Console Celebration of Light

On Sunday evening I was once again invited to Console's annual concert

for family and friends who have lost loved ones through suicide
Last year my Mam came with me this year I managed to get three tickets and

my Father could also attend with us
It was my third year to attend and it means so much to me

giving us one evening over the festive time to just remember and celebrate

my brother who we lost in 2006

Although we miss him every day and think of him all the time

This is a beautiful two and half hours once a year to just remember, cry, think and celebrate his life

My Dad like my Mam last year was unsure

what to expect, he is not very religious and was hoping it wasn't praying for two hours!

When the he realised it was an evening of celebration, songs and poems

he really relaxed and really enjoyed his time there

This year's theme was Hope and yes there is still Hope and Light
After you go through something like this everything seems dark
There doesn't seem to be any light around but believe me there is
always a little light in the dark
It might be small but it's there growing
On the evening one candle is lit then we are all given candles
and we light them together to represent this

This year's beautiful singers included
Paul Hennessy who sang You Raise Me Up,
Liam Lawton who sang Bring Him Home,
Rebecca Storm sang You'll Never Walk Along
and Jack L sang Ole Man River
Christy Keneally who narrated the evening has such a beautiful way with words

Again I watched my parents leave a little lighter then they entered
My Dad didn't stop talking about it all the way home!
The thing that I love about this evening is that
We can grieve and let our feelings out knowing
everyone there is feeling the same way
It's nine years since our brother left this world
the pain will always be there
Knowing we have an evening like this every year
makes the pain a little more bearable
Thank you to everyone at Console for this amazing evening

Remember Suicide it not

the answer there is always

light at the end of the tunnel

please talk

Console 1800 247 247

Beacon Of Light 01 457 8700

Celebration of Light Console Concert

On Sunday evening I was once again invited to Console's annual concert
for family and friends who have lost loved ones through suicide
My lovely manager in work always manages to get me tickets
It was my second year to attend and it means so much to me
This year my Mam came with me I could tell she was unsure
at first what to expect, but by the end I could see a weight had been
lifted from her shoulders

The setting for this concert is the stunning grounds of
St Patrick's Church in Maynooth College
The grounds are just stunning which make this concert
even more special

I took a few pictures before the concert
started
It was a beautiful evening of
music, song and poems
Every year there is a theme
this year's theme was
Love
There was beautiful singers
who sang beautiful words of love
Declan O' Rourke sang his well know
song Galilieo, Rebecca Storm sang Tell Me It's Not True
Niamh Kavangah sang In My life
and author Christy Kenneally
speaker on the night said
sad and true words

To watch my Mam be able to grieve
in the comfort of those around her
knowing we where all there for
the same reasons as her
was a wonderful thing
So thankful to Console
for that it's
one of the best Christmas presents
I could as for

Remember Suicide it not
the answer there is always
light at the end of the tunnel
please talk

Console 1800 247 247
Beacon Of Light 01 457 8700