By Louise Doyle
A RALLYING call has been made for people to sign up to take part in ‘Darkness into Light’ in Donegal on Saturday as registrations to Pieta’s flagship fundraiser are down 40 per cent, the charity has said.
Pieta provides emergency intervention counselling, a 24-hour helpline and support for those at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Figures obtained by the Donegal News show 216 clients received therapy services in 2024. This included 166 clients who engaged in intervention therapy and 50 clients who received bereavement support.
In terms of therapy hours, Donegal accounted for a total of 1,826 hours in 2024. Of those, 1,188 hours were dedicated to intervention therapy, while 638 hours were allocated to bereavement support.
On Saturday morning, a number of Darkness into Light walks will take place around Donegal, the country and indeed globally. Ahead of this, Pieta and Electric Ireland have issued a rallying call for the public to sign up to the events in a bid to help save lives.
Registrations are currently down nearly 40 per cent compared to this time last year, yet one thing hasn’t changed – the need for services to stop suicide.
Pieta says this year’s message is clear – now more than ever they need more people walking, more people hearing about Pieta and more people getting support when they need it most.
In partnership with Electric Ireland, Pieta launched the 16th annual Darkness Into Light sunrise walk in March, highlighting Pieta’s lifesaving, free services for those impacted by suicide and self-harm throughout Ireland. In 2024 alone, Pieta delivered 2,923 hours of therapy and assisted 350 people in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan, highlighting the ongoing need for public support.
While over 100,000 participants are expected to take part globally, this year, registration numbers have dropped sharply.
“Each year, around 500 lives are lost to suicide in Ireland-and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Stephanie Manahan, chief executive of Pieta.
“Behind every number is a grieving family, friends, a community in pain. Darkness Into Light is more than a fundraiser; it is a movement that saves lives. You know the power of taking that first step and signing up to walk with your community. We need you again. Sign up. Show up. Save lives.”
FLASHBACK: A wave for the camera at a previous ‘Darkness into Light’ event in Letterkenny.
Since its inception in 2009, Darkness Into Light has grown from 400 walkers in Dublin’s Phoenix Park to a global event spanning 14 countries. Participants walk from darkness into dawn, symbolising hope, and the journey from despair to healing.
Pieta is appealing to the public, especially those who have walked in the past, to sign up and walk again in 2025. Every registration helps fund professional therapy, crisis support, and suicide bereavement services offered free of charge to those in need.
People can participate by visiting www.darknessintolight.ie, choose your walk location, register and set a fundraising goal.
The adult registration fee of €22 and teen fee of €5 helps ensure Pieta’s crisis helpline and therapy services can continue operating 365 days a year.
Anyone in need of support or counselling should contact Pieta via pieta.ie, or by calling 0818 111 126. If more immediate crisis support is required, you can contact the Pieta Crisis Helpline 24/7 at 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444. Pieta’s Crisis Helpline is staffed by therapists 365 days a year to offer immediate support over the phone.
Darkness Into Light, Pieta’s biggest fundraising and awareness event, started with approximately 400 people walking the 5km course in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in 2009 and has since grown into a global movement with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in 200 locations, in 14 countries across four continents.
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT WALKS
Darkness into Light walks are taking place across Donegal on Saturday, all of which will commence at 4.15am.
- Ballybofey and Stranorlar; Finn Valley Centre, Millbrae, Stranorlar, F93 NV0T
- Buncrana; Scoil Mhuire, Saint Oran’s Road, Buncrana, F93 PN53
- Bundoran; Bundoran Community Centre, Main Street, Bundoran, F94 RH33
- Burtonport; Burtonport Community Centre, Lackenagh, Burtonport, F94VW95
- Carndonagh; Spraoi agus Sport Unit 7 -Unit 9 – Unit 10 Supervalu Carndonagh, F93 EWV3
- Carrick; Carrick Community Hall, An Charraig, F94 RY91
- Carrigart; Donegal Boardwalk Resort, Cuan Na RÃ, Carrigart, F92 X3WP
- Donegal Town; St John Bosco Community Centre, Railway Park,
- Greencastle; Scoil Cholmcille, Eleven Ballyboes, Greencastle, F93 E890
- Gaoth Dobhair; The Gweedore Theatre, Factory Road, Derrybeg, F92 A718
- Letterkenny; ATU Donegal, Port Road, Letterkenny, F92 FC93,
- Narin/Portnoo; Dolemen Eco Centre, Kilcooney Beg, Portnoo, F94 DN83
- Rathmullan; Beach car Park
- Dunfanaghy; Beach car park
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