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Fr. Michéal Mannion from the parish of Westport, Co. Mayo blesses the road to raise local awareness of road safety and the grief associated with loss of life and serious injury caused by road accidents. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin

Roads in Mayo get prayers and blessings in a bid to reduce road deaths

The ceremonies will take place at all Catholic and Church of Ireland churches in the county on Sunday.

THE ROADS IN County Mayo will be blessed this week in what Mayo County Council describe as a “novel ceremony” aimed at reducing the number of people who die in traffic accidents each year.

A special ‘blessing of the roads ceremony’ will take place in most parishes and services throughout the county on Easter Sunday as religious leaders back the campaign to make the roads safer, said the council.

The ceremony, which will place at all Catholic and Church of Ireland churches on Sunday is being promoted by the Road Safety office of Mayo County Council.

Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer for Mayo County Council said that the blessing of roads also takes place in Australia in a bid to raise awareness of road safety, adding that this year, they were introducing the initiative to Mayo.

Gibbons added that six people were killed on Mayo’s roads last year. The total so far this year is three.

He added:

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.

“There are still too many drivers under the impression that an accident won’t happen to them,” he said.

Chief Superintendent O’Brien said the gardaí are appealing for all road users to be safe this weekend on the roads.

Tuam Archdiocese spokesperson Father Fintan Monaghan said the church was “fully behind the campaign. We all need to play our part to reduce the number of road deaths”.

Read:  Gardaí have issued 45,000 penalty points notices this year>

Read:  Road deaths falling in Europe – but up 19 per cent in Ireland>

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124 Comments
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    Mute Locojoe
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:23 PM

    As I was reading this article on President Higgins Leo came on the six one news. Flanked by army & police and aided by a signer he put out the same message as Michael D.
    All this reminded me of the activities I observed on my travels of the leadership behind what was then caĺled the iron curtin over 30 years ago.
    Posturing on the State expense account to portray an image of substance.

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    Mute Ron North
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:33 PM

    @Locojoe: You sound like a man with many decades of whinging and whining under his belt, well done.

    172
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    Mute Locojoe
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:48 PM

    @Ron North: Maybe you should travel a bit Ron. It might broaden your narrow little mind.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:00 PM

    @Locojoe: a lot of it is about trying to look authorative and appear like they’re in control, something which FG are constantly trying to do but of course they actually have a lot less control than they’d like us to believe.

    59
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    Mute James O'Donovan
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:14 PM

    @Ron North: You get a thumbs up just for the Rogue Trooper logo. !

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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:54 PM

    @Ron North: yep. Exactly, well said. The president would look like some tool if he didn’t do a thing!

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    Mute Sighle A. Ni Chuana
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 11:52 PM

    @Locojoe: Yeah, what was that about – Leo flanked by a Garda, I think! What is he trying to do? He is so up his own backside.

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    Mute Escay
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 1:00 AM

    @Locojoe: What absolute nonsense. Relax and have a beer.

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:08 PM

    Who, like that fool in for a swim in sandycove earlier? She should of been left go

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    Mute purple rain
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:11 PM

    @Noel James Doherty: some are born thick.

    109
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:23 PM

    @Noel James Doherty: You wouldn’t have thrown her a lifebuoy?

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:01 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: why would I have been on a pier to be able to throw that lifebuoy?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:37 PM

    @Noel James Doherty: Somebody did: obviously a decent person. Lucky for her that you weren’t there instead,

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:51 PM

    @Noel James Doherty: some have mentioned she was washed in by a wave, but dont let that spoil your story…

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    Mute Sighle A. Ni Chuana
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 11:49 PM

    @Noel James Doherty: HAVE BEEN

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Sighle A. Ni Chuana: sigh

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    Mute Noel James Doherty
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 7:41 PM

    @GerryCummins: sound

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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:47 PM

    What the f..k does Michael D give for the people. He’s not in the loop for giving advice and is a former Labour TD.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:11 PM

    @Paul Coughlan: he’s currently trying to establish himself as the main man for the second presidential term. That’s why he’s making these statements. Not able for a presidential election campaign but he’ll take 7 more years in the Phoenix park, thank you very much, from the old school class of Irish gombeen politics.

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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:58 PM

    @Adrian: well said. And ordinary folk can’t go for election to president without political backing.

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    Mute Gerry Murphy
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:52 PM

    @Paul Coughlan: That’s because all the rest that went for the presidential election were complete muppets

    11
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    Mute Dae Monicus
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:48 PM

    President Higgins looked out the door of the Aras earlier saw seven inches of snow, and proclaims, quick call a press conference before all this stuff starts going over my head.

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    Mute Patricia McCarthy
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:39 PM

    @Dae Monicus: A man living in a Huge empty house, mentions that there will still be a housing problem when the snow melts.

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    Mute Escay
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 1:02 AM

    @Patricia McCarthy: Let me guess…he should open his doors to the homeless is it?

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 6:44 AM

    @Dae Monicus:

    In that scenario, Brod and Shadow can get in some solid work practice and will be in their element as Alpine breeds!

    On a serious note, our President’s advice is well worth heeding in eliminating unnecessary risks to personal safety from this once-in-a-generation type weather.

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    Mute aurilton
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:29 PM

    We cannot resume transport unless the roads are cleared and treated. Healthcare workers and emergency staff are overstretched, they need to be relieved by their colleagues, who cannot use the roads to travel, as it is unsafe to do so. Transport personnel cannot travel to work, to resume a service, if the roads aren’t a priority. Food deliveries cannot resume, if roads are impassable. Council staff cannot resume work, if roads are unsafe. Safety is a priority for everyone.

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    Mute Jengis O'Can
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:21 PM

    @aurilton: Agreed. It always amazes me that LAs grit and clear only the Primary roads. If they don’t grit or clear the Secondary and Tertiary roads out of housing estates etc., how is anybody expected to get to the Primary roads and to travel work?

    31
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    Mute GITBTSWORDS
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:32 PM

    Do not risk life or limb for a whatever you may have planned for tomorrow and that includes work.

    You health and safety is more important!

    47
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    Mute Mark Dawson
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:36 PM

    Good to see the president earning his wages stating the bloody obvious

    67
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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:02 PM

    @Mark Dawson: earning his wages. Surely we have Leo, Eoghan, Simon and the rest of the FG ers out supporting the various status red orange and yellow. Murphy in his shirt sleeves and ordinary workers in the full uniforms. Taking political advantage of people’s misfortunes.

    39
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    Mute Gerry Murphy
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 8:58 PM

    @Mark Dawson: all Politicians are the same always available for the photos and sound bites

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    Mute Stevo02 Scofield
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:37 PM

    Great advice from micky d before he gets trapped under the snow

    47
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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 7:50 PM

    It seems the exceptional risks are for businesses in jobstown.

    27
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    Mute Sighle A. Ni Chuana
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 11:54 PM

    What is Michael D on about after all the advice over the past week. Totally superfluous

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    Mute Gus Dennis
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 6:16 PM

    Gosh!very worrisome.

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 9:19 AM

    I was wondering where Michael D has disappeared. Haven’t seen him for ages.

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    Mute Mark Dawson
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 10:41 PM

    @Krystian Brzezowski: stuck in a snow drift

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    Mute John Mcloughlin
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    Mar 2nd 2018, 10:11 PM

    Such a shower of moaners and begrudgers and Whingers,f the lot of Ye

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    Mute John Flood
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    Mar 3rd 2018, 7:09 PM

    Down right keen powers of stating the obvious…

    1
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