SVP marks anniversary at plaque unveiling

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) marked its 175th anniversary in Ireland this month with the unveiling of a plaque in Charles Street West.

The plaque is located on the site where the first meeting to form the charity took place.

The unveiling of the plaque on Ormond Building was performed by Kieran Stafford, SVP national president, and Bernie Hogan, president of St Michan’s Conference, which was the first conference of SVP to be established in 1844.

On Monday, December 16, 1844, at 8.30pm, seven men, including two clergymen, held a meeting at the White Cross Rooms in Charles Street West in the Parish of St Michan to plan the introduction of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland.

In the following year they went on to establish five branches throughout Dublin.

Now, 175 years later, SVP is the best known and most widely supported organisation of social concern and action in Ireland, with over 11,500 volunteers and 1,200 conferences active in every county, serving the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities.

Since its foundation, the society has provided help and support to those most in need, through the Famine in the 19th century, two World Wars, the Easter Rising, the Civil War and cycles of economic austerity.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, SVP national president Kieran Stafford said: “Sadly today, we still see poverty in many different situations and circumstances. There are almost 750,000 living below the poverty line, including 100,000 people at work; record numbers of homeless; 50 per cent of lone parent families experiencing deprivation; and 61 percent of families struggling with education costs.”

He added: “We know and meet the people behind these figures every week, bringing friendship and support.”