Finding support in Galway: A guide to local resources

This article is supported by Cuan, The National Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency.

Experiencing sexual violence can be isolating and overwhelming, but support is available and you do not have to face it alone. Across Ireland, a network of dedicated services exists to provide confidential support, medical care and counselling for anyone affected.

Through the Always Here campaign, led by Cuan, the aim is to ensure that victims or survivors of sexual violence know that help is available and that reaching out can be the first step towards recovery. The campaign reinforces a simple but powerful message: if you seek help, you will be listened to, believed and supported.

Support services are available whether the experience happened recently or many years ago, and whether or not someone chooses to report what happened.

Local Rape Crisis Centres: A safe place to talk

Rape Crisis Centres provide confidential support, information and counselling to people affected by sexual violence. These services are available to all genders, and individuals can access support regardless of when the incident occurred.

For many people, the first step is simply making a phone call. When you contact a Rape Crisis Centre, trained staff or volunteers will listen without judgement and provide information about the supports available. They can help you explore your options and guide you towards the services that may be helpful.

Counselling is a central part of the support offered. It provides a private and supportive space to talk through feelings and experiences with a trained professional. The aim is not to erase what happened, but to help ensure that the experience no longer controls someone’s day-to-day life.

Everyone’s healing process is different. Some people attend counselling for a small number of sessions, while others may choose to continue for longer. The pace and focus are always led by the individual.

Importantly, you do not need to report the incident to An Garda Síochána or attend a medical examination in order to access counselling from a Rape Crisis Centre. See their website and helpline here. 

Sexual Assault Treatment Units: Medical care and support

If someone has experienced a rape or sexual assault in the last seven days, they can attend a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU). These specialised units provide medical care in a safe, respectful and non-judgemental environment.

SATUs are staffed by professionals trained specifically to support people who have experienced sexual assault. They provide treatment for injuries, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, emergency contraception and access to follow-up counselling services.

A person can attend a SATU with or without Garda involvement. In fact, there are three options available:

• Receive medical care only

• Receive medical care and have forensic evidence collected and stored in case they wish to report the assault later

• Receive medical care and report the incident to An Garda Síochána while evidence is collected

Forensic evidence can be preserved for up to a year, meaning individuals do not need to make an immediate decision about reporting.

Rape Crisis Centres can also arrange for trained volunteers to accompany someone to a SATU for emotional support if they wish.

Support for people affected by historical abuse

For those who experienced sexual abuse earlier in life, specialised organisations also offer support.

One such service is One in Four, an Irish charity dedicated to supporting people affected by childhood sexual abuse. For more than two decades, the organisation has worked to break the silence and stigma that can surround abuse and to provide tailored support services for those impacted.

Their services include:

• Therapeutic support, including individual and group counselling led by qualified therapists

• Advocacy, supporting individuals through the criminal justice process, including court accompaniment and Garda interviews

• Family support, helping relatives process and understand the impact of abuse

• Prevention programmes, designed to reduce harm and support safer communities

These services recognise that the impact of abuse can be complex and long-lasting, and that support may be needed many years after the events themselves.

The Always Here campaign aims to ensure that victims and survivors of sexual violence know that support exists and that reaching out can help begin the journey toward healing.

Whether someone is seeking immediate medical care, emotional support, counselling, or simply someone to listen, there are organisations across Ireland ready to help.

If you or someone you know needs support, confidential help is available.

Support Services

National Sexual Violence Helpline
Freephone: 1800 77 88 88

Galway

Galway Rape Crisis Centre
No. 7 Claddagh Quay, Galway
Tel: 1800 355 355

More information about available supports can also be found at AlwaysHere.ie.

Cuan is a statutory agency under the remit of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). 

Cuan works collaboratively across government and with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors.

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