The Galway Samaritans are having their first recruitment drive of the year. They will have an open meeting in the branch for anyone who wants information on how to volunteer, on Tuesday January 20th at 7:30 pm in the Samaritans centre at 14 Nun’s Island, Galway.
Samaritan Listening volunteers are there for anyone who needs someone. For nearly half a century, the Samaritans have been a vital source of comfort and connection for people across Galway and the surrounding areas.
The branch is the third oldest in Ireland and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in April 2026. It first opened at St. Brendan’s Avenue before moving to 14 Nuns Island in the early 1980s, where it has been ever since.
Today, its 110 active volunteers support callers from all walks of life, who may be experiencing distress, despair, loneliness or isolation, or may simply need someone to talk to.
To reach more people across the region, a satellite branch was opened in Castlebar in 2023 and now has around 25 to 30 listening volunteers.
