Darkness into Light
Pieta House is a suicide and self-harm crisis centre founded by psychologist Joan Freeman. It first opened its doors in Lucan, Co. Dublin in January 2006. There are now nine Pieta House centre’s throughout Ireland; four in Dublin, one in Limerick and three new centre’s opened in 2013 in Tuam Co. Galway, Roscrea Co. Tipperary and Bishopstown Co. Cork. Our most recent centre to open was in Castleisland Kerry in February 2014.
Pieta House is the only organisation in the country providing a professional, face to face, free of charge therapeutic service for people in the acute stages of distress. Pieta House has helped over 16,000 people since 2006 and demand for the service continues to grow.
Pieta House’s key annual fundraising and awareness event is Darkness into Light, supported by Electric Ireland. In May every year thousands of people gather in darkness at 4am in locations all across Ireland and walk, run or jog a 5km route together as the dawn breaks. Darkness into Light represents hope and solidarity, as it symbolises the work of Pieta House – bringing people from darkness into the light.
The first ever Darkness into Light event was held in the Phoenix Park, Dublin in 2009. The following year it was brought to Limerick in addition to Dublin. In 2011 Darkness into Light went nationwide taking place in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Ennis and Killarney with over 5,000 people taking part. In 2012, Darkness into Light expanded to 14 locations, with Cavan, Dungarvan, Mountmellick, Roscommon, Westport, Naas, Roscrea and Tinahely all coming on board and 15,000 people taking part. The number of venues increased to 20 in 2013.
In –2015 – Darkness into Light has become a thoroughly international event with over 75 venues taking part, all at the same time. 19 of these taking place outside Ireland. DiL is deeply embedded in the towns and communities in which it takes place and participation is expected to continue to grow. There is always huge anticipation and it is truly an event to remember.
For further information go to dil.pieta.ie or contact The Oak Healthy Living Centre on 028 677 23843
Past events :