The families of the 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust fire gathered together for a candlelit vigil this afternoon to mark the 42nd anniversary of the tragedy.
The fire occurred at the Stardust Ballroom in Artane in the early hours of 14 February 1981 during a Valentine's Day disco. New inquests into the deaths are set to begin on April 19.
A new memorial wall for the victims was unveiled by Charlie Bird at today's vigil and the North Dublin community Gospel Choir and Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band performed music throughout the afternoon. Christy Moore also performed 'They Never Came Home' via video.
Read more: Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham frantically searched for sister on night of Stardust fire
Using his voice app, Charlie Bird recalled reporting on the horrific event and said that "if the Stardust tragedy happened in the southside of Dublin, you would not have had to wait over four decades to know the truth of what happened on that Valentine's night".
"Collectively, everyone in this country should hang their heads in shame that after over 40 years we still have not found the truth of what happened on that night," he said.
"I will never forget that night as long as I continue to live. I remember getting the call at around midnight from one of my news editors telling me there was a fire at a disco on the northside of the city.
"I will never forget arriving here as ambulances took the dead and injured away. I reported for RTE radio the next morning on what I had witnessed.
"The whole country woke up to the news that lots of young people had died and dozens more had been seriously injured in a fire at the Stardust disco."
Mr Bird said that the "most shocking thing of all" is that the relatives of the victims are still looking for the truth and justice for what really happened on that night, 42 years later.
"Hopefully you will finally get the answers when the inquest into the deaths gets underway this coming April," he said. "Many of you here today still live with the physical and emotional scars of what happened on that night and your quest for justice has been so powerful and emotional.
"Over the years I have gotten to know many of you and collectively, you are all my heroes. One of my death wishes now is for, in the name of the 48 young people who never came home, that you finally get the justice you deserve."
Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan, who lost sisters Martina and Mary in the fire, told Dublin Live that today is "a very emotional day for all of the families".
"We have huge support from all over the country," she said. "Volunteers have come along to help us out and the support we have gotten to make this day happen is absolutely amazing."
Selina McDermott, who lost two brothers Willie and George, and a sister Marcella, in the fire told Dublin Live that the families "need to be strong" in the weeks leading up to the inquest.
"We have a really tough couple of weeks ahead of us and more than ever we need the support of everybody because as soon as we hit the Pillar Room when the inquest starts, the window of truth is going to be wide open," she said.
"So more than ever we need to be strong and we need the public behind us. We're going to have a lovely day today remembering the 48."
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