Mayo and Sligo Launch Pieta House Darkness into Light 2015

Posted in Connect on April 1, 2015.

Cora Staunton Mayo Ladies GAA, Kevin Molloy Electric Ireland, Tommy Fleming Irish Singer, Joan Freeman founder of Pieta House & Evan Regan Mayo GAA player at the Mayo and Sligo launch of Darkness Into Light, Pieta House’s flagship fundraising and awareness event. Darkness Into Light will take place in Ballina, Westport, Shrule and Sligo. The event is taking place on May 9th and participants can register at darknessintolight.ie.

More than 60 people came to Ballina Manor Hotel on March 31^st as Pieta House launched Mayo and Sligo’s Darkness Into Light events with Electric Ireland. Taking place on Saturday, May 9th, Darkness into Light is a unique, early morning experience which begins in darkness at 4.15amas thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while dawn is breaking.

Joan Freeman, founder of the suicide and self-harm crisis centre was joined by a number of supporters including: Irish Country Singer Tommy Fleming, Dara Calleary Minister of State for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation, Local Cllr’s John O’Hara, Annie-Mai Reape and Mayo GAA Players Cora Staunton and Evan Regan. Representatives from Pieta House and volunteers from the Darkness into Light committees from Mayo and Sligo were also there to offer their support.

Shrule Darkness Into Light Team Siobhan Gibbons, Sinead Davin, Rita Davin & Nora Walshe

Darkness into Light is now in its seventh year and last year’s event attracted 80,000 participants in 39 locations across Ireland, including in London and Sydney. With the number of locations doubling this year, organisers are expecting over 100,000 people to take part. 80 venues will host the event on the island of Ireland and abroad including in Australia, Canada, England, Scotland and the USA.

“Darkness into Light is a people’s event organised by local committees all over the country. Although the number of people walking has never been greater, neither has the need. With four venues set to host the event in Mayo and Sligo this year, including Shrule for the first time, it’s an example of how Darkness into Light is uniting people across the globe in solidarity with those who suffer” Joan Freeman said. She added “While suicide is a devastating tragedy, we must not forget that there is hope, there is help, and Pieta House will be there to provide both.”

While Darkness into Light raises much needed funds, it is also about awareness, solidarity and local communities. This year, Pieta House is asking those taking part to connect with others at the event. Walkers/runners are encouraged to speak to the person beside them, tell a story or simply say hello, connect and acknowledge one another. Make your presence known. No one should walk alone.

Cllr.John O’Hara, Minister Dara Callery, Cllr.Annie-Mai Reape,Aiden Sweeney Chairperson Ballina Darkness Into Light & Kevin Molloy Electric Ireland at the Mayo and Sligo launch of Darkness Into Light, Pieta House’s flagship fundraising and awareness event.

Mayo and Sligo’s Darkness into Light events are taking registrations now. Online registration and further details are available now at www.darknessintolight.ie. For more information on Darkness Into Light in Sligo and Mayo contact Tom Mc Evoy on 087-2430700.

Photo Credit: Corinne Beattie Photography