Nenagh’s walk against suicide
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Some of the 2026 Darkness Into Light team in Nenagh on Saturday last: Margo O’Donnell-Roche, Jackie Shaughnessy, Christine Nevin - holding Shaun the sheep! - James O’Gorman, Jonathan Shoer, Searlaith Roche.Image 2 of 4
Christine Nevin and Brendan Murphy have been working on the Darkness Into Light committee since 2018.Image 3 of 4
Darkness Into Light Nenagh team members, back row, from left: Ava Delaney, Margo O’Donnell-Roche, Jonathan Shoer, Kaleigh Mitchell, Searlaith Roche, James O’Gorman, Jackie O’Shaughnessy. Front: Brendan Murphy (Secretary, DIL), Christine Nevin (Chairperson, DIL).Image 4 of 4
Michael O’Brien in full swing volunteering with this year’s DIL committee.The Darkness Into Light team have been busy working away behind the scenes in preparation for this year’s event, which takes place on Saturday, May 9 at 4.15am.
The event, which takes place all over the world, is the main fundraising event for Pieta House.
The organisation first opened its doors in 2006 and since then has helped over 70,000 people who were in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm.
Pieta House now operates from 20 locations across Ireland and employs over 300 therapists and support staff as the demand for services continues to grow.
In 2024 Pieta delivered over 51,000 hours of intervention and bereavement counselling and received over 100,000 crisis support calls and texts through their 24-hour freephone helpline. Nearly 40% of clients are under the age of 18.
Pieta House would not be able to continue their services without your help – I really feel that the awareness that is raised from this event is more powerful that we can imagine. If by walking together and showing people that they are not alone helps one single person in our community, that in itself is a great achievement.
We are all familiar with the horrific statistics of the numbers of those whom we have lost to suicide – what we don’t know are the numbers of those whom we have saved - I believe that this number is far higher.
GREAT SUPPORT
The Darkness Into Light team held their open registration day on Saturday last, April 25, from 10am to 3pm to raise awareness for the event and to also allow people to preregister for the event, which takes place from the Scouts Hall on Saturday, May 9 at 4.15am.
The day was a massive success. We had a great location at the former EuroGiant unit on Pearse St where we saw great footfall and experienced great engagement from the people of Nenagh in support of this year’s event. The star of the day was the new DIL Nenagh mascot Shaun the Sheep – who proved to be a massive hit when he met the committee on Saturday last. If you have not registered for the walk but wish to take part, don’t worry, you can register on the morning of the walk and take part in this great community event.
We would encourage everyone to join us at the Scouts Hall on Saturday, May 9 at 4.15am and walk the 5km as a community and united in the fight against suicide and self-harm and help raise awareness and show those who might be going through a personal crisis that they are not alone; we are in this together, and help is here.