*Anna Mannion, Fran Best & Miriam Simon. Photograph: Tom Micks
SOROPTIMISTS are set to hand over €14k to Samaritans thanks to their recent Charity Dinner.
On Saturday, the Ennis & District Branch of a women’s group raised €9,600 during their Nollaig na mBan Charity Dinner at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, bringing their Samaritans donation to a grand total of €14,000 after a previous coffee morning in November.
According to Soroptimists Ennis & District Branch Manager, Mary Hanley, “They’re going to use the money for a new front and back door, to upgrade their comms room, and pay towards a ramp that they recently put into the facility to make it accessible for disabled persons.”
Kildysart-native Hanley told The Clare Echo that Samaritans in Ennis handle around 20,000 calls a year. With 120-130 volunteers, they aimed to raise awareness and spread the word on their availability through this fundraiser.
“It’s a substantial amount of money to raise for Samaritans that helps them keep the lights on, keep the place warm, and upgrade the facility in Kilrush Road further for the welfare of their volunteers.” Hanley explained, “The branch relies entirely on fundraising and donations.”
Music from Soloist Freyja Evans, sixth-year student from St. Caimin’s Community School in Shannon, set the scene while food served by the Old Ground Hotel wrapped up the “tremendous” event. With 190 women in the room, Hanley described it as a “vibrant and enjoyable afternoon”. So much so that when it came time for the event to finish just after 6pm, “people didn’t want to leave, people were staying on chatting.”
Prizes that were on offer consisted of vouchers and products from various Clare businesses: Collins Jewellers, Blackbird, Old Ground Hotel, Dromoland Castle, County Boutique, Nozomi Shoe Boutique, Ennis Carpets, and Vaughans Garden Centre.
In attendance was Mary Considine, Clare Person of the Year 2025. Considine was appointed CEO of Iarnród Éireann in October 2025 and was previously CEO of The Shannon Airport Group. Last year, Considine was named Clare Person of the Year by the Clare Association Dublin for demonstrating outstanding leadership in Irish aviation and regional development. As the first female CEO of Shannon Airport, she has successfully guided the organisation through periods of challenges and growth.
“Because of her profile, success, and the fact that the Dublin Association named her as the Clare Person of the Year, I thought she was an excellent speaker to have at her first event,” Hanley explained. “Mary is a trailblazer and is an inspirational leader.”
Other guests that attended included MC Ciana Campbell and Deputy Director of Samaritans Ennis & Clare Ann McNamara. Campbell has a broadcasting career spanning two decades, where she presented a wide variety of programmes on RTÉ radio and television, and McNamara joined Samaritans in 2016, taking up the roles of Director of Volunteer Care in 2018, Director of Recruitment and Retention in 2020, and Deputy Director in 2023.
“Nollaig na mBan is a tradition rooted in community, connection and care, and it feels especially meaningful to celebrate it in support of a charity whose very purpose is to be there for people when they need compassion most.”
Soroptimists, made up of the Latin words ‘soro’ meaning ‘sister and ‘optima’ meaning ‘best’, helps to transform the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.
As Branch Manager, Hanley works with her team to organise events across the year. They have recently held a public speaking competition, a human trafficking awareness campaign, and took part in the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign.
The organisation was originally set up in 1921 in Oakland, California. In 1934, the Federation of Soroptimists International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) was founded and has continued to thrive since, bringing 15 active clubs to Ireland.
“We greatly appreciate the support of donors and all who helped in any way,” said Hanley. If people are interested in talking to Samaritans, contact Ann McNamara by emailing ann.mcnamara@samaritans.org or calling 085 1763491.
