Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)

I had a really positive experience at the weekend attending two Street Feasts in Tallaght. On Saturday, the community of Bancroft came together for what I think was its fourth annual Street Feast. I have watched this event grow year after year from a small gathering four years ago into something we jokingly compared to Electric Picnic. The weather may have been wild but no one was deterred and spirits were high. On Sunday, after our weekly litter pick, Tallaght Village Tidy Towns and Tallaght Community Council hosted another Street Feast, this time right in the main street in Tallaght. Again, the atmosphere was fantastic, with good food, great music, lively conversations and children running around forging the next generation of friendships. As a public representative, it is genuinely uplifting to step back and witness my community be so united, with neighbours chatting, sharing meals and simply enjoying one another's company.

Street Feast is Ireland's national day of street parties and neighbourhood celebrations. Now in its 15th year, it took place across the country on 24 and 25 May, encouraging communities everywhere to gather for food, conversation and connection. Since its launch in 2010, it has continuously grown. Last year alone, over 75,000 people took part. In an age where we are more connected digitally than ever, it is events like these that remind us how important it is to connect in person with the people living right next door to us. That is the mission of Street Feast, to turn strangers into neighbours and neighbours into friends. It does not matter where you live, whether an apartment, a house or shared accommodation. All you need is a willingness to connect and a space. Street Feast makes it so easy to bring people together, even providing free DIY party packs.

This initiative can play a role in tackling loneliness, promoting inclusion and strengthening community resilience, values that align perfectly with our national goals on social cohesion and community well-being. Whether you are in a city or a rural town, Street Feast offers an invaluable opportunity to make your neighbourhood a better, kinder and more connected place. In Tallaght this weekend, we showed how it is done, with heart, humour and a whole lot of community pride. I encourage any community that has not taken part to give it a try next year.