On 2 March 1970 the first branch of Samaritans in the Republic of Ireland opened in a single room at 39 Kildare Street, Dublin - a building scheduled for demolition. A handful of volunteers staffed a room in relays for 8.5 hours a day, taking calls on a single telephone and answering the door to an occasional visitor.
Thirty eight years later there are 260 active volunteers in Dublin, manning a large city-centre building for 24 hours a day and dealing with 86,000 contacts a year on six emergency telephone lines, in a number of private interview rooms and on computer for emails.
Time Line
| 2006 | July 24th: Samaritans first celebrates it's 24:7 flag day |
| 2002 | Refurbished Dublin Branch at 112 Marlborough Street opens |
| 2001 | Feet on the Street outreach initiative launches in Temple Bar |
| 1996 | Dublin branch "fosters" the new Samaritans branch in Drogheda |
| 1993 | Dublin branch "fosters" the new Samaritans branch in Newbridge |
| 1993 | Single telephone number to contact Samaritans in Ireland launches |
| 1991 | Samaritan volunteers begin visiting Dublin prisons |
| 1990 | RTÉ broadcasts Listening to Pain on the work of the Dublin branch |
| 1986 | Dublin Samaritans purchases 112 Marlborough Street |
| 1983 | Canon Billy Wynne, Dublin Samaritans founder, is chosen as one of the "Irish People of the Year" |
| 1975 | Dublin branch "fosters" the new Samaritans branch in Galway |
| 1972 | Dublin Samaritans rent 66 South William Street |
| 1972 | Republic's second branch opens in Cork |
| 1971 | Dublin is recognised as a "full branch" |
| 1971 | Dublin Samaritans moves to 85 Harcourt Street |
| 1970 | 1 November - 24 hour service begins |
| 1970 | 2 March - Dublin Samaritans opens for business |
Newsflash
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A BIG Thank You to all those who supported Dublin Samaritans by running the Women's Mini-marathon. Get your cards back soon to be in with a chance of winning a prize. For more info and photos join us on Facebook. |
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