To mark World AIDS day a special candlelit memorial service will take place on Sunday November 30 at 8pm at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
This will be the 14th anniversary of this annual event which is organised by AIDS West. It is funded by HSE and provides information, education and support in relation to HIV/AIDS and all aspects of sexual health in the region.
“For many families in Galway this is the perfect way to start the Christmas season,” says a spokesperson for the organisation.
“The beautiful acoustics of this medieval church will complement the wonderful voices of Galway’s own Cois Cladaigh. The evening will feature Christmas carols by the choir under the musical direction of Brendan O’Connor. We are also delighted to announce that Bel Canto will add elegance and glamour to the evening with their magnificent voices blended beautifully together, performing trios, duets and arias in their own unique style. His Worship, the Mayor of the City of Galway Donal Lyons will also be in attendance for this unique occasion.”
World AIDS Day (December 1 ) is about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education around issues relating to HIV/AIDS. It also provides an important reminder that HIV has not gone away. According to estimates by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, 35 million people were living with HIV globally at the end of 2013. That same year, some 2.1 million people became newly infected, and 1.5 million died of AIDS-related causes. In Ireland in 2014 to date there have been 345 newly reported diagnoses of HIV, this is an increase of 41 for the same period in 2013.
For more information on this event and the services provided by AIDS West telephone (091 ) 566 266, email info @aidswest.ie or log on to www.aidswest.ie/facebook page.
