The Never Forgotten Night Walk Is Returning This November Across Ireland
Grief doesn’t run on a schedule. It arrives in the middle of the school run, or at the dinner table when someone mentions a name, or late at night when the house finally goes quiet. For so many of us, November already carries a particular weight — and this year, the Irish Hospice Foundation is turning that into something quietly powerful.
The Never Forgotten Night Walk 2026 returns on Friday 27th November, and communities across Ireland are being invited to lace up and walk 5km in memory of loved ones no longer with us. Starting at 5pm, participants can gather in large groups or small ones, in their own towns and villages, to walk, jog or run together as darkness falls. It’s a simple gesture, but sometimes the simplest ones are the most profound.
Walking together when words aren’t enough
This year holds extra significance — 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Irish Hospice Foundation, and the Never Forgotten Night Walk is very much the centrepiece of that milestone. Last year’s event far exceeded all expectations, with participation nearly tripling what organisers had initially hoped for. The message was clear: people want a space to remember, and they want to do it together.
Ambassador for the walk is Norah Casey — businesswoman, broadcaster and well-known face from Dragons’ Den — who has been a long-standing supporter of IHF.
“Loss is something that touches every single one of our hearts, families, and communities across Ireland,” she said. “Walking together in the quiet of the night is such a powerful, poignant way to remember the loved ones we hold dear and carry in our hearts every day, while surrounding those who are grieving with love, comfort, and togetherness. I encourage everyone to step out with us on Friday 27th November — to walk, jog, or run in loving memory of those we miss, and to help bring warmth, hope, and compassionate care to families when they need it most.”
Why it matters — and where the money goes
Every euro raised goes directly to funding IHF’s frontline services. That includes Nurses for Night Care, which provides expert end-of-life nursing care in the home, and the free National Bereavement Support Line — a freephone service (1800 80 70 77) open Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, for anyone navigating the weight of loss.
The scale of need across Ireland is striking. One hundred people die in this country every single day, and for each of those deaths, an estimated ten people — adults and children alike — are left bereaved. IHF’s services are a lifeline, and the Night Walk is one of the ways those services stay funded and freely accessible.
Paula O’Reilly, CEO of Irish Hospice Foundation, put it simply: “Every step taken and every euro raised on 27th November enables us to deliver compassionate support to people who are struggling through life’s most challenging moments. It could be a quiet walk with a family member, it could be a bigger event with friends and colleagues — but every step will help ensure that no one feels they have to face grief alone.”
How to get involved
There’s no one way to take part. You can organise something with friends, join a local group, or simply head out with whoever is closest to you. The walk is 5km, starting at 5pm on 27th November, and communities nationwide are expected to take part simultaneously — which gives the whole thing a quiet, collective energy that’s hard to put into words.
If November already feels heavy in your house, this might be exactly the kind of evening worth putting in the diary. Not to fix anything, but just to mark it. To say: we remember. We’re still here.
To find out more and to register for the Never Forgotten Night Walk 2026, visit hospicefoundation.ie. If you or someone you know needs bereavement support, the IHF Bereavement Support Line is available on freephone 1800 80 70 77, Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm.