Irish communities warm up for Darkness into Light walks – ‘I'm like Forrest Gump, I don't know how to stop'

Irish Independent

02-05-2025

Walks across the country are set to take place on Saturday May 10 and start at 4.15am with crowds gathering from 3.45am
The annual fundraiser was first held in 2009 with a five kilometre walk in Dublin's Phoenix Park involving around 400 participants. Sixteen years later, the event has grown with walks taking place in almost every county and 150,000 participants each year.
The Darkness into Light Walk has also become an international movement with walks taking place across 150 locations globally in 19 countries as of 2018.
Co. Mayo will see 13 Darkness into Light walks take place, including one in Swinford with chairperson Cathal Kelly spearheading the community effort to raise funds and awareness for the charity.
Last year, the Mayo man walked from Canterbury to Rome raising over €73,000 for Mayo Parkinson's Association and Children's Health Foundation Crumlin. Cathal walked 2,200 kilometres from Canterbury in England to Rome.
He told the Irish Independent: "I'm still walking, I'm like Forrest Gump, I don't know how to stop.'
Cathal explained: "I took over the chairmanship of the local committee this year, it's a nice community event and a lovely one to be involved in.'
"We'd be coming up to about 350 [people], the community effort is fantastic, sometimes we're trying to get off committees but this is one I very much enjoy being on because the help you get with it, you know you only have to ask once and jobs are done.'
He continued: "It really is one of those ones that it's great to say that there's not an awful lot of hard work to it because you just get such willingness and help all throughout.
"Just this morning I dropped up a letter to the local secondary school here in Swinford and within a couple of hours the transition years had been on the phone to me about how they're going to take part, how they're going to decorate the school because the walk will pass the school and how over the next ten days, they're there for any help that I need."
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The local Swinford Athletics Club and GAA Club are also said to be getting involved in the fundraiser.
Cathal said: "When all of those groups are involved, they'll all bring their own people and club members and everybody associated with their clubs.
"Community is just such a right word to use because they all just row in behind us, Darkness into Light really has grabbed the national attention and it sells itself, it's a unique one night a year walk now which is really special, I think'
He continued: 'It's so important to me because it has huge important message to get home to every age group, youngsters, groups involved, older people and it does in just such a lovely subtle way and it does it in a way that everyone can play a part and get involved.
"I know from our previous times doing it really does get people out and it gets them thinking and it starts a conversation in a lovely way.'
Cathal reflected: "One of the best times I had on it was when I was walking and talking with people and I think that's what Darkness into Light does is it gets that walking and talking connection perfectly.'
Other events in Mayo include the Inishturk walk will start at the Inishturk Community Centre, In the 2022 Census, the island recorded a population of 56. Clare Island, a slightly bigger island, has hosted in previous years.
The Dundalk Darkness into Light is the first one to take place since Pieta began offering in-person counselling in the town. Counselling services are available four days a week in the Redeemer Family Resource Centre.
The Dundalk walk sets off from the Dundalk Institute of Technology Campus at 4.15am and local band Long Time Coming will be playing from 3.30am.
Fruit, tea, coffee and treats will be provided for participants after the walk and staff at the local Maxi Zoo based in the retail park will be providing goodie bags and water bowls on the morning at the venue for anyone bringing their dogs.
Other walks due to take place across Louth include Drogheda, Ardee and Dunleer.
There are six scheduled walks to take place in Co. Clare across Ennis, Killaloe/Ballina, Kilmihil, Newmarket on Fergus, Shannon and Whitegate.
In Limerick, four walks are scheduled to take place at 4.15am across the city and county in Killmallock, Limerick City, Newcastle West and Pallasgreen.
In Co. Cork, walks are set to take place in towns including Ballincollig, Ballyvourney, Bandon, Clonakilty, Mallow and Mitchelstown.