Dundalk's Darkness into Light will be a celebration of securing Pieta counselling services for town
Committee member Siobhan Shaw shares her own experiences of depression saying talking about it provides others with 'an open door, a gateway to open up and talk about it.'
The Argus
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This year's Darkness into Light walk in Dundalk will be a celebration as well as a show of solidarity for those affected by suicide or experiencing mental health issues, according to committee member Siobhan Shaw.
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Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Irish Independent
See photos as Darkness into Light events shine bright across Kerry
The events, which took place right across the county from Caherdaniel to Glenbeigh and from Tralee to Castleisland, to name but a few, hundreds of participants, all of whom dragged themselves from their warm beds in the pre-dawn hours to walk together in a powerful display of hope and unity. Over the years, the annual DIL walks have become a popular tradition across Ireland and beyond, Darkness Into Light is organised by Pieta, the mental health charity that provides vital support to people in suicidal distress or who are engaging in self-harm. As is tradition, this year's walks around the county began at 4:15am, symbolising the journey from darkness into light and offering a message that no one is ever alone. At all the locations here in Kerry, the spirit of community was palpable with local volunteers out in force, working tirelessly to co-ordinate safe and welcoming events for all involved. The walks were once again a sea of yellow with participants donning the now famous yellow t-shirts that have become synonymous with the event. Pieta expressed their sincere gratitude to all who took part or donated with all of the funds raised from the events set to go towards supporting the charity's free, 24/7 counselling services. Organisers of Kerry events recorded high turnouts, highlighted the importance of continuing conversations around mental health. For those who missed the walk but still wish to support Pieta's work, donations remain open on the Darkness Into Light website.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘It just resonates locally, in the absence of those services, that we can fill some sort of gap' – Darkness into Light empowers families of loved ones who died by suicide in New Ross
The event which aims to raise awareness around suicide and the services offered by Pieta House, is also a place where people, who have been directly impacted by the death of a loved one or friend through suicide, can support each other throughout the 5 km route, which has again this year proven to be an emotional time for all involved. Speaking about the bittersweet event held in New Ross, a member of the organising committee, Sinéad Dolan, explained that it was a community effort in preparing for the walk which catered for approximately 400 people. Members of the Traveller community assisted with setting out the route with signage and candles; Owen Lennon of Medi-Fit prepared the crowed in attendance as he carried out a warm-up before the walk commenced; and a welcomed addition to this year's event was that TY students from CBS Secondary School New Ross hosted the social connect where they provided tea and coffee afterwards in the school, where people could also have a chat. "Darkness into Light is always an emotional event,' said Sinéad. 'We had five families with us on the walk, that we knew of, who have been directly impacted by suicide in the district in the last year or so,' she continued. 'Some of those family members approached us afterwards, they were naturally upset, but also felt empowered and supported by the community around them. "These people shared with us that they have availed of the bereavement service offered by Pieta, and its also the empathy from the community that carried a lot of people through the grief that they are still going through every day." Sinéad, who volunteers with various charities and is a member of the New Ross Women's Shed, said she chose to become a member of the Pieta organising committee in the area because when she was a teenager a close friend of hers died by suicide, leaving so many questions unanswered. She also explained that growing up, there was a number of suicides in the area of her housing estate where she lived with her family, and she has always been conscious of how the deaths of her late friends and her friends' parents by suicide have impacted and devastated the lives of others in the community. "The transparency of the funds in Pieta is one reason I chose to support the organisation, but the gap in services across the county, particularly where mental health beds and services are concerned is another. "We fought so hard to get the Pieta office opened in Wexford, and there's such a gap in services with either the government or the HSE, and those beds were never replaced when St Senan's closed down, so although Pieta is available and has its services, we still need to work as a community in regards to mental health and suicide prevention and we need an emergency crisis service for people that are at the point of suicide. "Last year, 400 people were helped by Pieta in Wexford and that puts it into perspective, because it is impactful. And you can see the impact directly at events like the walk on Saturday when you people coming afterwards came up and said, 'I wouldn't have got through it last year without the help of Pieta.' It just resonates, locally, in the absence of those services, that we can fill some sort of gap,' Sinéad said. The organising committee would like to thank the District Council and all sponsors and local businesses who made the event possible.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Darkness into Light events shine bright across Kerry
The events, which took place right across the county from Caherdaniel to Glenbeigh and from Tralee to Castleisland, to name but a few, hundreds of participants, all of whom dragged themselves from their warm beds in the pre-dawn hours to walk together in a powerful display of hope and unity. Over the years, the annual DIL walks have become a popular tradition across Ireland and beyond, Darkness Into Light is organised by Pieta, the mental health charity that provides vital support to people in suicidal distress or who are engaging in self-harm. As is tradition, this year's walks around the county began at 4:15am, symbolising the journey from darkness into light and offering a message that no one is ever alone. At all the locations here in Kerry, the spirit of community was palpable with local volunteers out in force, working tirelessly to co-ordinate safe and welcoming events for all involved. The walks were once again a sea of yellow with participants donning the now famous yellow t-shirts that have become synonymous with the event. Pieta expressed their sincere gratitude to all who took part or donated with all of the funds raised from the events set to go towards supporting the charity's free, 24/7 counselling services. Organisers of Kerry events recorded high turnouts, highlighted the importance of continuing conversations around mental health.
