Over 500 take part in inaugural Kiltimagh Darkness Into Light walk

OVER 500 people took part in Kiltimagh’s first ever Darkness Into Light walk this morning - making it one of the largest such events in Mayo. 

A total of 512 people registered for the Kiltimagh event, with between 500 and 600 taking to the streets of the town in support of the suicide and self-half prevention charity, Pieta. 

A dry, crisp morning was the setting for a 4.7k loop walk which started and ended at the Bocce Courts in Kiltimagh.

The route took in rural roads on the outskirts of town and the Sculpture Park, where the crowd were enthused by an uplifting repertoire from Cill Aodáin Choral Society under the director of Finola Higgins. 

Over 35 volunteer stewards were positioned at key strategic locations along the route helping to illuminate the bends and turns while providing guidance to all participants as they walked down Chapel Street and all around the hinterlands of Cordarragh and Kilcon.

An added feature of the Kiltimagh Darkness into Light was The Remembrance Stretch - a distance of just over 0.5K designated as a special place of remembrance where participants could walk in silence and pay an additional mark of respect to the loved ones they lost through suicide.

Participants were welcomed back to the Bocce Courts with live music from Ollie Burke and a tasty array of refreshments which were sponsored by a host of local businesses.

_{The Kiltimagh GAA Club crest position along the Darkness Into Light route in Kiltimagh}

Joe Corry, Chairperson of the Kiltimagh Darkness Into Light Committee, hailed all those who participated in the walk and everyone involved in making the inaugural event such a success. 

“On behalf of myself and all the volunteers, stewards, and committee members, we are absolutely delighted with the response to our Darkness Into Light Kiltimagh Inaugural Walk,” said Mr Corry.

“This walk is a credit to all involved underscoring the strength and vibrancy of the community spirit here in Kiltimagh. A big thank you to all who took part to help make our inaugural walk such a huge success.

“To our musician Ollie Burke, the Cill Aodáin Choral Society, the Men’s Shed who helped with our signage, to all our volunteers and stewards, your contribution was immense. Thank you to all our sponsors who donated so generously so we could host our refreshment gathering here after the event. A special thank you to all my colleagues on the committee, you were all ‘top class’.”

He added: “It would be remiss of me if I didn’t thank all those who donated privately to the event. To our TY students at St Louis Community School here in Kiltimagh who organised a ‘sponsored Jersey day’ and a ‘shave a head’ day at the school to raise money for Darkness into Light.” You have made such a difference.”

Mr Corry also extended thanks to the Swinford Darkness Into Light organisation, who will host the walk in Swinford once more in 2025 before it returns to Kiltimagh in 2026.

It is planned that the towns will continue to alternate the hosting of Darkness Into Light each year into the future.

A total of 14 Darkness Into Light walks took place in Mayo this morning (Saturday).

The event is the flagship fundraiser for Pieta, which was founded in 2006 to provide free, accessible one-to-one counselling to people suffering from suicidal ideation, engaging in self-harm or to those bereaved by suicide.

Last year in Connacht alone, Pieta provided over 4,000 hours of therapy and saw over 500 clients across the province. The charity also supported almost 100 families and households bereaved by suicide.

The charity has over 200 qualified therapists and support staff across 24 centres, and is 85 percent funded by events like Darkness Into Light.

To avail of Pieta’s services, visit www.pieta.ie or call  0818 111 126. Pieta provides 24/7 support via the Freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444