Jeremy Irons to unveil memorial to those who lost lives to suicide

Hollywood star Jeremy Irons is making his way to Kerry this weekend where the actor plans to unveil a plaque in memory of those who have lost their lives to suicide.

The memorial, located in the community gardens of Tech Amergin in Waterville, will be officially unveiled at 2pm tomorrow.

The project is an effort to raise awareness about suicide in general, and to highlight the extent of the problem in the south Kerry area, according to author Peter Holthusen, who is spearheading the initiative.

“Being so far from Dublin, many governmental bodies sadly look upon south Kerry as a distant limb and the problems we so often face in the far south-west are often overlooked and deprived of adequate funding for suicide prevention and mental health in general,” he said.

“Whether directly or indirectly, the closer you get to a capital city the more funding there is and south-west Kerry is really out on a limb in terms of funding. Unquestionably it’s under-resourced, without question, without a doubt.”

The project also has a personal meaning for Mr Holthusen, who has lost two family members to suicide. “I lost my grandmother and also my great grandfather to suicide, the former of which still troubles me today for as a young child it was I who found her body during the course of a Sunday morning visit to my grandmother’s home.

“It’s something you never forget. It’s something you carry forward with you for the rest of your life. So it’s great just to do something in her memory and in memory of other people who have lost their lives to suicide, not only in south Kerry but anywhere.”

a significant event coming up in Waterville, will be attended by Jeremy Irons#gokerry #waterville #jeremyirons pic.twitter.com/4JjSmPy34f

— GoKerry.ie (@gokerry2018) August 26, 2015

Mr Holthusen, who grew up in the UK but now lives in Caherciveen, said the stigma attached to suicide still exists and needs to be tackled.

“The first thing society needs to overcome is the stigma so often associated with suicide, for life is so precious and whatever the cause of the passing of a loved one, we should endeavour to celebrate the cherished memory of their lives, regardless of the circumstances off their death,” he said.

“It is so often the family and friends left behind who are plagued by feelings of guilt and, in some cases, shame that they were unable to prevent the suicide of a loved one, but contrary to popular belief, the person most likely to carry out a suicide attempt is the most unlikely of candidates and there may be no history of any formal mental illness.”

Mr Holthusen has been working on the memorial for the last six months and said the public garden is the perfect location for it. “The gardens of Tech Amergin will be a place of reflection and contemplation, for the beautifully secluded setting of the plaque is in a position where one can visit or retreat in privacy, with little more than the sound of the sea, the song of the birds, the scent of the flowers, the buzzing of the bees, or the caress of a gentle breeze to set the mood,” he said.

“It’s taken about six months, believe it or not, to get this all together, and there were a few problems but we got there in the end and all we’re holding out for now is the weather but we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Paudie Garvey, of Garvey Memorials in Caherciveen, has offered to supply and install the plaque at no charge while Irons showed “no hesitation” and immediately agreed to get involved.

The plaque at Tech Amergin in Waterville will be unveiled at 2pm tomorrow. Various suicide prevention and awareness charities will be in attendance should anyone wish to reach out and talk in confidence. All are welcome to attend.