MASS REMEMBERS OUR ROAD VICTIMS
ANNUAL EVENT MARKS WORLD REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR TRAFFIC VICTIMS
THE annual Mass for families which have lost loved ones in road accidents will take place in the Augustinian Church in Drogheda on Sunday, November 18th, at 1.15pm.
Drogheda was the first town in the country to hold such an event in 2006, which marks the World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims.
Local man Michael O’Neill organised the first Mass with Fr Iggy O’Donovan and the date was particularly significant for the Monasterboice man as it coincided with the death of his daughter Fiona (21) and her boyfriend Dominic Wogan (23).
The couple was killed in a road crash at Tullyesker in 2001 just hours before they were due to leave for Australia on the trip of a lifetime.
“This is the 12th year the Mass has been held, and it marks the 17th anniversary of my daughter’s and Dominic’s death.” says Michael.
“I remember at the time there was nothing in the county to commemorate those we lost on the roads, and of course when I approached Fr Iggy, he straight away said ‘ anything you want, I’m behind you.”
This year’s guest speaker is Moyagh Murdock CEO of the Roads Safety Authority.
“She is a very good speaker and we are very lucky to have her as a guest,” says Michael.
“This is also the first year that the Garden of Remembrance is open for the mass, which is a lovely place to go and remember our loved ones.”
Although road deaths nationally were down last year than in 2016, in the period January - December 2017 there were 142 fatal collisions resulting in 157 fatalities on Irish roads, 10 people losing their lives on Louth roads.
Of those fatalities, there were 66 drivers killed, 26 passengers, 30 pedestrians, 20 motorcyclists and 15 cyclists.
Almost 1 in 5 of the drivers and passengers killed were not wearing a seatbelt (20%), and the highest number of fatalities in 2017 occurred between 12pm and 4pm (38).