15.01.2026
25th Dublin Black Santa Sit Out Raises Over €67,000
The 2025 Black Santa Sit Out at St Ann’s, Dawson Street, has raised over €67,000. This was the 25th year of the annual appeal in Dublin and the funds raised will be distributed to local charities at a special service in St Ann’s on February 22.
The appeal was launched outside St Ann’s Church on December 16 by Archbishop Michael Jackson and Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam along with the choir of Kildare Place School.
Volunteers from the parish along with visiting members of the clergy shook their buckets on Dawson Street in all types of weather until Christmas Eve. They were joined daily by a huge range of choirs who added to the festive cheer in the city centre.
The secretary of the Select Vestry, Ruby Morrow, said she was delighted with the result.
“I’m absolutely delighted that we raised an incredible €67,000 – a truly remarkable achievement made possible by the generosity and effort of so many. My heartfelt thanks to every individual and group who supported us in reaching this milestone. A special word of gratitude to Energia for their continued and unwavering support, which means so much. The wonderful choirs who came to sing added such spirit and joy to the event and their contribution helped us immensely,” she commented.
The primary focus of Black Santa’s fundraising efforts was 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. Other charities to benefit are Laura Lynn Foundation and the Solas Project, along with other local charities.
The total of €67,287 will be distributed to representatives of the charity at the service on February 22 at 11am.
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.
Over the last quarter of a century the Dublin appeal has raised over €987,000 and every cent donated has gone to the charities it supports.