Record donations to Dublin ‘Black Santa’ appeal

The 2015 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann's Church on Dublin's Dawson Street was the most successful ever yielding a record €41,400 for charity, the largest amount collected in the appeal's 15-year history. The sit out took place at the city centre church in the days running up to Christmas.

The money collected will be distributed at a special service in St Ann's on Sunday at 11am. The preacher will be Archdeacon of Dublin David Pierpoint.

Vicar of St Ann's Canon David Gillespie paid tribute to all who had contributed and helped with the appeal.

“All in all, the 2015 appeal is, by far, one of the most memorable for a variety of reasons and serves as a reminder to us of the importance of the witness of this city centre parish.”

The charities that will receive money from the appeal include: Solas Project, Protestant Aid, the Church of Ireland Bishops' Flood Appeal, the Homeless Agency Trust, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Salvation Army, Dublin Simon, the Laura Lynn Foundation, the Samaritans, the Brabazon Trust, Pact, Hear 2 Help, and Aware.

Every cent of the €41,400 collected will be divided among them.

The annual appeal is modelled on a similar one that has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for many years.

It became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by clergy to keep warm.