Inking in awareness of suicide prevention services – with tattoos
By Mary Dennehy
A COMMUNITY-led fundraising tattoo day is being staged in St Aengus Community Centre on Good Friday, with more than 100 tattoos expected to be inked in aid of suicide awareness.
This is the fourth year that a group of young adults from St Aengus, Castlepark and Balrothery have organised a charity tattoo-athon – with money in the past going to Pieta House and Tallaght-based suicide education project, NINA [Need Information Need Advice] for Life.
This year, the event is being held in aid of HOPE [Hold on Pain Eases], a suicide prevention drop-in service on Main Street, Tallaght, which was established by Tallaght mother Mary McLoughlin in June, 2013.
Led by Patrick Fay, the tattoo day will run from 9am until 8pm on Friday, March 25, with 100 people expected to be inked on the day.
There will be six tattoos available to choose from, all costing €40 – with €20 from each tattoo going to HOPE, alongside all of the money raised from raffles and cake sales which will be held throughout the day.
Members of the community are also invited to drop into the event, which will also be attended by a qualified counsellor for anybody who would like to talk.
Patrick told The Echo: “This is our fourth year to hold the tattoo day, and it’s mad to think that since we started two new suicide services have been opened by local people [NINA for Life and HOPE].
“There is still a huge demand for suicide support, services and awareness, and since the Government is not committing itself to the problem, it is up to communities to do something.
“Over the past three years, the tattoo day has raised more than €10,000 for suicide charities alongside helping to raise awareness, and we hope that people once again engage with the charity day on Good Friday, and even if they are not into getting a tattoo that they drop in and pick up some information, have a cup of tea or buy a raffle ticket.”
Locals Carol Gaffney, Sharon Barrett, Jennifer Johnston and Catherine Fay are part of the organising team on the day, which has received massive support from people living in the area in getting the fundraiser off the ground.
The six tattoos, which will be inked by a professional tattoo artist, will be available to view on the Tattoo Day for Hope Facebook page in the coming days and can be booked online or by calling Patrick on 087 3290786.
The HOPE drop-in service opens every Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm in Trustus House on Main Road, Tallaght and for further details visit the HOPE Facebook page or call Mary McLoughlin on 087 1363082.
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