This year, 2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the Samaritans branch in Newry.
The seeds for the growth of the Samaritans of Newry movement were sown at an all-Ireland Alcoholics Anonymous meeting held in Armagh during the early nineteen seventies.
Present at the meeting were a number of clergy from both traditions including the then Cardinal Conway and Archbishop Simms. A subsequent follow up series of information evenings lead to Rev Bill Haslett together with Fr Matt O Hare agreeing to contact the Belfast branch of Samaritans to seek advice on recruitment and training for a Samaritans branch in Newry.
This in turn lead to the director of the Coleraine branch, Rev Brian Liddell along with theirvolunteers supporting the first preparation classes held in the Crown Hotel, Warrenpoint.
Operating with very little finance and borrowed accommodation in Marcus Square Newry, generosity of the Council, the branch opened in January 1973 under the directorship of Matt 1, with Malcolm 2 (Rev Malcolm Graham) as deputy director. The branch offered a service between 4.00pm and 12.00midnight provided by 40 volunteers.
During the first year a committee was formed to oversee the running and finance of the branch. The annual amount required to finance the day-to-day costs of operating the branch was £400.
Fundraising was through flag days, cake sales in Newry Market and in – house weekly draws.
During the early seventies “the troubles” were at their peak. The premises in Marcus Square was severely damaged by a bomb explosion in a nearby drapery store. Two volunteers at the time recall the incident vividly, stories of having to seek a whiskey to steady nerves are retold in the branch to this day. Immediate alternative accommodation was required, luckily some bits and pieces of furniture were rescued from the building and moved to the new location which was two rooms over Brendan Gallagher’s shop, (Mc Evoy’s drapery store).
After a short period in Hill Street, the Mercy Sisters kindly offered the Samaritans the use of a house at 25 Upper Catherine Street. This building was considered to be more suitable as people in distress could enter discreetly. By October 1975 the Newry Samaritans had extended it rota from 10.00am to 1.00am with strenuous efforts being made to offer a 24 hour service. Sleeping accommodation at the time in Upper Catherine Street was basis, in the form of two Camp beds erected each night in the Duty room.
Towards the end of 1975 a decision was taken to set up a fund to purchase a more suitable building, after financial support from Samaritans Headquarters and a grant of £500 from Carnegie United Kingdom trust a premises at 11 Catherine Street was purchased. At that time house to house collections were conducted to support the new house purchase. In 1977 Newry branch hosted the Irish Regional conference, this was recorded at the time as having been very successful. The beginning of the 1980’s brought an increase in the number of bomb attacks in Newry. The proximity of the premises in Catherine Street to the police station left it vulnerable to such attacks with the house sustaining substantial damage on a number of occasions.
April 1980, February 1984, and again in 1985, all saw Police station attacks. The Directors report at the 1986 AGM records severe damage to the house due to two attacks on the RUC station. Apart from the considerable expense involved in repairs to the building, of much concern was the safety of volunteers and visiting clients.
Throughout the late 1980’s much debate took place as to the safety and ongoing risks to volunteers and distressed callers visiting the branch in Catherine street. Angela Nugent in her AGM directors report of 1989 recorded the following: “The location of the Samaritans centre in Catherine Street, Newry leaves much to be desired in ease of access for distressed callers and general ambience. The committee have taken steps to find alternative facilities. My thanks to the Committee of ’89 for their action on relocation and fund raising”.
At that time Angela managed to secure financial contributions from several UK branches in support of the purchase of new premises - Angela is still a volunteer with the Newry branch, our longest serving Volunteer.
In 1991 the current premises at 19 St Colman’s Park was purchased for approximately £47000. The task of restoring the new house was organised by Clanrye and Abbey Development group. This was carried out under an A.C.E. scheme at no cost to the branch except for the cost of purchasing materials.
In May 1993 after nine months in the new premises the branch was officially opened.
In 2015 a survey was undertaken to look at improvements to the facilities in the branch.
Since no major work had been carried out since the purchase of the branch, it was agreed that improvements were needed to improve training and duty rooms in particular.
Fundraising from a variety of sources was undertaken with monies raised from Trust house, Awards for all and Clanrye and Abbey group. This in turn lead to the beginning of a major branch refurbishment in August 2018. A new reception area was created from what previously was an outdoor space between the duty and training rooms. Relocation of duty room booths, and an upgrade to the training room were duly completed. All of this was necessary with the upgrades to Samaritans I T system and up to date training requirements.
In 2023 the branch celebrates its 50 th anniversary.
In Newry, the branch handled over 17000 telephone calls and more than 300 emails to the year ending March 2023, from callers in distress. With a reduction in the number of volunteers between March 2020 due to Covid, as always fundraising is important to ensure we attract and retain new volunteers so that we may answer the growing number of calls.