’m sure lots of other ATD families, the stone is much more than the granite it’s made from. My sister Teresa lived her whole life in poverty and at one point she was homeless. She always felt very strong kinship with the stone. She felt the stone knew her struggles and it gave her comfort and peace from her depression. She often went and slept on the stone at night when she was very depressed.” Natasha
“Young people are a privilege to society now as they are teaching us new things everyday. Young people voices need to be listened to carefully and with respect“. Craig
“My involvement with the Matt Talbot Community Trust in Ballyfermot and ATD allows me to actively participate and try to make a difference. They helped me to find the confidence that I needed. The chance to learn, share, and work with others gave me a voice and encouraged me to volunteer and become truly active within my community“. Michael
“Travellers face some of the highest rates of poverty, exclusion, and discrimination in this country we call Ireland. That’s not just a statistic — that’s people living in overcrowded conditions, denied education, denied employment, denied even the basic dignity of fair and equal treatment. And when you add poverty into that mix, it becomes even more dangerous. Think about the impact of that — not just financially, but emotionally. Think about what it means to grow up in a society that too often tells you — in subtle and not-so-subtle ways — that your life matters less. That you’re not welcome. That you’re not seen“. Johnpaul
“The best people you’ll ever meet are the ones who’ve walked through hell barefoot. Unspeakable tragedies. Losses that hollowed out whole families. The kind of suffering you don’t put on paper“. Ali
We were also proud to welcome Aye Aye Winn, the President of the International 17 October Committee, who gave an inspiring and passionate speech. Her words, full of courage and vision, carried across the gathering, and we hope, beyond, to other cities and capitals around the world. She connected us with 17th October commemorations in the Philippines, the US, Sengal. Aye Aye, also introduced her fellow international 17th October Committee member Andrew and introduced his new book. She read a testimony from Palestine received via the international 17 October Committee. It was a timely and moving reminder that the fight against poverty is inseparable from the fight for peace, dignity, and human rights for all.
“What Tulkarem is witnessing today is not merely a temporary crisis, but a reflection of accumulated marginalization and poverty, worsened by military operations and forced displacement. The Association Karam affirms that responding to this crisis must be comprehensive: it must include immediate relief, psychosocial support, rehabilitation of infrastructure, and empowering local communities to restore their lives”.
The event was uplifted by musical performances from three local schools including; St Laurence O Toole Boys and Girls Schools who sang ‘Siyahamba’, a South African hymn, St Mary’s, Holy Faith, Glasnevin who sang ‘Something Inside So Strong’ and Mount Carmel Girls Secondary School who sang ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon.
We also had performances by the SAOL project, a talented Irish musician, Victor Byrne, accompanied by Dann Kenningham ATD Ireland National Coordination and ATD Ireland Community Activist Jimmy delivered his hit ‘International Poverty’. The commemoration began and ended with a captivating performance by the Freedom Dancers, whose joy and energy brought smiles to everyone present.
As is tradition, the ceremony concluded with a shared “Common Gesture”: a moment of human connection where Martin invited each person to turn to their neighbour to reflect and speak about what hope means to them. The SDG symbol and a tapestry of the past 17 October images were symbolically carried to the stone by Stewart, Mary and Angela ATD UK and Brendan ATD Brussels. ATD Ireland Community Activist Paul reflected on Andrew’s book and the brave people who have shared their testimony on October 17th over the past 25 years. Aye Aye Winn led us in a chant to commit ourselves in the fight against poverty with “Beauty, Strength and Unity!”
After the main event, ATD Ireland hosted an After-Event Gathering in the Sheriff Street Youth Hall. This was a chance to connect, share food, and present the outcomes of our recent work from Leave No One Behind Series 5. The gathering also marked the launch of a new book by Andrew Kelly, one of our long-time activists. “From Addiction to Activism: A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes- A Beacon of Hope for People”. The publication, which gives voice to lived experiences of poverty and resilience, is now available on our website here.
Thank you to the 17th October Committee for their dedicated efforts in putting this day together. Thank you to the Department of Social Protection for funding the event. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us on the day and helped out in any way. A special thank you to those who shared their testimony. Indeed, thank you to all who have been a part of 17th October the past 25 years. This day was filled with powerful exchanges, music, memories, and emotion, but also a strong sense of unity and purpose. All across Ireland, and throughout the world, many other events were held to mark the occasion, showing how global and connected this movement truly is. We hope it has planted seeds for further action, and will bring new energy to the ongoing fight for dignity, equality, and a world free of poverty.
