The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
PROMINENT buildings in Ennis will be illuminated on the longest day of the year to highlight the Samaritans’ Christmas campaign.
Clare County Council headquarters, the Active Ennis Leisure Complex and Clare Youth Centre will all be lit up in green on December 21 in solidarity with the Samaritans and to show people the service is available to them in their darkest hours.
Director of the Ennis and Clare branch of the Samaritans Margaret McMahon said, “We’re getting buildings to light up in green and if more could it’d be welcome.
“It’s just to raise awareness that the Samaritans are there and we picked the longest night. It’s to emphasise that at this time of year when the clocks go back and Christmas is coming it can be a really tough time.
“I think I got my first call about Christmas back in August. People really think about it and worry.”
She said that in recent weeks people have been concerned that they may not see their loved ones for Christmas.
“A big thing now is that people have family members away and they’re hoping that they’ll get home. There’s that isolation and loneliness. The whole Covid situation has made people more anxious.”
Margaret says the Samaritans have had a very busy year, with people’s resolve and patience again tested by the pandemic.
“Around November on the phones you’d have noticed that people were just tired of it, and they were getting worried again as well, getting anxious.
“Another thing, places like Day Centres were closed and people were left very isolated because of that.”
She said that when backward steps had to be taken away from opening up society, it proved very difficult for some people.
“There is a certain amount of frustration, we get calls from people with businesses as well, they do everything they can and things change again and they don’t know where they are.”
The Samaritans are available to the public 24/7, but with Covid curtailing people’s movements, it has been very challenging at certain times to keep providing the same service.
“Particularly in the last wave, a number of people have had to step back because they have been close contacts and things like that. That has been significant and it has impacted on the shifts we can provide.”
While Christmas can be a happy time for many, for others the festive season compounds issues they are dealing with.
“I suppose the loneliness and isolation is sadder in a sense, because there is a perception that everyone else is out there with family and friends having a good time.
“The other side of it is you have families under a lot of pressure, with rows or domestic abuse.”
Volunteers will keep the local branch of the Samaritans open throughout Christmas, something that requires a lot of commitment.
“Generally, what I’d say is it is a privilege that people will talk to you, trust you and share what’s going on in their lives. Everybody in the branch would say they get more out of it than they give,” says Margaret.
“It’s a great privilege to be there when people really need you and you know you’re making a difference.
“You could be talking to an asylum seeker who is finding it really tough or a mother who is experiencing domestic abuse or trying to find money, or a parent who is missing their child or a farmer who hasn’t seen anyone for some time.
“It’s a real privilege that people will reach out and talk to you and share with you.”
The Clare & Ennis branch of the Samaritans will celebrate 40 years in existence next year. In November it was one of the finalists in the Charity Impact awards.
· Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.ie or visit www.samaritans.org/ireland/branches/ennis/
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
