Tears and hope at emotional vigils

A SERIES of emotional candlelit vigils took place across the Northside last week to mark World Suicide Prevention Day and remember loved ones who took their own lives.

Locals gathered in Blanchardstown, Finglas and Ballymun on September 10 as a mark of respect to victims and to spread a message of hope to their families and those suffering from depression.

At 9pm tears flowed as those gathered at the events let off balloons, lanterns and LED lights in a moving visual display of love for family and friends who had passed away through suicide.

Several locals spoke about their experience of losing family members during the events and musicians played poignant music that reflected the emotion of the occasion.

Vigils were also held in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan and Ennis, County Clare, after the idea was posted on Facebook by Northsider Joanne Featherston, who lost her partner, Andy Morgan, to suicide on New Year’s Eve in 2010.

Joanne, who’s now heavily involved in a foundation set up in Andy’s name, was at the vigil in Finglas which took place on a green across from the Cappagh House pub on Barry Road.

“We had a great turnout and it was brilliant, really lovely,

? she told Northside People.

“It was really amazing that so many came because it was freezing. We were actually blown out of it up there because we were basically just in the middle of a field.

?

Joanne had no idea that her Facebook post asking what people thought about holding a vigil would attract so much attention. But the idea quickly struck a chord with hundreds of people all across the country.

“We were thinking of just doing one in Finglas West because so many people have died up there recently, but the idea just took off,

? she said.

“I was getting a lot of messages from people in Ballymun so we thought maybe we should try and have two vigils.

“We all kept in contact and bounced ideas off each other. The whole idea behind it was to send out love to the universe and to our loved ones who passed away.

“In Finglas you could see that people who maybe didn’t feel up to coming out were setting off lanterns from their gardens. It was amazing to see them just flying into the sky. They would have been people who probably didn’t want to cry in front of others but who wanted to join in and contribute to the night.

?

Joanne says that while the event was emotional, it was also a source of comfort, strength and hope for families with people talking openly and hugging each other after the lights were released into the night sky.

Joanne and others involved in the Andy Morgan Foundation have organised several events to help spread a message of hope to families bereaved by suicide and those at risk of self-harm.

An annual football tournament has been a great success and members of the foundation regularly visit schools to hold workshops where bracelets are made to teach pupils about the importance of self-esteem.

A music festival featuring an eclectic mix of bands, groups and solo singers is being organised for October 12 at Axis in Ballymun to help raise funds for suicide prevention.

The foundation also plan to open a drop-in centre in Finglas were people can come for a cup of tea and a chat and get support if or when it’s needed.

The most recent official figures produced by the Central Stastics Office (CSO) indicate that there were 495 deaths by suicide in Ireland in 2010. Figures in Ireland for young men taking their own lives are particularly high by international comparison.

In a report published earlier this month, the National Office for Suicide Prevention said current evidence shows that suicide rates can be reduced through an improved understanding of interventions and services that are effective in both promoting wellbeing and supporting people in crisis.