The Samaritans Annual Christmas Festival Concert will be held in the Friary Church, Athlone on Thursday December 9 at 8pm.
It will feature the Army Band of the 4th Western Brigade conducted by Capt Declan Whitston; Simon Casey, popular Midland soloist; Athlone folk group Anam; and St Peter’s school choir.
Tickets are priced at €10 and are available from Musicworld, Golden Island Shopping Centre and Castle Gift Shop, Castle Street, Athlone.
Athlone Midland Samaritans opened their doors with 68 volunteers on February 2 1992. Since then it has depended on the Midlands community in Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, and Roscommon for both financial support and a continuing cohort of volunteers. It is a completely voluntary organisation and no one in the organisation receives any payment. The Athlone Samaritans are situated at 3, Court Devenish, Athlone. There are presently 75 active volunteers in the branch.
The Samaritans offer completely confidential, non-judgemental emotional support 24 hours a day, by phone, email, and personal contact. Samaritans want a society where fewer people end their own lives by suicide and where people are able to talk openly about their feelings and respect the feeling of others. The reality is that everyone gets low periods or reaches a crisis from time to time. This is part of life but it can be very hard to cope at such times.
The Samaritans offer people the time and space to organise their thoughts and generate positive options for moving through such a difficult period. They are there for anyone experiencing distress, isolation, despair, loneliness, bereavement, job loss, exam stress, financial worries, family problems, or simply a feeling of being unable to go on - whatever they are dealing with - they don’t have to deal with it alone. No matter what the problem is the Samaritans are available to offer support at any hour day or night. The Samaritans are available at 1850 60 90 90 24 hours a day, 365 days a year or you can contact them at [email protected].
