Galway Advertiser 1975/1975_10_16/GA_16101975_E1_001.pdf 

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V l 7 N . 4 Tl 678 o. o 1 e. 55 When Talking to a Friend could Save Your Life!
In t h e S u m m e r of 1953 i t w a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e r e were t h r e e suicides a d a y i n G r e a t e r London. B y November of t h e s a m e y e a r people c o n t e m p l a t i n g suicide w e r e invited t o p h o n e M a n s i o n H o u s e 9000. Thus b e g a n T h e S a m a r i t a n s a n d t o d a y t h e r e a r e 154 S a m a r i t a n C e n t r e s . T h e m a n w h o i n s e r t e d t h e notice a a d t h e p h o n e n u m b e r i n t h e n e w s p a p e r s w a s Chad V a r a h , a n Anglican M i n i s t e r , a n d t h e p h o n e n u m b e r is t h a t of h i s c h u r c h , S t . S t e p h e n W a l b r o o k in London . H e decided t h a t s o m e t h i n g o t h e r t h a n what wa s being p r o v i d e d b y t h e very extensive medical a n d social services m u s t b e needed. I f these services w e r e b e i n g u s e d b y a l l w h o needed t h e m t h e staggering figure of m o r e t h a n a t h o u s a n d suicides,a year in London would n o t exist. I t is widely accepted by r e s e a r c h e r s t h a t f o r every suicide t h e r e a r e t e n a t t e m p t e d suicides. C h a d V a r a h decided t h a t h e would offer n o n - m e d i c a l counselling t o these w h o r a n g his p h o n e . H e h a d b e e n t r a i n e d a s a counsellor. Almost b y accident h e discovered t h a t w h a t those who were d e s p e r a t e needed m o s t of all w a s someone t o talk t o . V o l u n t e e r s c a m e i n t o b i s office t o d o o r d i n a r y unskilled c h o r e s while h e g o t o n with h i s counselling. Soon t h e v o l u n t e e r s found t h e m s e l v e s chatting with w a i t i n g clients a n d m u c h t o t h e i r surprise s o m e clients n e v e r w e n t b e y o n d t h e l a y volunteers b u t w e n t h o m e h a p p y . T h e y h a d m a d e a friend. T h e y h a d m e t s o m e o n e w h o gave t h e m t i m e , who listened t o t h e m a n d w h o c a r e d a b o u t t h e m . The S a m a r i t a n s t o d a y n u m b e r close t o 20,000 m e n and women who a r e lay volunteers. If one were to select t h r e e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a l l v o l u n t e e r s o n e would say they listen, they a c c e p t a n d they c a r e . They a r e available o n t h e telephone f o r 24 h o u r s p e r day, 365 days of t h e y e a r . T h e y m a n t h e c e n t r e d u r i n g office h o u r s for those w h o p r e f e r t o call i n . Office hours for t h e S a m a r i t a n s usually m e a n s 9 a.m. t o 10 p . m . They also h a v e a Flying S q u a d which m a y be called o u t a t a n y h o u r of t h e d a y o r n i g h t f o r emergencies. SAMARITANS IN IRELAND There a r e thirteen Samaritan Centres in Ireland and all b u t t h r e e a r e i n t h e N o r t h . T h e r e is a c e n t r e in Dublin, C o r k a n d L i m e r i c k a n d o n e is t o o p e n shortly i n Waterford. I t is said t h a t t h e r e a r e a t least two " n a t u r a l S a m a r i t a n s " i n every s t r e e t i n o u r cities a n d towns. T h e y a r e people w h o w a n t t o h e l p , who would n e v e r p a s s b y o n t h e o t h e r side like t h e priest a n d t h e Levite of t h e p a r a b l e . A n d yet in a l l of our cities a n d towns t h e r e a r e t h o s e w h o a r e lonely, isolated, sick a n d d i s p i r i t e d , a n d w h o feel n o one c a n help because n o one c a r e s . S u c h people a r e d r i v e n t o the edge of d e s p a i r a n d s o m e d o t a k e t h e i r own lives. The lonely a n d d e s p e r a t e belong t o a l l a g e g r o u p s and all social classes. T h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c c o m m o n t o t h e m is t h a t t h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g v e r y m u c h a m i s s i n their present e n v i r o n m e n t a n d t h e r e is n o one t o whom they feel thay c a n t u r n for help. T h i s , above all, is t h e g a p t h e S a m a r i t a n s t r y t o fill. O n c e a n individual dials t h e S a m a r i t a n s p h o n e n u m b e r o r calls to t h e c e n t r e t h e first c h a n g e h a s a l r e a d y t a k e n place i n h i s e n v i r o n m e n t -- h e n o w h a s a friend. S a m a r i t a n v o l u n t e e r s go t h r o u g h quite a rigorous f selection p r o c e d u r e . They first of a l l volunteer b y ? entering t h e i r n a m e s o n a f o r m . A n interview follows. I Those felt t o b e suitable after t h e interview a r e invited to a t t e n d p r e p a r a t i o n courses of a b o u t six lectures a n d a f u r t h e r selection i s t h e n m a d e . E v e n when they a r e finally w o r k i n g a s volunteers S a m a r itans a r e still being t r a i n e d o n a n ongoing b a s i s a n d this really n e v e r ceases. SYMPATHETIC LISTENERS The S a m a r i t a n s a r e v e r y definitely n o n - p r o f e s sionals. They d o n o t ever t r y t o t a k e t h e place of professional m e d i c a l a n d p a r a - m e d i c a l people. T h e y

