Ireland

Console opens counselling rooms in Donal Walsh’s memory

Walsh’s mother ‘honoured to collaborate with Console so that Donal’s work continues’

Counselling rooms at Console House, in Tralee, have been opened dedicated to the memory of anti-suicide campaigner Donal Walsh who lost his life to cancer aged 16. Photograph: Kerry’s Eye Newspaper/PA Wire
Counselling rooms at Console House, in Tralee, have been opened dedicated to the memory of anti-suicide campaigner Donal Walsh who lost his life to cancer aged 16. Photograph: Kerry’s Eye Newspaper/PA Wire
Anne Lucey
Fri Oct 23 2015 - 22:09

Two special counselling rooms have been opened in Tralee dedicated to the memory of Donal Walsh, the 16-year-old anti-suicide campaigner who died from cancer in 2013.

The rooms at Console House, which have been funded by the Donal Walsh Live Life fund, were opened officially by his mother Elma.

Console is a national suicide prevention and bereavement charity. Its premises in Tralee is the country’s first suicide resource centre. “We are honoured to collaborate with Console so that Donal’s work continues,” said Ms Walsh. “Through Console we are reaching out to young people of his own age who are in distress or whose lives have been touched by suicide.”

The rooms have been designed specifically around the counselling needs of young people. One is for children aged six to 10; the other is for teenagers and young adults. Console offers counselling services and 24-hour helpline support to people in crisis or bereaved by suicide.