Fr John Kenny, PP Partry/ Tourmakeady blesses the road (N84) outside
Partry Church on Easter Sunday morning after mass. Photo: © Michael
Donnelly Photography
Clerics in Co. Mayo will this weekend bless the county’s roads in a
novel ceremony aimed at reducing the number of people who die in
traffic accidents each year.
The campaign comes after Gardai have expressed serious concern over a
rise in road deaths in the west over the past two years which runs
contrary to the downward trend nationally. Single-vehicle crashes
involving male drivers in random locations constituted the largest
number of fatalities in the region last year, overall deaths in the
region had risen from a low in 2010. Speeding in 80km/h and 100km/h
zones had been identified as a major factor in fatalities in the west.
A special ‘Blessing of the Roads Ceremony’ will take place in many
parishes and Services throughout the County on Easter Sunday as
religious leaders back the campaign to make the roads safer.
The ceremony, which will place at most Catholic churches and a plea
for people to use our road safely will be made at Church of Ireland
churches on Sunday next, this campaign is been promoted by the Road
Safety office of Mayo County Council.
Noel Gibbons Road Safety Officer said “The community makes improved
road safety a goal in an effort to ensure that the grief associated
with loss of life, or serious injury, does not come to them.
“This is not the first year we have done the Blessing of the Roads
Ceremony in Co. Mayo and we have get a very enthusiastic response.
There are still too many drivers under the impression that an accident
won’t happen to them.
Castlebar based Chief Superintendent Tom Curley said
‘’An Garda Siochana appeal to all road users to think “Safety” every
time they use the
public roads and streets.
We urge families to discuss the topic so that Parents and Guardians
assume and accept responsibility to alert their sons and daughters of
their obligation to drive within all legal boundaries.
In circumstances where Parents have supported their child with a means
of transport or insurance there should be conditions attached to the
use of such vehicle including the legal obligations on young permit
holder drivers.’’
Tuam archdiocese spokesperson Fr Fintan Monaghan said the church was
“fully behind the campaign. We all need to play our part to reduce the
number of road deaths.”
“The trauma of road crashes to families and communities is
devastating. A major focus of the campaign is to promote the issue of
driver fatigue, drink-driving and speeding, as well as praying for the
safety of not only all road users, but our Gardai and emergency
services.” The proposed prayer is a variation on this old
Irish blessing:
The Motorist Prayer
Lord,
Grant me a steady hand
And a watchful eye
That no person may be hurt
When I pass by,
Thou gavest life
I pray no act of mine
May take away or mar
That act of Thine. Amen.
—
Michael Donnelly
Ballyheane
Castlebar
Co Mayo
Mob; 087 265 4747
Phone 094 9030945
—
Noel Gibbons
—
Noel Gibbons
