World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Sunday November 18

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Sunday November 18

The Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, first held in 1993 in the UK and organised since then by non-governmental organisations in a number of countries, was created as a means to give recognition to victims of road traffic crashes and the plight of their loved ones who must cope with the emotional and practical consequences of these events.

In Westmeath, the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA) are hosting a memorial service for Road Traffic Victims in the Belvedere and Uisneach suites, Bloomfield House Hotel at 2pm. 

The event will include musical performances by John Smith, John Maher, Helen Hassett, Vincent Hunt, Tally Flynn, the local youth orchestra, and a lone piper.

During the ceremony white doves and balloons will be released by the lakeside by bereaved families and members of the emergency services, and red roses floated on the lake in memory of all of the precious lives lost and broken on our roads.

They invite you to join them and to take a small framed photo of your lost loved one with you. 

For families affected, there is an information guide and other support and contact information at irva.ie.

If you would like your lost loved one included on their Wall of Remembrance or ‘Remember Me’ scrolls, email a photo, together with your contact information to: irva@eircom.net.

Should you require any further information, please contact Donna Price 086 8634194. 

BACKGROUND

On October 26, 2005, the United Nations adopted a resolution which calls for governments to mark the third Sunday in November each year as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. 

Observation of this day provides an opportunity to draw the attention of the public to road traffic crashes, their consequences and costs, and the measures which can be taken to prevent them. 

The day also provides an opportunity to remind governments and society of their responsibility to make roads safer.

While road traffic deaths are counted in the year they occur, a family remains bereaved forever. 

The bereaved are not counted or included in road traffic injury data. 

Many others remain deeply affected by the loss of a friend, colleague, neighbour or member of the community.

The effect on the emergency services, whose work involves facing the consequences of crashes on a daily basis, is also profound. 

Road traffic injuries leave behind shattered families and communities.

This year the RSA will be joining forces again with members of An Garda Síochána, county councils, emergency services and victim support groups to mark the day and remember those who have died on our roads at services which will be held across the country.

The RSA have a Facebook event page where loved ones who died or who were injured on our roads can be remembered. 

Activities taking place in Ireland to mark World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims include remembrance services and ceremonies:

Cork

A Special Memorial Mass for World Day of Remembrance is taking place in Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Roman Street (Shandon), Cork City at 11.30am. It will be attended by personnel from the emergency services. All are welcome.

 

Dublin

PARC Road Safety Group are holding a Special Ceremony to remember all those affected by road traffic collisions in Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock, Kilmore, Dublin at 2pm. Link to poster of event. Everyone is welcome.

PARC’s latest edition of ‘Finding Your Way’- a free information guide for families of road traffic victims will be launched by Deputy Tommy Broughan.

You can download a copy of Finding Your Way from PARC’s website www.parcroadsafety.ie.

For further details of the ceremony, contact: Susan Gray - 086 3773784; Aisling Reid - 086 4186498; Noel Clancy - 087 2378736.

A Special Memorial Mass for World Day of Remembrance is taking place in Dublin at St Michan’s Church, Halston Street, Dublin 7 at noon. 

It will be attended by members of the emergency services. 

Music will be provided by the Music Ministry Choir. 

Members of the public are invited to attend and bring a framed photo of their loved one to place under the Tree of Remembrance.

A candle lighting service will also take place along with a reflection and name placing of the loved one on the Tree of Remembrance. All are welcome to attend. 

We invite members of the public that have lost a loved one and would like to part take in this event to please contact Orlaith at omaguire@rsa.ie or phone 087 9775710.

 

Galway

A special commemoration to remember all road traffic victims will take place in the Clayton Hotel, Galway at 2pm. 

As part of the ceremony people are invited to bring a framed photograph of a lost loved one. 

Please rsvp by contacting Catherine by email cflaherty@rsa.ie or by phone 087-2027034.

Kerry

A special memorial mass for World Day of Remembrance is taking place in St Mary’s Cathedral, New Street, Killarney at noom.

 

Kerry
A special memorial mass for World Day of Remembrance is taking place in St Mary’s church Listowel at 9am. All are welcome to attend.

 

Limerick

A special Memorial Mass to remember all Road Traffic Victims will take place at St Munchin’s Church, Clancy Strand, Limerick at 11.30am. 

As part of the celebration you are invited to bring a framed photo of your loved ones which will be placed around the alter during the ceremony. 

For more details please email Anne-Marie at amstacke@eircom.net.

 

Louth

A special memorial mass is taking place at 1.15pm in the Augustinian Church, Drogheda. All are welcome.

 

Mayo

A service will take place in Knock Shrine at noon to remember special loved one’s and to recognise the professional work performed by all the emergency services and hospital staff. 

Refreshments and a get together will take place after mass in St John’s Rest and Care Centre.

 

Tipperary

A special commemoration to remember all road traffic victims will take place in the Swan club hall, Carrick-on-Suir, at 3pm. 

Anyone attending is invited to bring a framed photograph of their loved one with them. For more details please email Margaret at margaretpower2017@outlook.com.

A special memorial Service for World Remembrance Day is taking place in the Augustinian Abbey, Fethard at 11.30am. For information call Fr Iggy O Donovan on 087 7989731.

 

Waterford

A special commemoration to remember all road traffic victims will take place in the Tower Hotel, Waterford at 2.30pm. 

As part of the ceremony people are invited to bring a framed photograph of your lost loved one. 

Please rsvp by contacting Fiona by email fkavanagh@rsa.ie or by phone 087-6123969.