Teen Aware concert set for Kilbeggan this year

Teen Aware, the student-led concert that also delivers suicide awareness and road safety information, is to be hosted in Westmeath this year for the first time in its near three-year history. The third Teen Aware event will be held at Kilbeggan Racecourse on Good Friday, March 29. In addition to suicide awareness and road safety information this year the event is also to include bullying support and information. The Teen Aware concept was launched last Monday night in Tullamore's Bridge House Hotel to a crowd of approximately 70 people. Speaking at the launch Teen Aware committee member Barry Flynn said organisers are hoping to strengthen the event's message in the future by making the event a national one. The concept was hit on by transition year students in Tullamore's Sacred Heart School. Since then two concerts have been held on Good Friday in the grounds of Tullamore's Charleville Castle, with stands at the yearly events covering the topics of suicide awareness and road safety. "Our aim is to make Good Friday Teen Aware Day nationally," Mr Flynn said on Monday night, adding that teen initiatives nationwide would have a better impact if they were all on the same day. Though unable to attend last Monday night's launch, Mr Flynn said Ciara Pugsley's father is aware of Teen Aware and supports the idea of it becoming a national event. Ciara, from Leitrim, took her own life in September after an online campaign of bullying. Speaking at the concept launch Bully 4u's Jim Harding said research carried out by his organisation suggests up to 80 per cent of eight-year-olds have phones, while some 40 per cent have Facebook accounts. With approximately one in four school children a victim of bullying, and cyber bullying on the rise, Mr Harding said victims of bullying these days have "no escape". Bully 4u is one of the organisations that will be at Kilbeggan Racecourse on Good Friday, with Mr Harding saying his organisation will be offering all the support and assistance they can. HSE Suicide Prevention Officer Josephine Rigney also spoke briefly on the night, lending her support to the event and its expansion nationwide. Kildare County Council road safety officer Declan Keogh told those gathered that colleagues from Laois, Offaly and Westmeath will be joining him in Kilbeggan on Good Friday with simulators and beer googles to give teenagers a real idea of the effect alcohol has on drivers. The Teen Aware concept was also supported on the night by Dublin teenager Kayleigh Cullinan, who was bullied and viciously beaten in an attack that was recorded and posted online. As a result Kayleigh lost 90 per cent sight in one eye, but has discovered her beautiful singing voice. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Kayleigh said she was "delighted to help out". Supporters gathered for the event also had the chance to see a video put together by Midland Drama Schools and Mixed Bag Media, which has been taken on by the ISPCC and will shortly be launched on the ISPCC website.