‘Hurts like hell’: Donegal singer's suicide awareness event to encourage talk

Eddie Gallagher wants to get the message out loud that it’s good to talk.

The Donegal country music singer is hosting a suicide awareness night on Friday in Churchill with another planned for Trentagh next month.

Inspired by his own family losses to suicide, the ‘Talk to a Friend’ event at Wilkin’s Bar in Churchill will be a mix of music and talk.

“There is plenty of stuff out there about suicide awareness, but the message just isn’t getting through that you can talk,” he says. “Maybe people feel like they can’t talk. I want us to get the message out that they can talk - and that there will be someone to listen.”

Mental Health Ireland Development Officer Bill Vaughan will be present to deliver a talk while artists to feature will include John Paul McHugh, Gary Mangan, Hugh P & Maria.

There will be no admission charge and no donations taken on the night.

“It’s mainly just a night to get a message out,” Eddie says. “From my perspective, I’ve been down the road twice with family members.

“If you put 10 people into a room, it’s amazing how many of them wouldn’t talk and how many of them couldn’t talk.

“We’ve had such a good response. I could’ve had loads of artists to play and support it, but I didn’t want to drown the night out completely.”

A second event will be held on November 22 in Harley’s of Trentagh.

“It’s a bit of fun also, but it will get out message out,” he says.

Having lost his father-in-law to suicide in 2013, he was act devastated with the death of his brother, Patrick (Packie), through suicide in June 2023.

“People say to me ‘you know what suicide is all about’. I say I don’t know what it’s all about, but I do see the devastation that it leaves behind.

“The experiences I have had, they came out of the blue. That seems to be a similar story around suicides.

“It can hit anyone at any time and I can vouch for the fact that it hurts like hell and it will leave a family in bits. I have gone to counselling myself because that’s important and people should also know that it’s a vital part of coping.

“The worst bit of suicide is that everyone asks ‘why’ - but you’ll never get the answers.”

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The Termon native, who now lives in Letterkenny, believes that the education system can play a greater role.

“This doesn’t have to necessarily involve a mental health nurse or a psychiatric nurse,” he says, “but even just a teacher once a week impressing upon young people the importance of talking.”