Large Wexford attendance at Rally for Life

A number of Pro-life activists in Wexford attended the eight Rally for Life which took place in Dublin recently.

‘This was an incredible, powerful day, when massive crowds of ordinary people turned out to Save the 8th, to say no to abortion and yes to Life, to tell Leo Varadkar that he would lose this referendum on abortion, because the pro-life majority has arisen and will work night and day to Save the 8th,’ said John Mullins of the Wexford Pro-Life group. ‘We were expecting 50,000 but as the rally moved through Dublin City, up to 80,000 people brought the city to a standstill as they joined in to Save the 8th.

‘We were delighted to travel up to the rally, because this was the real Citizens Assembly, the real voice of the Irish people. We wanted to tell Mr Varadkar that the people have arisen now to Save the 8th, and we demand a better answer than abortion for our mothers and babies,’ he said.

Karen Gaffney, a leading international advocate for people with Down Syndrome urged the crowd to Save the 8th to protect the right to life of ‘people like me’, and warned that in other countries, aggressive screening programs meant that up to 100 per cent of people with Down Syndrome were being aborted. ‘We want to belong, don’t screen us out,’ she said.

Vicky Wall from Every Life Counts moved many to tears as she spoke movingly about her daughter Líadán who was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, Trisomy 18. ‘Liádán’s life was protected by the 8th amendment, she was given the respect as our daughter. Even though she had a life-limiting condition, she was loved and valued as much as her brother and sister. All she knew was love.’

Other speakers included Carolyn O’Meara of Giannacare, Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life, Becky Kealy of Youth Defence and Isabel Vaughen Spruce of March for Life UK.

The Rally for Life was organised by Life Institute, Youth Defence and Precious Life and is the biggest pro-life event held in the country every year. This year’s rally was a catalyst for a series of Save the 8th events which will take place throughout the summer in Wexford and in other counties around the country.