Samaritans Longest Night calls on landmarks and buildings go green on Tuesday, December 21

Samaritans Longest Night – Pictured above is Director of the Samaritan’s Limerick and Tipperary Branch Catherine Slater and Jade Hoynes, who completed a 250km Triathlon within 24 hours and donated €2,875 to the Samaritans.

Samaritans Longest Night calls on landmarks and buildings go green on Tuesday, December 21

By I Love Limerick Correspondent Ann Mc Donald

Samaritans on Barrington Street will light up on Tuesday, December 21, to show they are available to you during your darkest hours

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Samaritans are doing a national Christmas campaign called ‘Samaritans Longest Night,’ which calls on landmarks and buildings to go green to mark the longest night of the year on Tuesday, December 21 to show people that the Samaritans are there for them during the long nights.  

The Samaritans will be fundraising around Carl Scarpa in the city centre from 12pm to 4pm on the day, and hope to see people come out in support.

“We have had a very positive response from local businesses and managers of buildings to lighting up in green,” Lorraine Thornbury of the Limerick Samaritans said.

Catherine Slater, Director of the Samaritan’s Limerick and Tipperary Branch, said, “We really want to thank anyone who is supporting Samaritans Longest Night to help spread the message that we’re there for everyone during the long dark winter nights.”

“I would also like to extend a very special thanks to Jade Hoynes who completed her grueling 250km Triathlon within 24 hours raising a much-appreciated cheque for €2,875.”  

TUS, The Rock of Cashel, and a number of businesses and hotels are among the many buildings/landmarks turning green to support the Samaritans Longest Night Christmas campaign. 

As Christmas can be a dark time for people, the Samaritans in Limerick and Tipperary would like to remind those in need that their helpline will remain open 24hrs a day during the Christmas period. 

If you are finding this festive season especially difficult know that you are not alone. It’s okay to have mixed feelings, especially after the last few years of uncertainty.

No matter what time of year though we are always here to support you ? https://t.co/VsnMCmZzSJ pic.twitter.com/D8VubBG6Wd

— Samaritans (@samaritans) December 15, 2021

Catherine said, “It has been a really difficult year for so many people with the pandemic affecting so many people’s health and wellbeing and this will be a very different Christmas for many people. 

“We know that people struggle more at Christmas, as it’s a time when loneliness can really hit home. We want people to know that we are available 24/7 for everyone on freephone 116 123 or email [email protected].”

Samaritans are the only all-island 24-hour emotional support freephone helpline. They answer over half a million calls a year, with volunteers answering more than 35,000 calls in Ireland last December, including almost 1,000 contacts on Christmas Day alone. 

People can show their support for the Samaritans Longest Night by using the hashtags #samaritanslongestnight and #longestnight and tagging @SamaritansIRL on your social media.

Businesses looking to take part in the Samaritans Longest Night can contact limerick.director@samaritans.org or [email protected]. 

If you, or anyone you know, would like to contact Samaritans, they are available for contact for free 24/7 on 116 123, or you can email [email protected], or visit their website.

To donate to the Samaritans Limerick and Tipperary branch go HERE 

For more stories about the Samaritans go HERE