The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Walk raises more than €5,000 for South West Counselling Service
WALK RAISES MORE THAN €5,000 FOR SW COUNSELLING SERVICE
WHEN Eileen O’Riordan spoke to The Kerryman a fortnight ago, she told us she hoped the Ian O’Riordan Remembrance Walk in Gneeveguilla would prove a fitting tribute to her son on the week that should have marked his 21st Birthday.
On Saturday, her hope turned to happiness, as she was greeted by some 400 walkers. As she said herself, “the whole thing couldn’t have gone better.”
Ian died by suicide just over four years ago. The ‘gentle, popular teenager’ was just 16-years old, and Eileen told The Kerryman his passing changed her ‘family’s life drastically’.
It was the work of Southwest Counselling that carried her family and Ian’s friends at Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore through the devastating period, and Eileen has since been keen to give something back.
As well as serving as an opportunity to remember Ian, Eileen hoped the remembrance walk could raise much-needed funds for the counselling group, and, to her delight, the walk achieved exactly that.
School friends, family members, neighbours and a few welcome strangers of all ages embarked on the walk on Saturday, with Brian Friel, Mark Ryan, and Ian’s siblings Liam and Melissa leading the contingent around a five kilometre ring, taking participants around the Gneeveguilla area and back to Petro’s Bar.
There they were treated to food, refreshments, and raffle prizes, with a Kerry jersey kindly signed by senior footballer Paul Murphy serving as the top prize.
“At this stage, we’ve raised almost €5,500, and we’ve been promised more from people who couldn’t attend – so all I can say is thanks to everyone who has supported the walk,” Eileen said. “This walk meant an awful lot to my family and will hopefully help more youths in the future through what it has raised for Southwest counselling.”
On the day, 21 balloons were released during the pre-walk registration to mark Ian’s birthday, and while this was a once-off staging Eileen feels it achieved everything she’d hoped it would.
“I’m just glad so many people came out to remember Ian, and donated to a service that proved a tremendous support during a very difficult time,” she said.