Series of events to mark suicide awareness day
THERE is a top line up for the Flame of Hope Concert in Drogheda’s Barbican Centre on September 9 (8pm).
This event is organised to promote mental health awareness through music & reflection and to mark World Suicide Day on Sept. 10th.
Headlining are Kaz Hawkins with special guests Sam York and St. Peter’s Male Voice Choir.
Award winning Belfast singer songwriter Kaz has relaunched as a solo artist. In a brand new show, she now performs with Sam York on piano – who has played with luminaries such as Tom Jones, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J – she now uses her music to address mental health issues.
Kaz has been taking her new material on the road, in a personal show about her life in song and selling out audiences across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Europe with an upcoming UK Tour.
Kaz says “I am on a musical mental health mission because I want people to know that there is hope in music, I was destined for death and tried many times so I am the ultimate proof that music can heal”. Kaz was the first female ambassador at Aware NI Northern Ireland’s national charity for depression and bipolar disorder and released a charity song Don’t Slip Away to help raise awareness for suicide prevention.
Flame of Hope concert will also feature Drogheda’s legends St. Peter’s Male Voice Choir who are still on a high having featured in the top 10 of the Irish itune charts with ‘Noreen Bawn’. There is no charge for this concert but entrance is by ticket only which can be obtained from the Barbican Centre 041-9807416 | SOSAD 041-9848754.
There are also a number of surprises promised on the night.
On Monday, September 10, local singer Amie Dyer and the Greenhills choir will perform on the steps of St Peter’s church at 2pm. In association with that, there will be the incredible sight of hundreds of shoes placed on the steps to remember loved ones lost to suicide and mental health illness. A remembrance candle will be lit and a specially commissioned flag unfurled.
All are then invited down to the Augustinian Garden of Remembrance for light refreshments and to learn more about SOSAD, who will have volunteers there.
The launch took place in the Augustinian Garden last week, with Declan Power from the Barbican stating that it had taken a number of months to get the events organised by the committee involved.
The Barbican, St Peter’s Outreach, the Augustinian and SOSAD have all combined to be part of the two days.
Madeline Morgan from SOSAD said people were always ready at the centre to help anyone who needed it. ‘ The hardest thing for people can be coming through the door. After that, we’ll look after you,’ she said.