Latest news with #PietaHouse
Agriland
08-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Tipperary dairy farmer's long walk for mental health awareness
A Co. Tipperary dairy farmer is undertaking a solo 550km walk of the entire Beara-Breifne Way, Ireland's longest inland trail from west Cork to Cavan in just over two weeks. John Wallace is walking between 30km and 50km a day, embarking on the journey unsupported, carrying his own supplies and relying on the kindness of local communities for food and accommodation. The fundraiser, titled 'Miles for Minds', is being undertaken ahead of the 10th anniversary of the passing of his father, William Wallace who died by suicide in 2015. Source: milesforminds2025 Instagram Wallace began the walk on Tuesday (August 5), with the hope of raising funds and awareness for mental health. He said: "I'm hoping do the Beara-Briefne Way, from Castletownbear to Blacklion in Co. Cavan. It's 550km of a trail which has historical significance to it. "It goes through my own farm which put it in my mind in the first place. I always wanted to do it, and if I ever did I said I'd raise money for mental health charities." Wallace explained how farmers' mood is heavily dependent on the weather, with farmers' morale being particularly low from autumn 2023 until autumn 2024 due to the poor farming year. He said: "In 2024 the mood in farming was very bad, and then in 2025 the mood was good. There's also a lot of external pressures and regulations as well. "Farmer's don't often talk in time, it's a kind of solitary lifestyle and you're not meeting people." The dairy farmer feels that people need to be more open about mental health and lift the stigma about not speaking. Wallace worries that some farmers see it as a 'manly' thing not to speak, and try to carry the weight of the world and get on with it. He said: "Farmers should talk to your neighbouring farmer, or a friend, or call any of the services I'm raising money for." Wallace will donate all funds raised evenly between three mental health charities - Aware, Jigsaw, and Pieta House. He stopped in Ballingeary yesterday (August 7), having walked over 100km. When asked how he was feeling so far, he said: "I'm finding it tough, but the body is starting to get used to it." Source: John Wallace The Tipperary man is seeking overnight support in local towns and villages along the way, and is asking for the offer of a bed, shed, field, meal, or even a cup of tea near any of the towns he is passing through. Full details of how to provide support, and donate to the fundraiser can be found on the 'Miles for Minds' idonate page. So far Wallace has raised over €11,000 and donations can be made up until September 30.
Irish Examiner
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Desire Lines: A versatile Dunnes jacket, family events in Fota, and perfect pizza
The jacket Summer fashion on this lovely island of ours is all about layering. We can see ourselves turning to this delightful pop of colour from Helen Steele's latest collection at festivals, on a hillwalk, grabbing a coffee with friends... a truly versatile jacket. €35. The gift site Check out Wrapped in Kindness, a beautifully curated site stocking over 30 Irish makers. Ten per cent of all sales go to a charity of the customer's choice, with 11 partners to choose from, including Pieta House. Among the brands on offer are incredible vases from Laois based-EDP Creative, pictured. Other wonderful names brands include Studio Byrne, De Danu, Bread and Weather and more. The Buddha bowl Saba and Saba To Go's new Buddha bowls are now available for dine-in and takeaway across six branches in Dublin and Kildare Village. Balancing fresh ingredients and moreish Thai- and Vietnamese-inspired flavours, they offer a summery taste of Asia across 4 flavours, €16.95-17.95. We like the sound of red chicken mango bowl, with chicken marinated in red curry paste, brown and red rice, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrots, bird's eye chillies, spring onions, pomegranate. mango, basil and mint in a tangy dressing. The wildlife events One of Fota Wildlife Park's giraffes in front of the Panoramic Wheel. Picture: Darragh Kane Fota Wildlife Park is bringing back its annual summer educational weekends with a programme of interactive, family-oriented events. The three themed weekends covering science, native species, and insect life will be held at Fota Wildlife Park's Education, Conservation and Research Centre (ECRC) and are included with entry. The Native Species Weekend on July 26 and 27 will focus on Ireland's rich biodiversity, with a series of interactive exhibits and biofacts highlighting the country's native wildlife and conservation efforts. Among the organisations taking part are Fota Wildlife Park's Education team, Dublin Zoo, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Nature Network Ireland, Irish Bee Conservation Project and Atlantic Technological University, Galway. August 16 and 17 will see the return of the Bug Bonanza Weekend. The new panoramic wheel also remains at the park for summer. The pizza With sweeping sea views, Dunmore House's Boatshed Pizza is the place of summer dreams. Nestled in Clonakilty Bay, the award-winning hotel is famous for sea walks, beautiful beaches – and great food. With a state of the art pizza oven on the Sea Terrace, there's a taste of Italy with chef, Paolo Chiappa. Making his own dough and tomato sauce, Paolo sources local ingredients to finish his pizzas with a West