A 6 v e r t i s e r
Galway Steps Ahead In Oil Base Race ?
Galway is t h e ideal loca tion suitable for servicing t h e oil i n d u s t r y . T h i s a n nouncement made by the sizeable Burtoft Offshore Technical Services of Y a r m o u t h w h o joined with a D u b l i n consultancy firm last week. T h e ffrm, I r i s h Offshore Technical S e r vices of D u b l i n , m a i n t a i n t h a t f r o m t h e i r initial survey of s u i t a b l e a r e a s Galway p r o v i d e d t h e ideal c e n t r e in I r e l a n d a n d a d d ed t h a t t w o o r t h r e e oil companies were also interested. This is certainly t h e first indication t h a t Galway may be drawing ahead in t h e s c r a m b l e for a service base which is being keenly contested between o u r selves, Foynes in t h e S h a n n o n E s t u a r y , Fenit i n C o . K e r r y a n d Cork. T o b e t h e m a i n services b a s e is a m o s t a t t r a c t i v e proposition for local b u s i nesses a n d e m p l o y m e n t . As a result of cries of " B e p r e p a r e d " from the Co. M a n a g e r , t h e Co. Develop m e n t T e a m a n d t h e Cham b e r of C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y Galway business houses a n d relevant i n d u s t r i e s have been gearing for t h e eventuality. T o p r o v i d e t h e essential m a c h i n e r y , supplies a n d p a r t s d u r i n g initial e x p l o r a t i o n stages off t h e West coast will a m o u n t to a n i n d u s t r y w o r t h m a n y h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of p o u n d s . If oil is found this service i n d u s t r y will b e w o r t h millions. given to buying h e l i c o p t e r s which would p r o v e invaluable for ferrying personnel t o a n d f r o m d r i l l i n g rigs. Yet despite activity a n d e x c i t e m e n t a t a local level I r e l a n d ' s oil expectations received f u r t h e r setbacks with t h e recent news t h a t more companies are pull ing o u t of e x p l o r a t i o n . This is r e g a r d e d a s q u i t e a blow considering t h a t a n o t h e r r o u n d of licences a r e d u e t o be issued in t h e next few weeks. Celtic O i l a r e in fact winding u p a n d t h e i r m a i n p a r t n e r s Newm o n t I n t e r n a t i o n a l have a n n o u n c e d t h a t they will not b e seeking f u r t h e r G a e l t a r r a E i r e a n n is exclusive licences. Main, also r e p o r t e d t o b e "well r e a s o n s given a r e t h a t a d v a n c e d " i n talks with seismic indications a r e n o t four i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m t h a t good a n d t h e a c t u a l panies which, it is u n d e r cost of exploration h a s stood, will b e established doubled since 1972. Silvermines have a n in t h e West in t i m e t o m e e t t h e 1976 drilling nounced they a r e t o scale down t h e i r holding in t h e dead-line. G a e l t a r r a will certainly play a m a j o r A r a n - B P g r o u p (which is role in t h e oil s e a r c h . T h e y the c o m p a n y exploring off offer t h e facilities of o n e the South-West of Galway. of t h e m o s t m o d e r n c o m These a n n o u n c e m e n t s d o p u t e r services in E u r o p e leave a growing list of a t F u r b o . They a r e i n Irish firms seeking m o r e volved in m a r i n e e n g i n foreign p a r t n e r s . Although eering, plastics a n d hotels. t h e r e is a possibility t h a t company They c a n also p r o v i d e a s e m i - S t a t e a i r l i n e services a n d c o n could take u p t h e stake s i d e r a t i o n is now being being released b y Silver* mines.

