Suicide vigil takes place this Monday
PEARSE Park in Tralee will next week again bear witness to a very special ceremony as members of the Kerry community who have been touched by suicide come together to remember those that they have lost.
Held every year on September 10 to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, Gerard Collins and the rest of the ‘Open Arms Kerry’ (OAK) initiative are inviting as many people as possible to this years candlelight vigil.
“It is a chance for the community to remember those who have been lost to suicide. It is a beautiful ceremony,” said Gerard, speaking on Monday.
“If there is anyone on the evening that has lost someone to suicide in the past 12 months and is looking for answers to any questions that they have, or if there is someone there who just needs a chat, myself and six other members of OAK will be there for as long as it takes,” he continued.
“I’m speaking from a very personal standpoint by saying that suicide can destroy families. It can tear them apart through sadness, blaming and fighting. While the pain will never go away, hopefully this ceremony next Monday will allow a little bit of comfort,” he said.
Music at this year’s event will again be provided by Tralee native Seamus Harty, who also played at last year’s event.
This year’s staging will start at the earlier time of 8.40pm, with those attending encouraged to be there from about 8.15pm onwards.
“We have a minute or two of silence on the night for people to take the time and remember their loved one, and then I will say a few words,” Gerard said. “It will be a very simple ceremony.”
He and the rest of OAK are asking that nobody bring any lanterns to the ceremony, as they will be considered a health and safety risk and will not allowed.