VIDEO: Jeremy Irons unveils Kerry suicide memorial

We may not understand why someone one takes their own life. We may not understand why someone even contemplates it. But this lack of comprehension does not mean we can ignore the issue, according to actor Jeremy Irons, because it’s an issue that desperately needs to be talked about.

The Hollywood star was speaking in Waterville, Co Kerry, yesterday as he unveiled a plaque in memory of all those who have died by suicide.

“It’s something we don’t understand. Normal, well-balanced people suddenly decide to leave the world and it’s quite difficult to understand why.

"But I think all we can do is to say it exists. People who have those tendencies should be helped as much as they can with friendship, with love, with community, with talking about it, with having someone on the end of the phone they can ring and say how they feel because it’s not that rare,” he said.

“I’ve always been taught that it is darkest before the dawn and when I get really low there’s a little bird in me saying ‘it can only get better’. And I think it is that little bird we want to put in the ears of people who are thinking of ending their journey in life, to say ‘wait, it can get better’.”

Locals listen to the words of Hollywood star Jeremy Irons

Irons noted that the plaque was fittingly located, in the communal gardens of Tech Amergin, and served as an important reminder suicide is something not to be ignored.

“Why should there be a suicide plaque? Because, like in the last century nobody talked about tuberculosis if it was in the family, like 50 years ago nobody talked about cancer if it was in the family, like 30 years ago nobody talked about a family member who was gay.”

Now, he said, we need to talk about suicide — ignoring it will only ensure more difficulties for those suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.

Jeremy Irons was in Kerry yesterday unveiled a plaque in memory of those who have lost their lives to suicide.

Local author Peter Holthusen, who grew up in the UK but now lives in Caherciveen, spearheaded the project to install the plaque and said it will also serve as a reminder of Kerry’s funding needs.

“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,” he said.

“Whether directly or indirectly, the closer you get to a capital city the more funding there is and southwest Kerry is really out on a limb in terms of funding.”

Piper Kevin Peters plays a lament as Jeremy Irons unveils the plaque.

Tragically, Peter lost his grandmother and his great-grandfather to suicide. As a child he discovered his grandmother’s body, something which still haunts him today.

“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.”