Darkness into Light: Thousands across Ireland take part in annual fundraiser for Pieta

Thousands of people across the country took part in the annual Darkness into Light predawn walk on Saturday morning.

Held to raise money in aid of suicide and self-harm prevention charity Pieta, official walks took place at some 230 locations in Ireland and abroad this year.

Walkers set off in darkness from locations including GAA clubs, churches and schools. The 5km walks finish as dawn is breaking, to symbolise hope for those in distress or who have been bereaved through suicide.

The first Darkness into Light took place in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in 2009, when some 400 walkers took part in a 5km in aid of Pieta. The first international walk took place in 2012. The organisation expected more than 100,000 participants to take part in Saturday morning’s events.

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