‘Be Buddies, Not Bullies’ message will be Eden’s legacy
In a difficult week for the Heaslip family, following the conclusion of the inquest into their son Eden's death, the Celt wishes to promote their strong anti-bullying message and campaign in their late son's memory. This newspaper stands firmly behind the family in their call for a dedicated, confidential bullying helpline and other measures recommended at his inquest on Thursday. We dedicate our editorial space this week to publish extracts from an essay written by Eden outlining his love for music and how it helped him through difficult times. The family have shared this essay with us. They also feel, given Eden's love of music, that there is no more fitting a tribute than the 'SingForMe' music festival this coming weekend, which this year is dedicated to Eden's memory...
The essay shared by the Heaslip family was found only after Eden ended his life just two weeks after his 18th birthday (September 20, 2021).
Images of the essay will be shared during the three day SingForMe2022 weekend at Cavan Town’s Blessing’s Bar.
In it Eden creatively describes his love of music. “Ever since I was young, I have loved music, The strong, steady beats, the bewitching melodies, and the lyrics that vary between heart-warming and heart-wrenching.”
Listing Bob Dylan, the Pogues, the High Kings, and Bruce Springsteen among the artists he’d listen too, Eden wrote that in his “younger years” he was “bullied quite a lot” because of his “older music” tastes. “Other kids thought it was weird to have the same taste in music as the teachers did.”
Yet he said that music remained a “huge part of my life and who I am. It’s always been there for me, on the good days and bad days. I will always remember when I was able to recite every single lyric to Bob Dylan’s ‘Hurricane’.”
He added: “My mom said she was always proud of me when that song came on.”
Eden explained in his essay how he’d often use music to “block out” any negative “noise, thoughts or feelings”.
He described Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Radio Nowhere’ was always an “escape song”.
“This song was there for me on the hardest day of my life, and for that reason will always be etched into my soul.”
Despite his interest, young Eden conceded that, while he performed in school concerts and plays in primary school, it was his sister Chloe who “inherited the musical talent”.
He credits his parents for their influence - his talented dad Raymond being a musician who still plays in bands on occasion.
‘SingForMe’ organiser, Leanne Coyle, says Eden’s story has “touched the lives of many”, and noted that ‘Be Buddies, Not Bullies’ is fast becoming a globally recognised anti-bullying brand and campaign (See page 6 for more details on the festival).
The campaign will be Eden’s legacy.
He would, no doubt, be most proud of his family who are going to enormous efforts to ensure supports and measures are introduced to help victims of bullying and prevent the loss of any other young lives.
May Eden’s gentle and beautiful soul, rest in eternal peace.
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