Galway’s senior hurling stars will face a county selection in Gort on December 28 (3pm ) to help national charity Console provide suicide prevention training for members of nine local GAA clubs.
The match between the senior hurling team and selected players from clubs across the county will help provide specialist training for 36 people from the Galway clubs.
The nine south Galway GAA clubs to benefit from the training are Gort, Beagh, Ardrahan, Kinvara, Ballindereen, Clarinbridge, Craughwell, St Thomas and Kilbecanty.
“Console is delighted to have teamed up with the Gort and South Galway Mental Health Awareness Group who have organised this charity hurling match to help fund the QPR training,” says Margaret Tierney of Console Galway.
“Question, persuade and refer are three simple steps that anyone can quickly learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognise the warning signs of a suicide crisis.”
Four members from each club will be trained in QPR and the idea is that they will be available to support people in the wider community as well as their own club members.
Gerry Finnerty, PRO for Galway Mental Health Awareness, described the move as “a really positive mental health initiative”.
“We have had great response so far with former Galway hurlers, Sylvie Linnane, John Commins, Pearse Piggott and Tom Helebert helping to manage the county selection team.”
Tickets at €10 can be puchased from members in each of the nine clubs, and they will also be available on the day.
