Pictures: Light up the Night funds distributed to local charities

As in previous years, the skies over Ballyragget, Castlecomer, Conahy, Kilkenny, Durrow and Ballyouskill were illuminated with a plethora of tractors and trucks traveling in three different directions on New Year’s Eve.

Light up the Night, the North Kilkenny Truck and Tractor Run is organised as an awareness raiser for suicide and all things mental health related, while also promoting the various organisations working with mental health in the local area and beyond. 

As a by-product of this awareness programme, funds are raised annually and this year the recipients were Kilkenny Bereavement Support Centre, Anam Cara, Teac Tom and Ballyragget Men’s Shed.

On the night there were representatives from each of the organisations to accept their donations and provide an insight to all of those present about where the funds will be going.

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Light up the Night has been running since 2016 and to date there has been in excess of €85,000 donated to local organisations all the while raising the awareness of mental health, suicide and the help available in the local areas.

Chairperson of the committee Freddie Farrell spoke about the changes that have come about since the start of this suicide awareness campaign initiative and that the committee believes that the New Year’s Eve event is now seen as a social gathering each year while also helping to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues.

Mr Farrell and the organising committee would like to extend a deep word of gratitude to each and every individual involved who helped in any way to make New Year’s Eve such a spectacular event once again.

Plans are already underway to do it all again in 2025. In the meantime, take care and remember it’s ok not to be ok, and there is help available.