Wave of Light to return for another year in Longford's Memorial Garden
Andrea Donoghue and Imelda Kilmurray, both bereaved parents, decided to set up a Wave of Light in Longford to remember their babies and attendance has increased
International Baby Loss Awareness Day is on October 15. For the hour from 7pm to 8pm, all over the world people light candles to remember babies that died before, during or after birth.
A few years ago Andrea Donoghue and Imelda Kilmurray, both bereaved parents, decided to set up a Wave of Light in Longford to remember their babies Annie and Daniel. For the first few years, they held it in the mall. The parents and families started to increase each year.
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Once Covid hit, people had to stay at home to light their candles. When Imelda and Andrea decided to continue Wave of Light they changed the venue to the Memorial Garden in Water Street.
“It was and is a more intimate venue as the Mall was too busy with other activities going on,” described Imelda. “Since then our Wave of Light has grown and grown. We gather together, light candles, play some music and write the babies names down and hang them on a little tree.”
The event does not pressure anyone to speak or do anything, but is a place for bereaved families to go and be together.
Imelda continued:
“The way the numbers are increasing proves how many families have been affected by baby loss. This year we are teaming together with Donna Curwin, also a bereaved mother to Bethany. Donna is donating a memorial frame from Bethany’s Creations. Each baby’s name that is written down on the night will be entered into a draw and the winning family will receive the memorial frame.”
The event is also teaming up with Aileen from AK Designs. Aileen has kindly offered to do a video of all the babies names and dates to be shared on socials on October 15 .
If anyone has been affected by miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death and would like to know more about this event, Imelda has directed people can join or see Facebook page “Wave of Light Longford”.
Both Imelda and Andrea would love to see more local businesses get involved to help light up for them, and to reach out if they are interested at: [email protected].