The heartfelt ‘Love Life’ message to his peers made by a Kerry teenager, who knew that cancer was about to claim his life, has had a significant impact all over Ireland since he died, with a 27% drop in the number of youths dying by suicide in the past year, and a 65% drop in such deaths in Co. Kerry.
This was confirmed by Mrs. Elma Walsh, mother of Donal Walsh, when she spoke to a Topic representative after the annual Bereavement Mass in Mullingar Cathedral last Wednesday night, 19 November, at which she was the guest speaker. She will be back in Mullingar this Friday morning, 28 November, to talk to Senior cycle students from the local schools.
There was a very large attendance at Wednesday’s Mass, during which a special candle was lit for each of those who died during the previous twelve months, a total of more than 120 people from Mullingar Parish. The candles were lit while the names of all the deceased were being read.
Mrs. Walsh spoke movingly and honestly about her son’s battle against cancer from the age of 12 and how it had impacted on her own life and that of her husband and family, and about her late son’s tremendous zest for life, his faith and belief in God, and his personal campaign against suicide in the months before his death
Sixteen-year-old Donal Walsh touched the entire country with his personal message on television, as he urged everyone to appreciate the value of life, referring to suicide as “a permanent solution to a temporary problem”.
Donal’s parents, Fionn- bar and Elma, have continued on his legacy through the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation, and Mrs. Walsh returns to Mullingar this Friday, 28 November, and will talk to Senior cycle students at Mullingar Cathedral at 11am. All are welcome to attend and hear her message of hope.