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a r e t a u g h t t o recognize t h e need t o r such e x p e r t help a n d p a r t of t h e i r job is t o help t h e client t o see t h a t h e h a s this need. They never t r y t o i m p o s e t h e i r own will o r opinions o n clients. They never t r y t o " c o n v e r t " h i m t o t h e i r own beliefs e i t h e r i n t h e religious o r m o r a l s p h e r e . They a r e accepting, n o n - j u d g m e n t a l , s y m p a t h e t i c listeners. Just a s those calling on t h e S a m a r i t a n s c o m e f r o m diverse b a c k g r o u n d s a n d all age g r o u p s so t o o d o S a m a r i t a n s c o m e f r o m diverse b a c k g r o u n d s a n d all age g r o u p s so too d o S a m a r i t a n s themselves cover t h e whole s p e c t r u m of age, b a c k g r o u n d , education, religion (or n o religion). I r e l a n d h a s a very low declared suicide r a t e a n d t h e w o r k of t h e S a m a r i t a n s is b y n o m e a n s confined to suicide prevention. T h e D u b l i n c e n t r e h a d m o r e t h a n 23,000 calls last y e a r a n d over 3,000 w e r e n e w clients. O f t h e n e w clients t h e largest n u m b e r p r e s ented with m a r i t a l p r o b l e m s -- a l m o s t one-sixth of the total. Of these m o r e t h a n one fifth h a d suicidal tendencies. T h i s m e a n s t h a t m a r i t a l p r o b l e m s a l m o s t drove 100 t o e n d t h e i r lives. I n t h e o t h e r 400 t h e p r o b l e m s w e r e sufficiently distressing t o cause t h e clients t o seek S a m a r i t a n help. A d i s t u r b i n g o n e q u a r t e r who w e r e listed a s "lonely" felt suicidal a n d even m o r e frightening is t h a t m o r e t h a n one t h i r d of those involved i n c r i m e felt suicidal. GALWAY M E E T I N G A public m e e t i n g t o l a u n c h t h e Galway b r a n c h of T h e S a m a r i t a n s will take place o n T h u r s d a y , 23rd O c t o b e r , a t 8.30 p . m . I t will b e held i n t h e Mercy Convent H a l l a t Newtownsmyth i n Galway city. Speakers w h o will tell those p r e s e n t all a b o u t T h e S a m a r i t a n s include M r . C h a r l e s Mitchel of R.T.E.,

