Dear Bridget,

IAM delighted to get this opportunity to write to you. I love you to bits and forever. I miss you so much. It is now 42 years since you died by suicide, on October 1, 1975, aged 28.

You had everything going for you. You had your own car, a black Morris Minor. You were a home bird, so you travelled into work from home to your job as a clerical assistant with the Department of Social Welfare in Thurles.

Biddy was your pet name. You were a very popular girl, you liked sports, running, camogie. You liked dancing, jiving and so on.

Daddy’s girl, you went with him to the greyhound track in Thurles to watch his greyhound in the races.

You were charitable and loved by Mammy and Daddy and your sisters and brothers. I was studying in Co Sligo then. I will always remember that weekend that you and Anna drove to Sligo to stay with me for a few days.

We went out to the ballroom in Strandhill to a dance. Big Tom and The Mainliners were playing. We enjoyed ourselves.

Biddy, it was with great sadness and shock that you were a victim of suicide. Mammy and Daddy and all our hearts are broken. Suicide was a crime then. We did not have bereavement counselling in 1975. There was a huge stigma attached to suicide.

Suicide was not spoken of. No parents want to lose their lovely daughter to this tragedy. There are no answers as to why one dies by suicide. My belief is that depression is the No 1 cause. Then what are the contributing factors that can cause one to be depressed?

Thank God today suicide has been decriminalised. Suicide is more openly discussed in schools to second-level students. Counselling is available for people.

Remember, it’s OK not to feel OK. I believe, Biddy, that you felt you did not want to live in this world. Bye for now until we meet again. Lots of love and hugs. Your sister, Mary Castleisland, Co Kerry