For nearly half a century, the Samaritans have been a vital source of comfort and connection for people across Galway and the surrounding areas. Operating from Nuns’ Island, with a satellite service in Castlebar, the Galway branch is the third oldest in Ireland and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next April.
With 110 active volunteers supporting the service locally, the Samaritans offer a lifeline to anyone experiencing emotional distress, loneliness, or simply needing someone to talk to.
Having volunteered for more than 12 years, Damien shared insight into what it truly means to be a Samaritan, the depth of their training, and how the organisation continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of the community.
Listening without judgment
Simply put, the Samaritans’ main hope is that fewer people die by suicide. “Being a part of the Samaritans is to be non-judgmental. We are not a traditional talking therapy. We are doing most of the listening rather than the talking.
“We believe that by listening to people, they can come to their own conclusions about what might be in their best interest,” explained Damien.
The Samaritans are there to support people in emotional distress, but also to assist those who just need a chat.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a Samaritan must complete an extensive training course. The first part is a 10-week course, offered both online and face-to-face, culminating in an evaluation.
For successful individuals, a listening role will be offered, while those who are not will be assigned a different role within the organisation.
After successfully completing the training course, you will receive in-person mentoring and sit in on calls with experienced volunteers, and learn in-person how to deal with distressing calls. The whole process can take up to 18 months to become a full listening volunteer.
There is complete confidentiality when calling the Samaritans. However, like any organisation, the Samaritans must adhere to the law when it comes to overriding anonymity, always acting in the best interest of the person making the call.
“When you ring, your call goes through a waiting system, which is connected to volunteers throughout Ireland, and you get the next available person, so although you might not get someone in your area, you will get someone in some part of Ireland,” said Damien.
Expanding services to support every caller
“Young people prefer to communicate through online chat, and that’s a service we hope to introduce in the coming years,” outlines Damien. The Samaritans are prepared to support callers with any issue, regardless of the severity.
“Quite a significant number of calls relate to mental health, and over the past five or six years,” explained Damien, “the loneliness epidemic has really come to the forefront. Financial issues and unemployment are things we get calls about, too.”
For some, the Samaritans have been a steady presence for decades. “We have people who have contacted the Samaritans for up to 30 years. Sometimes people will call us, and it’s the only person they have spoken to that day.
“The run-up to Christmas can be a difficult period for lots of people, and we find we get a lot more callers during that time. It is essential to note that the Samaritans branch is open all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, staffed by volunteers,” clarified Damien.
Third-party service
In Nuns’ Island, the Samaritans have a face-to-face room at the front of the building. Galway is one of only three branches of the Samaritans offering this facility.
The Mayo branch was set up in Castlebar as a satellite service to the branch in Galway. Previously, the closest branches were located in Sligo, Limerick, Ennis, or Athlone. The Mayo branch has been open for two and a half years and has between 25 and 30 listening volunteers.
The Samaritans also offer a third-party call service. This is where a concerned family member or friend can call the Samaritans about someone’s well-being. If the person of concern agrees to a time and a date, a Samaritan can call them for a check-in.
Volunteers of all ages
“Our volunteers range from our oldest, who is 90, to our youngest, who is about 19,” Damien shared. Many who join the Samaritans have been touched by suicide in some way, whether directly or indirectly, and this often shapes their motivation to help others.
Each volunteer brings his or her own reasons for being there, but all are united by the same shared vision.
Prospective volunteers undergo a selection process before commencing their training. For many, the experience of listening to others becomes deeply meaningful.
“When I go about my duty and listen to people, I come out, and it puts my small problems into perspective; it gives balance to my life,” Damien noted.
Volunteers can choose from three different shifts: office hours, twilight hours, and nighttime hours. The Galway branch operates for office hours and twilight hours shifts every day, with additional nighttime coverage on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Safety and support are always prioritised. “Nobody’s ever alone in the building. There are two phones separated by a booth, so you are always in the line of sight of another volunteer,” he explained.
At the heart of the Samaritans’ ethos is empathy. Volunteers are trained to listen without judgment, to offer presence rather than advice, and to create a space where callers feel heard and understood.
Those interested in getting involved can sign up at open evenings at the Nuns’ Island office or apply online.
Donors and fundraising
All the funding raised locally is allocated to the Galway branch. The Samaritans are lucky enough to have fundraisers carried out on their behalf.
The University of Galway Medical Society, unfortunately, lost a classmate and good friend to suicide, so in his honour, set up an event called “shave a life” where people shaved their heads and raised money to donate to the Samaritans. The Samaritans are also lucky enough to have legacies donated to them.
The Samaritans is a completely volunteer-led organisation, meaning 100 per cent of the money raised locally goes to the local branches. It relies solely on the goodwill of the public for donations, with help from some state-funded charity grants.
Upcoming events
The Samaritans have an upcoming street collection on December 21 to raise vital funds for the organisation. This event coincides with the longest night of the year, an event close to the Samaritans.
“Although street collections are an important part of funding, the shift to cards has made it more difficult to collect money, which forces us to think of alternative ways of funding,” said Damien.
The Galway branch of Samaritans is having its 50th anniversary celebration next April, 24 and 25, where all the Samaritan branches from Ireland and Northern Ireland will participate in talks centred around the year’s themes, this year’s themes being AI and the role of Samaritans in the community
Mission unchanged
As the Samaritans approaches it’s 50th year in Galway, it’s mission remains unchanged: to ensure that no one faces struggles alone.
Their Volunteers continue to give their time, compassion, and ears to anyone who needs them, day or night, every day of the year. “It is important to know that if you ring the Samaritans, you will be answered.”
For more information on upcoming events, for information on how to become a volunteer or to donate to the Galway Samaritans, visit www.samaritans.org/branches/galway, or visit the office at 14 Nuns Island, Galway.
