Pieta House Darkness Into Light Limerick Launch 2014

Pieta House Darkness Into Light Limerick Launch 2014

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At the launch of Pieta House Darkness Into LIght 2014 – Richard Lynch with Barry Scanlon, Mayor Kathleen Leddin, Nora Conway, Manager Pieta House Limerick, Joan Freeman, CEO Pieta House and Johhny Togher. Picture Carlos Dasco

Joan Freeman, CEO of suicide and self-harm crisis centre Pieta House, launched Limerick’s Darkness into Light event with Electric Ireland for 2014 at the Clarion Hotel. Taking place on Saturday May 10, Darkness into Light is a unique, early morning fundraising event, which begins in darkness at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while dawn is breaking.

I Love Limerick produced the first launch for Darkness into Light back in 2010 (see bottom of this page) so I am delighted we are still involved in helping to promote it and support it and for the first time, there will be a second Limerick venue in Newcastle West. Speaking at the launch, Joan Freeman said: “Limerick has always been a stronghold for Darkness into Light and I’m delighted that Newcastle West has also come on board this year. I want to thank everyone in Limerick who has supported us over the past number of years and I hope we’ll have the biggest crowd yet out on the morning of the May 10.”

The launch was attended by nearly 100 supporters, including the Mayor of Limerick, Kathleen Leddin, Limerick FC’s Michael Leahy, Limerick GAA stars Thomas Lee, Mark O’Riordan, Seanie Tobin and Mark O’Riordan, Eamon Phelan from the Limerick County Board and Pat O’Sullivan from Masterchef and The Unity Gospel Choir, led by Gretta O’Shea, provided music on the evening. Darkness into Light 2013 attracted 40,000 participants in 20 locations around Ireland. With this year’s event taking place in an incredible 39 locations including international walks in London and Sydney, Pieta House is hoping for a near doubling of last year’s turnout.

Limerick City’s Darkness into Light event once again sets off from Thomond Park while the Newcastle West walk begins at the Community Centre, The Demense. Online registration and further details are available now at dil.pieta.ie. This year, Pieta House is linking Darkness into Light with their Mind Our Men campaign which aims to reduce male suicide in Ireland. They are asking participants to bring a male friend or family member with them on the walk – it could be a friend, brother, father or work colleague. Pieta House Midwest is based in Mungret, Limerick and can be contacted on 061 484444. To see photos and video from the launch go to ILoveLimerick.com.

Pictures by Chris Luszczki & Laura Googins for ILoveLimerick.com 2014. All Rights Reserved.

To see a story about the national launch go HERE.

To see older stories about Pieta House go HERE.

To see a story about the very first launch of Pieta House Darkness Into Light go HERE.