17.12.2025
Dublin’s 25th Black Santa Sit Out Officially Underway
The 2025 Dublin Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s Church is now underway on Dawson Street in the city centre. The appeal, now in its 25th year, was officially launched yesterday (Tuesday December 16) by Archbishop Michael Jackson and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam along with the choir of Kildare Place National School.
The sit out continues right up until Christmas Eve and donations can be made in person with cash or card, or online via the parish website www.stannsandststephens.ie.
The primary focus of Black Santa’s fundraising efforts will be charities that support people in homelessness in the city. These include: St Vincent de Paul, Simon, The Samaritans, Salvation Army, Protestant Aid, Alice Leahy Trust, Capuchin Day Centre, Barnardos and Focus Ireland as well as Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project, along with other local charities.
Speaking at the launch, secretary of the Select Vestry Ruby Morrow, said the Black Santa Sit Out had become a tradition at St Ann’s. “The appeal launched today has been taking place here for over 20 years. We have collectors out on the street every day, many choirs come and a lot of schools come. We raised €66,000 last year and we’re hoping to raise more money than that this year. Most of the money will go to homeless charities and every cent raised goes to charity,” she commented.
Archbishop Jackson encouraged people to support this year’s appeal and paid tribute to the volunteers who make it happen every year. “Over the last 24 years the dedicated clergy and people of St Ann’s have raised over €900,000 for local charities. They have stood outside the church on Dawson Street in all weather conditions shaking their buckets and have welcomed and fed the many choirs who have added their voices to support the appeal. Their endeavours and the generosity of the people of Dublin in their donations have made a real difference to the lives of people served by the charities Black Santa supports,” he said. “I wish the team well this year and in these times when so many people are struggling, I encourage all who can donate to do so.”
The Parish of St Ann’s and St Stephen’s has thanked the Energia Group for their continued generous support for the Black Santa Appeal. Their head of corporate affairs, Derek Scully, attended the launch.
A huge array of choirs will join Black Santa each lunchtime and throughout the day, to bring festive cheer to Dawson Street.
Black Santa first sat out in Dublin 25 years ago when the former Vicar of St Ann’s, Canon Tom Haskins, took inspiration from a similar appeal in Belfast which has been run by successive Deans of St Anne’s Cathedral. It became known as the Black Santa appeal because of the long heavy black cloaks worn by the clergy to keep out the cold.
Last year, the Black Santa appeal raised €66,000. Over the past 24 years the Dublin sit out has raised over €920,000 with every cent donated going to the charities it supports.