Tusa. 1t Ot br 17 hrdy 6 co e. 95 h

SUIT YOURSELF !
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Charles Mitchell will speak at Galwav meeting F r . J i m Condon, National D i r e c t o r of T h e S a m a r i t a n s a n d M a r t i n M c H u g h , Psychologist, U.C.G. Also o n t h e p l a t f o r m will b e two young S a m a r i t a n v o l u n t e e r s a b o y a n d g i r l f r o m Dublin. T h e M a y o r of Galway, CUr. M a r y B y r n e h a s also a g r e e d t o b e p r e s e n t . T h e C h a i r m a n of t h e Steering C o m m i t t e e is Luke D i l l o n - M a h o n of Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, a n d h e will c h a i r t h e p u b l i c m e e t i n g . T h e r e will be f o r m s available a t t h e m e e t i n g , to .be filled i n by those w h o would like t o volunteer t h e i r services in a n y w a y a n d all volunteers will b e called f o r i n t e r view t w o weeks after t h e p u b l i c m e e t i n g . A t o t a l o f 120 volunteers will be needed t o o p e r a t e t h e Galway centre a n d m a n y o t h e r s will be needed for o t h e r kinds of h e l p , n o t p r i m a r i l y of t h e befriending t y p e . I t i s expected t h a t t h e Galway S a m a r i t a n s will be In operation in February o r March.

WEST TYPIFIES CONCERN FOR POOR REGIONS
concern for o u t ag a r e a s a n d t h e c o m ptment to e n s u r e t h a t n o [ion should b e left h e ld in E u r o p e ' s evolving ver a n d p r o s p e r i t y w a s t h e m e a n d genuine Sire of t h e first Convenl n of the A u t h o r i t i e s of tropean Peripheral R e bns held in Galway t h i s iek. An i m p o r t a n t con a t i o n ; t h e first of i t s fed since t h e founding of t h e Council of E u r o p e i n I949, a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to record for redress t h e growing concern that pros perity in Europe favours already prosperous areas while p e r i p h e r a l regions benefit little, i f a t a l l . T h e choice o f G a l w a y f o r t h e conference w a s n o t a gesture t o tourists i n terests. Rather to emphas i s e t h a t r e g i o n s j u s t like t h e West o f I r e l a n d , w h i c h a r e found i n p o c k e t s

throughout Europe, a r e t y p i c a l of t h e i m b a l a n c e t h a t exists. T h e West of I r e l a n d f u r t h e r highlights t h e need for s i m i l a r d e velopment opportunities as c e n t r a l regions enjoy. O v e r 200 r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of Regional A u t h o r i t i e s f r o m eighteen m e m b e r states of t h e Council of E u r o p e a t t e n d e d . Despite I r e l a n d b e i n g o n e of t h e founder countries of t h e Council o f E u r o p e , l a s t T u e s d a y w a s t h e first t i m e t h a t t h e Council's flag--a circle of twelve gold s t a r s on a blue b a c k g r o u n d -- flew a t E y r e S q u a r e . ' St. Patrick's Brass Band m a r k e d t h e opening c e r e m o n i e s b y playing t h e European Anthem and the M a y o r of Galway, Cllr. M a r y B y r n e greeted t h e delegates. She said that through the centuries Galway had

always been a n o u t w a r d looking city with a long t r a d i t i o n of t r a d i n g with F r a n c e a n d S p a i n . Since the 19th c e n t u r y , however, m a t e r i a l exchange was r e placed by tourism a n d a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l flavour still exists o n t h e city's i n d u s t r i a l estate w h e r e foreign enterprises were welcom ed. T h e M a y o r c o m p l i mented the Council's choice of Galway for t h e i r conference a s h e r e o n t h e very p e r i p h e r y of E u r o p e there was acute awareness of t h e difficulties of d i s tance a n d the problems of under development. Speaking o n b e h a l f of t h e Irish G o v e r n m e n t M r . Michael Begley, T.D., P a r liamentary Secretary to t h e M i n i s t e r f o r Finance, (Continued on Back Page)

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