National Moilligh Síos Vigil

Saturday last in Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin in co-operation with the Young Greens and Labour Youth held a National Road Safety mobilisation as part of their Moilligh Síos Campaign. The demonstration was well attended by all the participating organisations, and attracted a lot of interest from the public. Speakers from each organisation stressed the need to be more vigilant on the roads, especially around Christmas time, as the mortality rate on roads in Ireland was reaching epidemic proportions.


Speaking after the demonstration Ógra Shinn Féin National Campaigns officer, Peadar de Bluit said that he was encouraged by the turnout at the demonstration;

“The gathering of young people here today sends out a strong message, and should leave the Irish public in no doubt that the youth of Ireland are serious about changing the culture of driving that exists in our country. Already this year more than 400 people have died on roads across the island and this will continue to be the case unless there is a proactive approach to road safety in our country. The fatalities caused by speeding are needless and could easily be avoided if people took it upon themselves to drive more responsibly and allow adequate time for their journey.”

“We have been working closely with our comrades in Sinn Féin on this issue and will continue to do so into the future. Ógra Shinn Féin took the initiative to confront this massive issue by undertaking the Moilligh Síos Campaign, despite its sensitivity and the magnitude of it. By taking leadership on this issue we were successful in gaining the support of the Young Greens and Labour Youth for this mobilisation today. We, in Ógra Shinn Féin, are well aware that we cannot achieve change on this issue by ourselves. To successfully tackle this issue we need a joined-up approach with cross-party commitment to end the needless loss of life.”

“We re-iterate our demand for a comprehensive all-Ireland Road Safety Strategy and remain convinced that this is the only way in which change can be affected on this issue. Although our Moilligh Síos Campaign is drawing to a close we will continue to act as a radical voice for change on the issue of road safety. Road carnage is the second biggest killer of young people in Ireland this statistic is unacceptable and we will do everything in our power to ensure that this changes, and that the roads of the future are safer for everyone that people get the message: Moilligh Síos!”