New mental health and wellbeing programme at Dundalk FC

New mental health and wellbeing programme at Dundalk FC

Dundalk FC, in association with another partner, is delighted to announce a new programme in memory of the club’s late groundsman and videographer, Harry Taaffe, who tragically passed away by suicide in July 2020. The Dundalk FC Harry Taaffe Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme will be rolled out over the coming months and is designed to educate and increase awareness about mental health and to try and challenge the stigma associated with mental health difficulties.

The campaign will be supported by Fyffes and will be coordinated by Derek Pepper, mental health officer with Head in the Game, who has been working in the mental health sector for almost 20 years.

The programme features a timetable of activities which will get underway this week when the club will link up with See Change, a national partnership working to change minds about mental health problems in Ireland, to participate and promote their annual Green Ribbon campaign around our SSE Airtricity League fixture with Shelbourne at Casey’s Field on September 2nd.

Staff from Dundalk FC and Fyffes will also take part in a safeTALK workshop, the HSE’s internationally recognised programme that prepares participants to recognise and engage with people who may be having thoughts of suicide. Further safeTALK workshops will be available to members of the club’s coaching staff and the local community.

To mark Mental Health Day in October, Dundalk FC will also host a Mental Health Information and Awareness Event, featuring guest speakers with experience with mental health issues and information from related service providers.

A Community Recovery Trust will also form part of the programme. Supported by Fyffes, the Community Recovery Trust will provide opportunities for individuals to apply for funding that will enable them to participate in an activity that will enhance their mental health. 

“We are delighted to announce the Dundalk FC Harry Taaffe Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme. We believe that discussions around mental health and suicide prevention and a coordinated plan of action from government and national and local services are a priority in Ireland at this moment in time. As a community football club, we want to try and lead that discussion and if we can equip our players, staff, supporters and sponsors with the skills to recognise the signs of depression, or help one person through a safeTALK workshop, then this programme will have achieved its aims”

Martin Connolly, chief operating officer of Dundalk FC

“We would like to thank one of our supporters, Derek Pepper, for kindly sharing his expertise and knowledge to lead this programme and we would also like to thank our good friends at Fyffes who have once again demonstrated their support for the club and the community by supporting us with this venture. Since his tragic passing from suicide in 2020, we have looked at various ways to honour the memory of Harry Taaffe. We hope that naming this initiative after him will be a fitting tribute to a great friend and supporter of Dundalk FC.The programme gets underway in September and we would welcome any supporter or company within our community who wishes to partake in one of our safeTALK workshops over the coming months.”

Martin Connolly, chief operating officer of Dundalk FC

“Harry was a massive Dundalk FC supporter and volunteer and some of his happiest times were spent around Oriel Park so we are delighted to see his name associated with this terrific initiative from the club.If this programme helps one person with their struggles or makes one family aware of where they can get help then it will have achieved its objective and we know that Harry would be extremely proud of that.”

Speaking on behalf of the Taaffe family, Harry’s son Shane Taaffe, who is also involved with Head In The Game