Cork accent on an Italian favourite. Using vegetables and herbs from the scenic organic Ocean Garden at Dunmore House (you can also visit this), Paolo adds firm favourites like Toonsbridge mozzarella, O'Neil's black pudding, Gubbeen cheese and Cashel Blue to his menu. The service is another standout, pure down-to-earth, West Cork authenticity. Don't miss it this summer. Open 1-7.30pm, Thurs-Mon. The chocolates Gunpowder Irish Gin and Butlers Chocolates have launched a new range of premium-gin truffles. In-store in Butlers Chocolate Cafés in Dublin, Cork and Belfast International airports, they will roll out to international markets in the coming weeks. The original Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin milk chocolate gin truffle is joined by the summery sounding Sardinian Citrus white chocolate lemon gin truffle and the Californian Orange Citrus milk chocolate orange gin truffle. The watches Perfect for the rebel in your life, Swatch's new No Rules launch has been designed with Mercury Prize- and BRIT-nominees Nova Twins. With names like Lash Out and Distort Mode, the colourful collection brings an edgy post-punk sensibility to the Swiss timepiece, in 5 bold designs. From €90-140. Compiled by Vickie Maye, Nicole Glennon and Jillian Bolger. weekend@
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Hero or villain' - Recap of turbulent presidential races
With the race for Áras an Uachtaráin heating up, a number of names are being touted to succeed Michael D Higgins as president of Ireland. Reports range from potentially strong runners to complete speculation and celebrity candidates, yet the race is still waiting on its first candidate to officially declare that they will be running. However, campaigns are likely to start gathering momentum ahead of the Irish public hitting the poles in November. RTÉ reporter Edel McAllister spoke to a previous candidate on the turbulence of the campaign trail and the public and media's role in challenging those that put their names forward. "While it was a heart-thumping, totally terrorising, and awful experience on one level, it was also the best thing I ever did," said former Senator Joan Freeman of her 2018 presidency campaign run. The former CEO of Pieta House ran on a mental health platform as an independent candidate. "I thought that by running it would allow me and the people of Ireland to look at mental health with compassion...a gateway for everyone to open up and speak about it," Ms Freeman said. She said she knew the campaign would be tough after the 2011 race. "Everybody that goes into it knows that they are up against it," she added. In that turbulent 2011 campaign, a false tweet broadcast on a TV debate derailed the campaign of Sean Gallagher, resulting in an apology and damages being paid by RTÉ to the businessman. Another early front runner, former Senator David Norris blamed elements of the media for sabotaging his campaign and spoke of the detrimental effect it had on his health. Other independent candidates such as Dana, Chernobyl campaigner Adi Roche and Special Olympics organiser Mary Davis also faced bruising campaigns. Speaking on the News at One, Joan Freeman said while it is "absolutely correct that the media should challenge candidates and make them accountable". She said they should also "hear their not slash their character". There's a lot of names in the current mix to succeed Michael D Higgins as president. Political parties are beginning their selection process but so far no candidates have formally declared. The 1997 presidency was the first time independents used four local authorities to nominate them. Although some parties selected candidates outside the party, such as Mary McAleese who went on to win the 1997 race and serve two terms. Ms Freeman says she understands why some candidates are maybe waiting to see who else will run. "I declared fairly early on because I thought Michael D Higgins wasn't going to run for the presidency again. "If I had known he was sounds as if I am a little bit bitter but I am not one bit. I absolutely get why candidates don't put their names forward because they are exposing themselves to be bruised and brutalised," she said. She added at the time that she wanted the chance to travel the length and breadth of the country to talk about mental health. She said while she would not be running again, she would advise anyone thinking of running "not to be afraid" but to "stay away from social media." "Online you are either a hero or a villain, there is no allowance for nuance," Ms Freeman said. But even long before the days of social media, the race was a tough one. "Presidential campaigns have always been intensely personal. If we look back to the early ones, these were often replays of the Civil War and you had very divisive campaigning and personalised attacks on candidates," said Professor of Politics at University College Cork Theresa Reidy. "One of the reasons why presidential elections are so personalised is because this is a position where powers are many cases the president is selling a narrative about who they are and how they can represent Ireland so it's very much about their personal story and as a consequence the focus comes in quite intensely on who the candidates are," Prof Reidy said. Those used to the rough and tumble of party politics might be slightly better prepared for the nature of the campaign, but even seasoned independents appear to be thinking twice before putting their heads above the parapet.
