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Updated 7.42 am
Pieta House / TwitterIt's early but #DIL2015 pic of the day so far? All the way from beautiful #Perth... pic.twitter.com/g9mJ0TIfLr
— Pieta (@PietaHouse) May 9, 2015
OVER 100,000 PEOPLE across Ireland and internationally have taken part in the seventh annual ‘Darkness Into Light’ takes place, in aid of suicide and self-harm charity Pieta House.
The 5km walk/jog/run was held at 80 venues around the country this year – with events also being held overseas. Participants started at 4.15am – with participants in Ireland crossing the line just as dawn is breaking.
Pieta House founder Joan Freeman said in the wake of last year’s event that it was a testament to how far we’d come as a society, that “suicide is no longer something we fearfully brush under the carpet”.
GoCar Ireland / TwitterIncredible atmosphere @ #DIL2015 this morning. A very rewarding experience for a great cause. pic.twitter.com/CvTVvBzIK2
— GoCar (@GoCarIreland) May 9, 2015
Pieta House / Twitter#DIL2015 #selfie of the day? @DILLimerick pic.twitter.com/16vwuwc0pi
— Pieta (@PietaHouse) May 9, 2015
The organisation was set up in Lucan, Co Dublin, in 2006, and receives 15 per cent of its funding from the State. It provides professional one-on-one therapy for those experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm.
Jennifer Ryan / TwitterCrossing Sarsfield Bridge in #Limerick for @PietaHouse a Darkness Into Light #DIL2015 pic.twitter.com/qfReD6OtIb
— Jennifer Ryan Lawler (@jenryanlawler) May 9, 2015
Mick O'Keeffe / TwitterThe darkest hour is just before the dawn...@PietaHouse #Bray #DIL2015 pic.twitter.com/MIC3n24U0a
— Mick O'Keeffe (@okmick) May 9, 2015
Thousands attended events in London and Sydney last year, as the Irish overseas took part in the annual fundraiser for the first time ever.
Pieta House / TwitterJust got confirmation that over 1,400 beautiful people turned out this morning for @DILSydney - thanks! #DIL2015 pic.twitter.com/P7OG1fAeAq
— Pieta (@PietaHouse) May 9, 2015
Eoghan McDermott / TwitterAmazing turnout at @DILLONDON2014 - great to see so many Irish come together to walk the London streets @PietaHouse pic.twitter.com/xMIsHfQkBI
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) May 9, 2015
- With reporting from Rónán Duffy
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Extremely heartening to see a turnout of around 400 in my small village this morning! Well done to all who took part and a huge thanks to all who organised! Together we can end the stigma!
Fabulous initiative. Well done to those involved and taking part. We really are maturing as a nation
Back in bed in London!:) fantastic atmosphere and better weather than last year!! (Which is always a plus!) well done all! Make sure your family and friends know you’re approachable if they need you! This goes beyond tonight!:) #thereishope
Myself,daughter 5years old,my sister(younger)my childhood friend really enjoyed the walk in Letterkenny this morning,great cause and thanks to all who make it happen R.I.P Mum, we did it for you
Just home from the event in Naas amazing atmosphere.
Just back from the walk in Dungarvan. very well organised and a massive turnout. great singers there too.
Just in from Cavan walk. First time to do it…amazing experience
Just finished it great turn out in sligo
Amazing. Well done to all who volunteered and who got out of their beds to face to cold and rain! Suicide can now be talked about thanks to this movement sweeping the nation :-)
8 yr old daughter still wired after doing the walk in Mullingar. A lot of kids and teenagers out taking part so these movements and events are breaking the stigma with mental health for the next generation . so positive
About to get under the covers after walking in Bray! Loved it again this year!
Just back from Marlay Park – beautiful sight the lights from torches moving amongst the trees.
They saved my life, and I’ll always be grateful
Just back from Marlay Park… Now an hour in bed and into work!
Over 6,000 turned out in Salthill
Just home after leaving the house 7 hours ago and every single second was worth it to see how much awareness and support this event can show. The people of Enniscorthy really showed amazing support for such a worthy cause. To very single person that ran, walked or crawled, well done you all did an amazing job. Here’s hoping for bigger and better next year.
Solas na beatha orthu siúd uilig a bhí páirteach agus solas síoraí orthu siúd uilig a cailleadh.
Just in from the Limerick event, first time taking part and you could feel the emotion in the air. Wonderful to see so many people of all ages, babies to grannies, together we can fight the stigma of mental health issues
Well done all who took part..The Irish are a great people.
Well done to all in kinvara , great turnout
One of the greatest experiences of my life. So proud of having taking part, wonderful atmosphere, wonderful event, well worth getting up at 3.30am for. Looking forward to next year already! Well done to each and every one out there who took part.
Well done everyone, what a great event
Seriously, who are the bitter, bitter idiots red-thumbing all these comments? There is literally not one bad thing that can be said about the Darkness into Light initiative and what it stands for.
The mind boggles, it really does.
Well done all, especially the swimmers who did it in seapoint. Many of them not bothering with wetsuits
Ran it this morning in Galway. Great to see such a big turnout for a great cause. Well done everyone who took part.
It was great to be part of such a worthy cause. The turnout for the walk in cavan was phenomenal. Well done to everyone who took part.
Night is darkest just before the dawn! A permanent solution to a temporary problem!
Lads can I ask one question. Just reading some beautiful sentiments here. How in the name of god could people give this red thumbs. What kind of a person sits at a computer and red Thumbs people coming together to stand with those who have been lost to suicide??? I just cannot fathom this unless it is satan himself at the keyboard. Those people need serious help.
Christopher I think that when people are scrolling down, they press the red thumbs accidentally. At least, that would explain some of them.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Jesus is the light
Another great little earner for Pieta Hoiuse, still, I suppose someone has to pay for the new New York branch office.
Roll on the red thumbs.
Have you ever called on their services its one of the few i don’t mind throwing money at because i know how it feels to be at that lowest point thinking no one is there for you the pain is unbearable. Pieta house helps pull you of that hole and come out on the right side and to me that is needed big time in the current world we live in.
Thankfully I have never needed to call on their “services”, unfortunately I know some people who did, underwhelmed would be their description of the response, I just don’t buy into the Pieta House BS
John you need help fast. You’ve got one F****d up attitude and I pity anyone near you needing help.
Gee, thanks for that astute observation Christopher, where would you suggest I go?
John there’s nothing to “buy” into. They’re an organisation that has helped 5000 people ALONE last year- and free of charge. The numbers that walked across the country this morning believes otherwise and tells a different story to you friend.
This fund raiser is Pieta houses flagship fundraiser- they only try 15% of their funding from he government. The New York Pieta house will be funded 100% by American sources and donations from over there. So yes, this is a nice little fundraiser from them, which saves the lives of people across Ireland.
*recieve not ‘try’
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