Darkness Into Light ‘invented' yellow vest movement!

Darkness Into Light Mullingar registration day Saturday March 30, Greville Arms Hotel noon-4pm.

“The French thought they invented the yellow vest protest,” said Kevin Ryan of Electric Ireland, official sponsor of Darkness Into Light, “but it’s been going on here an awful long time.”

Kevin’s comments were made at the regional launch of this year’s Darkness Into Light, which is on Saturday May 11.

On Tuesday week last in the Greville Arms, committees from across the midlands gathered to plan this year’s event, including representatives from Tullamore, Longford, Athlone, and Banagher.

This year’s Mullingar Darkness Into Light starts at Coláiste Mhuire, Rebecca O’Callaghan of the Mullingar committee announced.

Guests at the launch were treated to an uplifting dance display from Elevate Academy of Dance, which portrayed the young dancers emerging from darkness into light, while powerful messages were conveyed through song courtesy of the Westmeath Rose, Leanne Quinn, who led the audience in renditions of Lean On Me, and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

“I’m delighted to see kids here tonight because we came from an age where you didn’t talk about things,” said Electric Ireland’s Kevin Ryan.

“These kids are going to grow up in a different era and they are going to share how they feel. It’s brilliant to see them here donning the yellow and not afraid to get involved.”

A total of 220,000 people took part in Darkness Into Light last year, from Christchurch in New Zealand, to San Francisco and Canada, and of course, all around Ireland.

A total of €187,000 was raised to help in the running of Pieta House, a non-profit organisation providing a specialised treatment for people who have suicidal ideation.

Siobhan Leijen, centre manager for Pieta House in Athlone, said it was a privilege to be present on the night. “Thank you so much for bringing Pieta House to the midlands, I can’t tell you what a dream it was that it came true,” said the Longford native.

“Every time I come to an event like this I feel the love, I feel the compassion, I feel the unity of the people who are striving for this very thing – hope,” said Siobhan.

“People want to bring hope into their communities, into their families, and this is how it’s being done, through Darkness into Light.

“I can’t tell you how incredible it is to participate in Darkness Into Light, to look forward and see the sea of yellow but it is well worth it, every moment,” she said.

To give an idea of what it feels like to attend Pieta House, Siobhan said people walk into a centre that is “welcoming and homely, where they are treated with the utmost respect”.

There are 15 Pieta House centres nationwide.

“I’m very proud to say that we saw 3,500 footsteps coming through our doors last year, people in sheer devastation will enter our centres hopeless, and we sit with them one-to-one and we face their fears with them, and we hold their hands,” said Siobhan.

“I can’t thank you guys enough for giving us the privilege to be able to do that. All the money that you guys go out and raise from pulling communities together, keeps the door open for us and it helps us to help people who need it.”

Online registration

Tom McEvoy of Pieta House said that last year’s event was a “bit of a challenge” because, as a result of new data protection regulations, registration had to move online.

“Up to that time, from when Joan [Freeman] started Darkness Into Light 11 years ago, we were allowing people to register as they turned up on the morning,” he said.

This year, Darkness Into Light walks will take place in 202 locations, up from 170 last year, continued Tom, who said the online registration has now been streamlined, making it more easy for people to sign up.

“The song by Coldplay, I will Fix You, to which the Elevate dancers performed, really resonates with me,” he said.

“At Pieta House, we try to fix people, we are standing in their way of choosing to die or choosing to live. And thankfully they make it through our doors,” said Tom.

“Darkness Into Light is a special medium for raising awareness of Pieta House, it exists for absolutely everybody in society,” said Tom, who added that Pieta House has treated people of all ages, from six to 80s.

“Everybody can be touched by a thought of suicide at some stage and sometimes we need a little help to withstand that thought,” he said.

“Every single penny of that comes out of Darkness Into Light goes straight to Pieta House.

“It costs €1,000 to bring a client through from beginning to end, so every thousand euro raised through Darkness Into Light helps to bring one client through.

“More than 10,000 people participated in the seven different regions collectively last year and I hope than can be achieved again this year.

“On behalf of all the management of Darkness Into Light and Pieta House, we hope that you will be able to enjoy a wonderful event this year,” Tom finished.

Another speaker on the night was Josh Deegan, who told the gathering of a work of art created especially for the night by local artist Cowboys Davie.

“He did piece on Van Gogh who tragically lost his life to suicide,” explained Josh. “On this piece, it says ‘Stars can’t shine without darkness’. For me that really affects me, because I was that person in a dark place.

“I thought there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Thankfully, due to services like Pieta House, I got help and I reached out when I needed it most,” said Josh.

Drawing the audience’s attention to the top of the painting, where a storm is depicted, he said: “We’re all going to go through some stormy waters at some point in our lives.

“That boat is going to have to overcome waves, waves of emotion, just like we all will. Letting someone know that you’re there for them can make the difference in them seeking help.

“If you know someone that is struggling, let them know that you’re there, let them know that you care,” Josh concluded.

Mullingar Darkness Into Light committee members, Stephen Donnelly, Sheelagh McCann, Josh Deegan, Noel Bennett, Rebecca O’Callaghan, Leanne Quinn, the Westmeath Rose of Tralee, and Noel O’Callaghan.