THOUSANDS of people, all clad in distinctive yellow t-shirts, followed the torchlight along the pitch-dark roadway to show their support for a cause that has touched so many lives.
The Darkness Into Light walk in Killarney might now be in its fifth year but far from shows any signs of abating, the event continues to grow in stature, importance and popularity at the start of every summer.
Thousands of men, women and children, many with their faithful four-pawed companions close to hand, squeezed into Killarney racecourse in the early hours of Saturday morning to mix and mingle before they set off on their merry way through Killarney National Park which held a magical lure even under the cover of darkness.
The venue was spectacularly lit and superbly marshalled with the reassuring message of ‘Hope’ emblazoned in candlelight on the steps of one of the main stands at the track.
At the official starting time of 4.00am, legendary broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh set them on their way and the flagship fundraiser for Pieta House set the scene for several identical events in many parts of the country and overseas.
Organised by the family of Nathan O’Carroll, a Killarney teenager who lost his life to suicide, the annual walk is a crucial fundraiser for Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of suicide and self-harm, which has now opened a base in Kerry.
Nathan, from Ross Road was just 14 years of age when he passed away and the sudden nature of his death, in December 2007, stunned the town and left his family and friends devastated.
Showing remarkable strength in the face of such a heartbreaking episode in their lives, his parents, Denis and Marie, and brothers, Damien, Killian, Aaron and Ryan, organise an annual walk, dedicated to his memory, to raise funds for the deserving charity.
An estimated 4,000 people, most carrying torches, some wearing flashing hats and headbands and many being guided by the lights on their mobile phones, walked along the tranquil park while dawn was breaking and Killarney rubbed sleep from its eyes.
From relatively small beginnings a few short years ago, the event has become a powerful symbol of hope and a real celebration of life.
Pieta House has close on 180 staff who have welcomed almost 20,000 people in centres throughout the country since it first opened its doors over nine years ago and high-profile events like Nathan’s Walk certainly help to generate awareness of the crucial service it offers.
