FirstLight
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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 be 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.
We’re standing with Dylan, Hunter’s dad, and we hope you will too.
Dylan has made a very special request. He would like to see a tree lit in blue and pink on this year’s The Late Late Toy Show, in remembrance of babies and children who have died.
The Toy Show is a night about children, family and being together. Dylan is asking that the children who cannot be there on the sofa are remembered too.
For Dylan, this is for his son, Hunter.
We think it is a beautiful idea, and one that could mean so much to parents and families across Ireland.
If you know somebody in RTÉ or connected with The Late Late Toy Show, please send them Dylan’s video. You can also support his request by sharing the original post.]
Let’s help his message reach the people who can make it happen.
We’re with you, Dylan. 💙🩷
A Little Lifetime Foundation Baby Noel Heneghan Barn Dance The Feather Garden The Butterfly Garden Anam Cara Supporting Parents after Bereavement Feileacain Wave of Light Peas in a Pod - Loss in a Multiple Pregnancy Claudia Buckley
22/09/2026
Less than four weeks to go until the 2026 Baby Noel Heneghan Barn Dance! 🎉🤠
It is wonderful to see promotional materials appearing across Roscommon and the surrounding areas, including this brilliant pull-up display at the Abbey Hotel Roscommon.
Join us for a special evening of live country music, dancing and entertainment in support of FirstLight.
📍 Abbey Hotel Roscommon
📅 Saturday, 17 October 2026
⏰ Doors open at 8 pm
🎟️ Tickets €20
Book now through Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/baby-noel-heneghan-barn-dance-2026-in-aid-of-firstlight-tickets-2001191946984
Tickets are also available from reception at the Abbey Hotel Roscommon and can be purchased at the door on the night.
For anyone unable to attend, a donation link will be available shortly.
Thank you to everyone who is helping to share the event. We are looking forward to a fantastic night in Roscommon!
21/09/2026
An invitation to remember.
A Service of Remembrance will take place on Friday, 9 October 2026 at 7.30 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork. All who have experienced or been affected by pregnancy or infant loss are warmly welcome. The service will also be livestreamed.
18/09/2026
🤠 NEW SUPPORT ACTS ANNOUNCED! 🎶
Seán Fahy Music and John Molloy Country will join headliner Claudia Buckley for the Baby Noel Heneghan Barn Dance 2026!
📍 Abbey Hotel Roscommon
📅 Saturday, 17 October 2026
🚪 Doors open at 8 pm
🎟️ Tickets €20
📲 Tickets available from Friday on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/baby-noel-heneghan-barn-dance-2026-in-aid-of-firstlight-tickets-2001191946984
Get ready for a brilliant night of live country music, dancing and entertainment, all in aid of FirstLight.
Kirby Group GRAHAM Group Ward & Burke Shannonside FM Roscommon Herald
16/09/2026
A huge congratulations to Conor Bishop on completing Paris2Nice 2026 and choosing to support First Light along the way.
Conor is raising funds to help us continue providing vital support to parents and families who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a baby. This cause is especially close to his heart, as his own family has experienced such loss.
At First Light, we know that no parent should have to face grief alone. Thanks to supporters like Conor, we can continue offering counselling, support services, and hope to bereaved families across Ireland.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us be there for families when they need us most.
Thank you, Conor, for your dedication, generosity, and support. And thank you to everyone who has donated and shared encouragement along the way. 💛
Support the fundraiser: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/conorbishop
16/09/2026
On 20 September 2026, Sheree Fallon will take part in the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon in memory of their much-loved nephew, Enzo.
Enzo died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) on 20 September 2025, when he was three months old. His family remembers the light and love he brought into their lives and misses him every day.
By running in Enzo’s memory, his aunt is raising funds for FirstLight. Every donation, whatever the amount, is sincerely appreciated.
Support the fundraiser: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/SF01775910
15/09/2026
CLAUDIA BUCKLEY TO HEADLINE THE BABY NOEL HENEGHAN BARN DANCE 2026! 🤠🎉
We are delighted to announce that the sensational Claudia Buckley, winner of Female Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 Hot Country Music Awards, will headline the Baby Noel Heneghan Barn Dance 2026!
📅 Saturday, 17 October 2026
📍 The Abbey Hotel Roscommon
🚪 Doors open at 8.00pm
Get ready for a very special night of live country music, dancing and entertainment, all in support of FirstLight.
This event would not be possible without the outstanding generosity of our 2026 sponsors:
💎 Platinum Sponsors
Deloitte
Kirby Group Engineering
🥇 Gold Sponsors
GRAHAM
Ward and Burke Construction
Boston Scientific
🏨 Venue Sponsor
The Abbey Hotel, Roscommon
Their support means that 100% of the proceeds from the event will go directly to FirstLight. We are deeply grateful to every sponsor for helping to make this very special night possible.
And there is plenty more news to come!
🎤 Our support acts and MC will be announced in the coming days.
🎟️ A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be released soon, with tickets then available at the door on the night.
🌟 We will also reveal a very special VIP raffle prize.
Watch this space. You will not want to miss what is coming next!
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11/09/2026
On Friday, 21 August, I had the great honour of sitting down with FirstLight founder Eimear Berry to record one of the most important conversations in the Many Voices of FirstLight podcast series.
For the first time in more than 30 years, Eimear spoke at length about her son Brendan, the search for answers that followed his death, and the steps she took to reach other bereaved parents. Her public letter in 1976 became an important part of the story that led to the creation of the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, now known as FirstLight.
Eimear spoke with honesty, generosity and care. I am deeply grateful to her for trusting me, and FirstLight, with Brendan’s story and with her memories of how the organisation began.
Their photograph above captures a quiet but very significant moment in FirstLight’s history.
Eimear’s conversation will feature in Series 1 of the Many Voices of FirstLight podcast. Please follow our page and watch for the launch date in the coming weeks.
09/09/2026
On Friday 28 August, we recorded the final episode of Series 1 of the Many Voices of FirstLight Podcast with Cristiane Cash.
Drawing on her family’s experience following the loss of her son Brandon, Cristiane shared a deeply personal conversation about grief, love, remembrance and the enduring bonds that connect families with the children they hold close.
Cristiane also spoke about Brandon’s legacy, the support her family received from FirstLight, and the inspiration behind the FirstLight Winter Solstice Candle.
We are deeply grateful to Cristiane for sharing Brandon’s story with such openness and generosity.
Series 1 of the Many Voices of FirstLight Podcast will be released in October. Follow the FirstLight page and watch this space throughout September for further details.
📷 Pictured: Cristiane Cash and FirstLight General Manager Andrew Mernagh.
On Saturday, 5 September, our General Manager, Andrew Mernagh, attended the official opening of The Feather Garden in Ballinalee, Co. Longford.
This dedicated baby memorial garden provides a place where parents, families and members of the wider community can pause and remember babies who have died.
We would like to sincerely thank Imelda Kilmurray and the entire Feather Garden team for so thoughtfully inviting FirstLight to be part of the opening. We were grateful for the opportunity to speak about FirstLight’s services with the local community, alongside our colleagues from A Little Lifetime Foundation and Longford Counselling.
The care and commitment shown by Imelda, the local volunteers and everyone who helped create the garden were clear throughout the occasion.
The Feather Garden is open to all families and members of the community. If visiting feels right for you, you are welcome to spend time there in whatever way is most comfortable, with no expectation about how you should use the space or what the visit should mean.
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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 |