‘Reach out for support’ IRVA chief urges at Mullingar event
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Tony Doran, Robert Glynn, John Gamble and Rody Corbett from Mullingar Fire Station.Image 2 of 7
John Smyth, Paul Whelan, Tally Claffey and Finbar Coady performed at the service.Image 3 of 7
Garda Neill Donnelan, Garda Chris Lynch, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman and Sgt Gary Dunne at Bloomfield House Hotel.Image 4 of 7
Donna Price (IRVA founder and president) with Noel O'Callaghan (MC).Image 5 of 7
Patrick Smyth (assistant chief ambulance officer), May Gilsenan (paramedic supervisor), Sharon Kearney (paramedic) and Jerry Sheehan (Mullingar operations manager) from the ambulance service.Image 6 of 7
Bernie Gilleran, Fr Sean McDermott (chaplain) and Catriona Williams from Westmeath Civil Defence.Image 7 of 7
Leo Lieghio (IRVA vice president) with Mark Irwin.The display of hundreds of photographs of people who have died in accidents on Irish roads which was a centrepiece at the annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims event in Mullingar on Sunday was a poignant reminder that behind every news bulletin announcing another death, there are very real stories with a very real and long-lasting impact.
Donna Price, of the Irish Road Victims Association, said at the event at Bloomfield House Hotel that the event coincided with what is also the UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
“We come together all around the world to remember all of our loved ones killed on the roads and also those who have sustained life-altering injury,” Ms Price said.
“We also come together to acknowledge the wonderful work of our emergency services.”
Addressing those present for the event, Ms Price said the association wished to thank members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration and members of the Federations for Road Traffic Victims who had come together to support and create materials for this most important day in the road safety calendar.
Stating that the theme for this year had been ‘Remember, Support and Act’, she invited all to share the materials relating to road safety, including a set of videos that made up part of the offering.
The materials can be accessed at and downloaded from worlddayofremembrance.org or who.int.
“We would also like to acknowledge the wonderful work of our NGOs throughout the world, many of which are victim-led,” Ms Price said.
“The founders of those organisations having lost a loved one on the roads now provide much needed support to bereaved families and the injured all around the world.”
Concluding, Ms Price urged anyone affected by a roads death or injury to reach out for support.
Finbar Coady was among the artists who performed at the event on Sunday.