‘Talk to a Friend’ event to take place later this month

By Dionne Meehan

LOCAL musician Eddie Gallagher is hosting a suicide awareness event in Wilkin’s Bar, Churchill on Friday, October 25.

The thought behind this event is close to home for Mr Gallagher, having lost his brother Patrick (Packie) to suicide last year.

Speaking to the Donegal News this week, Mr Gallagher said like many affected families, his brother’s death came as a massive shock.

“He was 52-years-old,” Mr Gallagher said.

“He was the second person that was very close to me that I lost to suicide,” he said.

Entitled ‘Talk to a Friend’, Mr Gallagher said the aim of the event is to let people know there is always someone to talk to.

“I think that is the biggest thing for people in that situation, they don’t realise they can talk to their friends,” he said.

Bill Vaughan, Development Officer for Mental Health Ireland, will kick off the event by hosting a talk.

Following this, various artists will take to the mic including Mr Gallagher himself.

Artists appearing on the night include John Paul McHugh, Hugh P and Maria and Gary Mangan.

“There is a full night’s entertainment, no donations and no charge,” Mr Gallagher said.

“It is basically a night to let people know what resources are available to them if they are in a situation where they feel they need to talk. Hopefully it will be a good night,” he concluded.

A second ‘Talk to a Friend’ event will take place on Friday, November 22 in Harley’s Bar, Trentagh.

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