DARKNESS INTO LIGHT RETURNS FOR 2022
Local events are to get underway again this year as part of Darkness into Light in aid of Pieta House. Events nationwide will take place on this Saturday, May 7 to raise vital funds for Pieta House and stand in solidarity with people impacted by suicide and self-harm.
In Fermoy, the walk will get underway at 4.15am at the Fermoy GAA grounds, organised by the Health and Wellbeing Committee of Fermoy GAA.
This week, it was also announced that Castlelyons Gospel Choir and Fermoy International Choir will be providing music along the route for those taking part in the event.
Health and Wellbeing Officer with Fermoy GAA Martin Joyce, noted that on the last count, between 500 and 600 people had signed up for the walk-in Fermoy.
“We weren’t sure until a few weeks ago if we would be able to run it this year with Covid still being a concern. We used to run a social event after the walk with refreshments and tea and coffee but we’ve had to scale that right back.
“In the last few weeks, we decided we would do Darkness into Light and since then, registrations have really picked up. We’re hoping over the next couple of days we’ll see a further increase,” Mr Joyce said.
At the last Darkness into Light event held by Fermoy GAA, pre-Covid, some 1,200 people participated. With approximately 50% of that figure already signed up for Saturday’s walk, Mr Joyce said that the club are happy with the local response.
“We’re essentially starting from scratch again so we are happy enough with the number of people signed up for it. We felt that once we knew we could hold this event again, we really wanted to and we found that from talking to people, they wanted it too. It gives the general population a bit of hope coming out again after Covid,” Mr Joyce added.
Kicking off from the Fermoy GAA grounds at 4.15am on Saturday, the walk will begin in darkness, heading down Oliver Plunkett Hill, turning right at Pearse Square onto Cork Road, then onto Duntaheen Road doing a loop incorporating Barry’s Boreen before rejoining the Cork road near Texaco and returning back to the Fermoy GAA grounds.
It is expected that it will begin to get bright approximately two-thirds of the way through the walk, as it has done in previous years.
THE START OF A LOT MORE TO COME
According to Mr Joyce, the event is hoped to be the first of many events run as part of the GAA Healthy Club project, which aims to help GAA clubs explore how they support the holistic health of their members and the communities they serve.
“We’re hoping this initiative will draw more people into the GAA club through these events. It’s all about reaching out to the community with initiatives that bring the club and community together.
“Darkness into Light would be one of the big events and it was a cornerstone for us starting off, so we’re glad to have it back. It’s the start of a lot more to come,” Mr Joyce added.
To sign up for this event or to donate to the fundraiser you can do so online at www.darknessintolight.ie.