Dana Backs Charity for Suicide Bereaved

national | public consultation / irish social forum | press release Wednesday March 19, 2008 02:33 by Console Snowdrop Campaign - Console

Console Launches Major Snowdrop Campaign

As Ireland’s long history of success in the Eurovision Song Contest descends into a puppet show, the country’s first-ever winning song experiences a revival on airwaves nationwide.

This week, “All Kinds of Everything” resurfaces, 38 years after the song won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland for the first time ever.

Dana Backs Console Snowdrop Campaign

As Ireland’s long history of success in the Eurovision Song Contest descends into a puppet show, the country’s first-ever winning song experiences a revival on airwaves nationwide.

This week, “All Kinds of Everything” resurfaces, 38 years after the song won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland for the first time ever.

Dana, a.k.a. Rosemary Scallon has made the ‘Snowdrops and Daffodils’ song available to help raise funds for a new Snowdrop Campaign to support Irish people who have been bereaved by suicide. The song will played as the background to a radio ad with Dana calling on the public to support Snowdrop days.

Console, the National organisation for the suicide bereaved is launching National Snowdrop Day, year one of a permanent national initiative to raise vital funds to develop professional Counselling, Support and Helpline Services to those bereaved by suicide.

The major campaign aimed at alleviating the tragic effects of suicide in this country launches across Ireland on Thursday, the 27th of March 2008 and sees the introduction of an annual national Snowdrop Day where the public will be encouraged to support the important cause by purchasing a snowdrop pin as a symbol of hope for €3.

For people who may not have the opportunity to purchase the pin during that period, Console has also launched a special mobile phone text number. The public can make a donation to Console’s Snowdrop campaign by texting “SNOW” to 57030 for a one off cost of €2.50, proceeds of which will go directly to the Console Snowdrop campaign.

The minute Dana heard about the campaign through a friend from Console, she was immediately transported back to 1970 and the opening line “Snowdrops and Daffodils”.

“It just seemed like the song was almost written for the Snowdrop Campaign, and I told Console if they could use the song in any way to help their campaign, I would be thrilled to support them.”

Margaret Tierney, of Console says it is vital for the public to view Snowdrop Day as hugely positive: “While the heritage of this campaign is inherently tragic, Snowdrop Day is a positive departure for tackling the problem of suicide and assisting the suicide bereaved in this country”

“Suicide bereavement affects so many people and by simply purchasing the snowdrop pin, our little symbol of hope, each individual plays a vital role in alleviating the agony of their fellow citizens.”

With approximately 500 deaths by suicide in Ireland annually and an estimated 6 individuals personally affected by each of these deaths, there are very few Irish citizens who have not been touched by the tragedy of suicide.

Console was established in 2002 by families that had experienced the grief of losing a loved one through suicide to help the thousands of people whose lives were torn apart by the devastation of this loss.

Since its foundation, Console has developed into a professional organisation, responding to the needs of those bereaved through suicide within the community. Console is a national service with offices in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

A host of high profile figures have come on board to support Console’s Snowdrop Campaign and these names will be announced next week.

Major retailers, Dunnes Stores and Marks and Spencer as well as other businesses throughout Ireland will be supporting Console’s Snowdrop Campaign by selling snowdrop pins in their retail outlets in Ireland from launch day until the end of April 2008.

Snowdrops