COPE Galway 60 Years Timeline
Follow the timeline of the key events and milestones that have shaped the history and development of COPE Galway from 1965 to 2025.
The full timeline features in our historical book, ’60 Years in Galway’ (pages 57-80).
Timeline of key events
1965 Galway Social Service Council Formed
Galway Social Service Council formed, consisting of representatives of various local voluntary organisations involved in the development of social services in Galway.
1966 Galway Social Service Centre Opens
Galway Social Service Centre officially opened on St Francis Street, operating as an information centre for services for the elderly.
1976 Report Identifies Needs in Galway
Report identifies ‘family problems relating to alcoholic spouse’, ‘homeless men’, and need for scaled-up Meals on Wheels service as some of the needs within Galway city.
1979 New Social Services Centre Opens
A newly developed Social Services Centre provides a base for 42 voluntary organisations, strengthening coordination and service delivery.
1979 H.O.M.E. Launched
Galway Social Service Council launches H.O.M.E. – Housing Organisation Management Executive, to look after housing requirements of older people.
1980 Meals on Wheels Service
Galway Social Service Centre takes full responsibility for the Meals on Wheels service from the Order of Malta.
1981 Waterside House Opens
Waterside House, a ‘Hostel for distressed mothers and their children’ opens, supporting women and children seeking safety from domestic abuse.
1982 Sonas Day Centre Opens
Sonas Day Centre for older people opens in Mervue, offering meals, activities and social connections.
1983 Fairgreen Shelter Established
A temporary 16‑bed shelter opens to provide emergency accommodation for homeless men in Galway.
1986 Westside House Hostel Opens
The new Westside House Hostel for homeless women and unmarried mothers opens on a night shelter basis.
1990 First Christmas Day Swim
The first Christmas Day Swim took place in Salthill, beginning a longstanding Galway Christmas community tradition and an important annual fundraising event supporting COPE Galway services.
1991 President Mary Robinson Visits Waterside House
President Mary Robinson makes an official visit to Waterside House Domestic Violence Refuge.
1996 Incorporated as Galway Voluntary Social Services Ltd
Galway Social Service Council became Galway Voluntary Social Services Ltd, transitioning from the Galway Diocese-dominated voluntary council to a more independent, professional service provider.
1998 Fairgreen House Officially Opened
Fairgreen House with 26 bed spaces for homeless men, officially opened by President Mary McAleese, replacing the temporary Fairgreen Shelter and providing expanded support.
1999 Families Outreach Services
Families Outreach Services are developed to support families who are at risk and moving out of homelessness.
2000 Organisation Rebrands as Cope
Galway Voluntary Social Services Ltd rebranded as Cope (Crisis Housing Caring Support Limited).
2002 Osterley Lodge Opens
Cope is appointed to manage Osterley Lodge, a new 24-hour emergency accommodation service for single adult women who are homeless.
2005 Community Catering Service
The Meals on Wheels is relocated to a new, larger facility in Ballybane and is renamed Community Catering.
2007 Day Centre Service Established
The Families Outreach Service, the Homeless Referral Service, and the Out-of-Hours Service are merged into a newly established Day Centre Service.
2008 Relaunched as COPE Galway
Cope (Crisis Housing Caring Support Limited) rebranded and re-launched as COPE Galway.
2012 First Business Leaders Sleep Out
The Business Leaders’ Sleep Out began in December 2012, founded by a board member and a small group of local business leaders to highlight the homelessness crisis and raise funds for COPE Galway’s homeless services.
2013 First COPE Galway Charity Shop
The first COPE Galway Charity Shop opens on St Augustine Street.
2018 Meals4Health launched
Meal delivery service redeveloped as Meals4Health, a COPE Galway social enterprise. The service gains recognition, winning the Age Friendly Award (2019) and ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ in 2020.
2018 ‘Investing in Volunteers’ Quality Standard
COPE Galway achieved ‘Investing in Volunteers’ national quality standard for best practice in volunteer management in 2018.
2019 Solas Óg Established
Solas Óg becomes a dedicated service within the Domestic Abuse Service to support children and young people impacted by domestic abuse, and to deliver healthy relationship programmes for young people.
2020 Modh Eile House Opens
Modh Eile House opens as the new home of COPE Galway’s Domestic Abuse Service, providing modern, purpose-built refuge accommodation and supports for women, children and young people.
2022 ‘We See You, We Hear You’
‘We See You, We Hear You’, a public art installation, launched to commemorate 40 years of the COPE Galway Domestic Abuse Service.
2022 Becoming a Trauma Informed Organisation
COPE Galway adopts Trauma Informed Practice across all services, embedding principles of safety, empowerment and trust in its work.
2022 The Bungalow Opens in Mervue
‘The Bungalow’ in Mervue established as a new community hub for older people and offering a welcoming space for social connections and community-based activities.
2025 Marking Sixty Years
COPE Galway marks sixty years of service and community impact in Galway.
Explore Our 60 Year Journey
COPE Galway 60
Learn about our journey, as we commemorate 60 years of service in Galway.
60 Years in Galway
Our historical book details the story of COPE Galway from its origins in 1965 to 2025.
Our Story
Read how our story evolved over sixty years of service and impact in Galway.
’60 Years’ Event
Event highlights, people, keynote address, speeches and panel discussion.
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