Glentoran was proud to host a special evening at The BetMcLean Oval last Friday, as families came together to honour and remember precious babies lost too soon.

The event, organised by Aimee Kane, wife of club captain Marcus Kane, with the support of Glentoran Football Club, marked the beginning of Baby Loss Awareness Month.

It provided a safe and supportive space for mothers who have experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child, a place to share their stories, connect with others and remember their babies with love.

The wonderful team from Ivy & Gold joined the evening to help participants create beautiful, symbolic bracelets, offering a simple but powerful act of remembrance that deeply touched attendees.

Aimee Kane said: “It felt incredibly special to host our first event at The Oval, because this is where our own journey began after losing our little Harrie. The love and support we received, not just from Glentoran fans but from so many people across the Irish League and beyond, was overwhelming and something we will never forget. Together, we raised over £50,000, and that kindness carried us through our darkest days.

There’s something profoundly powerful about women coming together, united by shared experiences and love. Everything we do is in honour of our Harrie and this is only the beginning. In the months ahead, we’ll be creating more opportunities for mums who have faced loss to find connection, comfort and hope.”

Ruth McCreery, Director of Glentoran said: “It was a real privilege to help bring this evening to life alongside Aimee. From the moment everyone arrived, there was a sense of warmth, understanding and solidarity in the room that you could genuinely feel.

“Seeing women connect through shared experiences, speak so openly and support one another with such compassion was incredibly moving. It was a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is strength to be found in shared hope.”

Baby Loss Awareness Week (9–15 October) is a time for the baby loss community and wider society to come together to remember, raise awareness and support those affected. The week concludes with the Wave of Light on 15 October – a global moment of reflection.

Glentoran encourages supporters and the wider community to join families around the world by lighting a candle at 7.00pm on 15 October and leaving it burning for at least one hour to remember all babies who died too soon.