Sunday World
25-06-2025
- Sunday World
Young mum warned garda ‘I will get you' before spitting at her
Laura Zemblyte, of The Mall Road, Monaghan had a charge of criminal damage against her stuck out A mother of one who warned a female garda: 'I will get you,' before spitting at her victim as she sat in a patrol car following an alcohol fuelled confrontation with gardaí has walked free from court without a criminal conviction. Twenty-nine-year-old Laura Zemblyte, of The Mall Road, Monaghan had a charge of criminal damage against her stuck out after she pleaded guilty to an incident along the Broad Road in Monaghan on February 17 last year. Laura Zemblyte on the steps of Monaghan Courthouse. Zemblyte, the court heard, had been among a group of women who became 'highly abusive' to officers as they arrived on the scene after midnight to deal with a suspected public order incident. Moments after gardaí arriving, Sgt Lisa McEntee said Zemblyte approached the patrol car's passenger side before shouting to Garda Caoimhe Hoey: 'I will get you, I will remember you.' Sgt McEntee said the part-time factory worker's aggressive tone escalated by first telling Garda Hoey: 'I will get my solicitor after you.' Laura Zemblyte News in 90 Seconds - June 25th The court was told that, Zemblyte spat at its window, some of which ended up travelling through the window and into the patrol car with remnants of the single mother's saliva remaining on the vehicle's window. Judge Gerry Jones, upon hearing the State's evidence, ordered Zemblyte to remain in custody while the court considered its verdict and mitigation from her defence barrister Sara Brennan BL. When the case was recalled, Ms Brennan took to her feet to reveal how the incident had stemmed from a night out with her sister. Laura Zemblyte She said both women had consumed alcohol and were on their way home when the episode with gardaí unfolded. Ms Brennan also alluded to her client's previous good character, adding how she had never come to garda attention prior to the criminal damage charge that she was now facing up to. Having heard that submission on Zemblyte's behalf, Judge Jones said he would strike out the case provided the accused handed over €100 to suicide prevention charity Pieta House. Zemblyte accepted the judgement as outlined.
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Large turnout for dawn Wexford tractor run raising mental health awareness
The tractor run was organised by farmer Patrick Hipwell and was created in inspiration of the Darkness into Light walk which raises funds for Pieta House, a charity supporting those affected by suicide and self-harm. At 4.30 a.m. 100 tractors and drivers set off for their route across the nine stones before returning to the community centre for early morning refreshments and a chat. Speaking on why he chose this specific route, he said that he believed it demonstrated a message he was trying to convey. "Since we had to go up Mount Leinster, the message is about giving it time and allowing yourself to get over the humps in life. Life will move again.' He added that it was great to see such a great show of community from within and outside the county. "We had a full house even at 3.30 a.m. and there were drivers from Carlow and Kilkenny who saw the event on social media and decided to join. It was very successful. It was unreal to also have around 30 – 40 young people as well.' Also in attendance was MEP for the South constituency Cynthia Ní Mhurchu, Enniscorthy councillor Pat Kehoe, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and IFA deputy president Alice Doyle. Over €2,300 was raised and was shared between Slaney Search and Rescue, Ballindaggin Community Development Group, Caim Community Development Group, Kiltealy Men and Women's Shed, Awareness Head to Toe, and Shine's green ribbon. Awareness Head to Toe is a voluntary organisation formed to promote mental health across rural farming communities while Shine's green ribbon campaign is the national stigma reduction programme for Ireland. "People are already talking about doing it next year. It is amazing what we can achieve when the community works together,' he said.
