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FirstLight

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FirstLight

Free professional counselling to parents and families who have lost a child aged 0 to 18, no matter the circumstances. Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20017651

A person’s normal coping mechanisms are often disrupted by the sudden death of a child. The intensity of emotion can be overwhelming, affecting a person cognitively, physically, and behaviourally. Disruption in sleep can fray one’s ability to cope, making everyday tasks difficult. Some people experience flashbacks and intrusive thoughts and images. Feeling lost, hopeless, numb, or distressed can b

e very frightening. FirstLight is a trauma-informed organisation, offering a National 24-hour Helpline service, Crisis Intervention, and Psychotherapy service. Our services are provided nationwide by our team of professionally accredited, fully insured and Garda vetted psychotherapists and counsellors. Our team members are professionally trained to provide support to clients experiencing trauma associated with the sudden death of their child. All of our services to families are free of charge and confidential.

27/08/2026

Last Friday, we had the privilege of welcoming Sinead Hall to record an episode of the Many Voices of FirstLight podcast.

In a gentle conversation, Sinead spoke about her son, Ruadhán, his continuing place within their family, and what it means to live with love and grief over time.

We are deeply grateful to Sinead for the trust she placed in us and for choosing to share what felt right for her today.

We look forward to sharing her episode with you in the future.

Teach Ruadh

21/08/2026

Only three places remaining! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Would you like to run the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, 25 October 2026 for FirstLight?

Your fundraising will help FirstLight provide free, professional counselling to bereaved parents and families across Ireland following the death of a child.

To book one of our final three places, email the following to [email protected]:
✅ Your name
✅ Email address
✅ Mobile number

Every mile can help a family feel supported, heard and less alone.
Please share with someone who may be ready to take on the challenge.

12/08/2026

Some conversations stay with you.

Last Friday, our General Manager Andrew Mernagh had the privilege of recording an episode of Many Voices of FirstLight with Tómas Fay and Tatiana Souza.

They spoke with such love about their beautiful daughter Lorena, about the grief of losing her, about what support meant at the time, and about the ways they have continued to honour her through their ongoing connection with FirstLight.

As we approach FirstLight’s 50th anniversary, this podcast series is about where we began, how far we have come, and why bereaved families must always remain at the centre of everything we do.
It is a series about grief, but also about love. About memory. About children remembered. About families who should never have to feel they are alone.

Thank you, Tómas and Tatiana, for trusting us with Lorena’s story and for everything you continue to give to FirstLight and to other bereaved families.

Thank you also to Carmichael for their partnership in recording this first series, and to Paul Moloney for the care, steadiness and sensitivity he has brought to the process.

Many Voices of FirstLight is coming soon.

05/08/2026

Ár Réaltaí Beaga – Our Little Stars ⭐

FirstLight is honoured to support and share this beautiful remembrance initiative, created by the O’Shea family in loving memory of their daughter, Alice.

Ár Réaltaí Beaga, meaning Our Little Stars, is a permanent tribute in Croke Park to remember babies and young children from GAA families who have sadly died.

The initiative was inspired by Alice, who was born sleeping on 12 September 2025. As her family approach the first anniversary of her birth, and what should have been her first birthday, they have created a lasting tribute to honour Alice and every little star from the wider GAA family whose life, however brief, has left an everlasting mark.

In just four weeks, over 1,000 precious babies and children have already been entrusted to be remembered forever through Ár Réaltaí Beaga.

There is no cost to families, no fundraising and no obligation. This is simply an opportunity for bereaved GAA families to have their child’s name included in a permanent tribute in Croke Park.

Bereaved families from every GAA club and county are warmly invited to take part.

⭐ To include your child’s name, please complete the form by 12 September 2026:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/VQuR6bxhYn

You can also follow and support the initiative on Instagram:

Please share this post to help reach bereaved GAA families across Ireland who may wish to have their little star remembered.

Forever Loved • Forever Remembered • Forever Part of Our GAA Family 🤍

20/07/2026

On 24 July, Xavier will take a brave leap — quite literally — in memory of his precious daughter, who died suddenly from SIDS.

This parachute jump is a deeply personal challenge. It is being undertaken with love, remembrance and hope, while raising vital funds for FirstLight’s work supporting bereaved parents and families across Ireland.

Already, Xavier has raised the equivalent of 20 hours of professional counselling for families facing the unimaginable loss of a child.

That is 20 hours of care.
20 hours of listening.
20 hours of support when it is needed most.

If you can, please consider making a donation to support Xavier’s fundraiser. Every contribution, big or small, helps ensure that no bereaved parent or family has to face grief alone.

Donate here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/xavierflynn

Thank you, Xavier, for honouring your daughter’s memory in such a courageous and meaningful way. And thank you to everyone who has donated and shared his fundraiser so far.

14/07/2026

Today’s announcement by Government is an important and welcome step forward.

Pregnancy loss is deeply personal, deeply painful, and too often experienced in silence. For many people, there has simply not been the acknowledgement or support they needed — including at work.

At FirstLight, we believe every loss deserves compassion, dignity and understanding. No one should have to carry grief alone.
We also want to acknowledge and thank Nicole Ryan, Linda Nelson Murray, all members of the cross-party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss, and our colleagues at Féileacáin and the Pregnancy Loss Research Group for the care, commitment and advocacy they have brought to this issue.

There is still more to do, but this matters. It is a meaningful step towards greater recognition, support and compassion for those affected by pregnancy loss.

If you or someone you know needs support, FirstLight is here:

02/07/2026

A heartfelt thank Mary Chris Kelly and Ger Kelly for taking part in Many Voices of FirstLight last Friday, June 26th

It was a privilege to spend time with you both and to hear you speak about your beautiful daughter, Zoë Anna, with such tenderness, honesty, and love. We know that sharing a child’s story is never easy, and we are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in us.

At FirstLight, we know that when loss is met with understanding, presence, and compassion, families can feel a little less alone. Thank you, Mary and Ger, for offering something so meaningful to others who may be listening.

If any other family would like to participate in Many Voices of FirstLight, please contact [email protected].

30/06/2026

This challenge was always about more than a mountain — it was about helping families find a way through unimaginable loss.

Over May and June, our Chairperson, Oliver Blackwell, took on the extraordinary challenge of Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest peak in North America, in loving memory of his son David, who died unexpectedly at just 14 months old. This was Oliver Blackwell’s fourth fundraising climb, building on a journey that has already raised over €40,000 to support bereaved families.

While the climb itself has come to an end, the purpose behind it continues. We are aiming to raise €15,000 — enough to provide 250+ hours of free professional counselling to bereaved parents and families across Ireland.

€60 = 1 hour of vital support for a grieving family.

At FirstLight, we see every day how essential this support is. Grief after the loss of a child can be overwhelming, isolating and life-changing — but no family should have to face it alone.

If you can, please support this appeal and help us continue to be there for families when they need us most.
👉 https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/FirstLightDenali
👉 Please share this post to help us reach more people

Address

Carmichael Centre, 4 North Brunswick Street
Dublin
D07RHA8

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+35318732711

Website

http://www.firstlight.ie/

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