Darkness into Light Dundalk committee cancel this year's event

Dundalk’s Darkness into Light Committee have announced that they will not be proceeding with this year’s event having grown frustrated with the slow progress of Pieta having a physical presence in Louth. 

Organisers of the Dundalk event, which started in 2017, have for the past number of years been advocating for the need for a physical presence for Pieta within Louth.

In a statement released by the committee they said that Pieta has been actively attempting to reach a service level agreement with the HSE in order to provide these services and that they along with other committees in Louth have attended several meetings over the past number of years to try to progress the issue.

The statement continued: “We have also lobbied the HSE on this matter. We were of the belief in the last year that we would see some form of service being delivered. 

“Unfortunately progress on this has been slow and in the last few months we have seen little or no movement. 

“We, as the local Committee on the ground, cannot in good conscience seek the support of our community with your presence and your donations on the morning of May 11th when we cannot give a guarantee or a concrete date when these services will be delivered.”

The committee were quick to point out that the decision was not to be seen as a negative view of Pieta as a service or their staff. 

“We still believe they deliver an exceptional service in an increasingly difficult environment and we know they will continue to do so for the hundreds of people who attend their services from Louth either remotely online or by travelling to one of their centres. 

“All of the staff from Pieta who have assisted us over the years have been extremely kind, professional and dedicated to the cause of promoting positive mental health and assisting people in Louth suffering from mental health issues.”

The organisers believe that the time is now to bring a physical presence to Louth and have called on the  HSE to progress this matter with Pieta saying that the services in place within this area and particularly at Crosslanes Drogheda are not sufficient. 

They further say that if a positive decision is announced from the HSE/Pieta in the next few weeks, they will happily reverse this decision and organise the event on the morning of May 11th.

The statement concluded: “If that is not the case, we as a committee, will still complete the walk on the morning of May 11th in our own private way. 

“We hope that you, as our supporters, will do similar as we remember our loved ones lost to suicide and to remind people that there is hope.

“This isn’t the end of Darkness into Light Dundalk, it is just a pause. We will continue to fight until we get a service in place. 

“We hope you understand our decision, we believe it’s in your best interests to bring hope home.”