Lord Mayor to attend suicide prevention event tonight
Caitriona Twomey’s grandson Cruze delighted in the candles, lit as symbols of hope during Bridges of Hope, a candlelit event organised by Cork Penny Dinners to mark World Suicide Prevention Day last year. Picture: Chani Anderson.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy, will join the Cork Penny Dinners High Hopes Choir this evening on Kennedy Quay for a ceremony to promote World Suicide Prevention Day.
The event will mark the 10th year the charity has come together with musicians, poets, and frontline workers in what has often been an emotional gathering in the city centre to remember loved ones lost to suicide, and those left behind.
Caitríona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator with Cork Penny Dinners, said the event would offer a solemn and heartfelt moment for reflection.
“We do this every year to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, which is a day dedicated not just to raising awareness, but to creating a space for compassion, conversation, and hope for all,” Ms Twomey told .
“Our friends from Cork City Missing Persons will be on the water with the mascot Bear Hope at the helm, and a crew of bikers will set off from Kennedy Quay bringing bears across the city.”
The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has five key messages on World Suicide Prevention Day 2025:
- Reach Out and Check In – Take time to connect with people around you. A simple check-in can bring hope and make a real difference.
- Your Words Matter – Speak with kindness and empathy when talking about suicide. Everyone affected – whether they’ve lost someone or struggled themselves – deserves dignity and respect.
- Be Safe Online – Share information about suicide or self-harm responsibly and supportively. Help create a safer, more sensitive online space for everyone.
- Let’s Talk About Suicide – Build your suicide prevention skills. Learn how to spot signs and support someone – you could help save a life.
- Know Where to Get Help – Familiarise yourself with local and national supports and services. Knowing where to turn can make a meaningful difference.
Useful contact details include: www.yourmentalhealth.ie which is also available on 1800 111 888.
Pieta House - 1800 247 247.
The Samaritans 116 123 or text ‘help’ to 087 2609090.
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