Beginnings

Senior Help Line was established in 1998 by Mary Nally, chairperson of Third Age Foundation and launched by its patron, President Mary McAleese. It is modelled on an Italian befriending project, Silver Thread (‘Filo D’Argento’) and began with 32 volunteers offering hours of six listening per week.

Today the national service is provided by in excess of 320 volunteers in 15 centres, open every day, including Christmas Day and offering a total of 72 listening hours per week. Our centres are located in Ballyfermot, Cavan, Cork, Drogheda, Dundalk, Finglas, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Naas, Sligo, Summerhill, Tallaght, Waterford and Wexford.