World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is on the third Sunday of November every year.
This day was initiated by road traffic victims in 1993 and is dedicated to remembering all those killed and injured on the roads and all those affected by their death or serious injury.
We feel that this remembrance day is a very fitting tribute to all our lost loved ones, to have a day each year set aside in memory of their life on this earth. It is also a day that we must remember all those who have been seriously injured in crashes, many who are left disabled for the rest of their life.
In 2007 PARC Road Safety Group held its first special event to mark World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims in Ireland, acknowledging and remembering all the victims and their families. We continue commemorating this day with events held nationally each year.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2016
On Sunday 20 November 2016 PARC will be holding their 8th annual remembrance event to mark WDR in Loreto Secondary School Sports Hall, Fermoy, Cork at 2pm. Everyone welcome.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is on the third Sunday of November every year.
This day was initiated by road traffic victims in 1993 and is dedicated to remembering all those killed and injured on the roads and all those affected by their death or serious injury.
We feel that this remembrance day is a very fitting tribute to all our lost loved ones, to have a day each year set aside in memory of their life on this earth. It is also a day that we must remember all those who have been seriously injured in crashes, many who are left disabled for the rest of their life.
In 2007 PARC Road Safety Group held its first special event to mark World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims in Ireland, acknowledging and remembering all the victims and their families. We continue commemorating this day with events held nationally each year.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2016
On Sunday 20 November 2016 PARC will be holding their 8th annual remembrance event to mark WDR in Loreto Secondary School Sports Hall, Fermoy, Cork at 2pm. Everyone welcome.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2015
On Sunday 15 November 2015 PARC will be holding their 7th annual remembrance event to mark WDR in the Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel, Tipperary at 2.30pm. Everyone welcome.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2014
On Sunday 16th November 2014 PARC Road Safety Group held their 6th annual remembrance event to mark World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims in the Sligo Southern Hotel.
This special event was held for road traffic victims and their families & friends. Sergeant Sheila Tuohy & Garda Brendan Gardiner from Sligo Garda Station read the name and age of every person killed on our roads in the past year and a butterfly was placed on a tree in memory of each one. To see the tree full of butterflies was a stark reminder of how dangerous our roads are and an obvious sign that road safety messages are not being heard & the statics echo this because in 2013 alone 163 were killed on our roads and so far this year 170 families, friends and communities have lost a loved one.
Bernard Mulhern of the N4 Action Committee spoke about the work the committee have done to try and make safe the 11km stretch between Calstlebaldwin and Cloonamahon which is lined with 30 crosses indicating the deaths from road traffic collisions on this road.
Sinead Feeney of the RSA spoke about child safety in cars as sadly quite a number of children were killed on our roads in the past year. Sinead spoke about the importance of child safety. The RSA have organised 'Check It Fits' road shows throughout the country allowing parents to have their child safety seats checked for free to ensure they are fitted correctly,
Members of the Sligo City Firefighters and Stanley Morrison an ambulance crew member of Sligo Regional Hospital were also in attendance and were thanked by all those who attended for the difficult job they do and for the service they provide.
The bereaved family members who attended were given the opportunity to join in the service to celebrate the lives of their own loved ones, they placed a butterfly on a tree to remember the loved one they lost.
Susan Gray Founder of PARC spoke about the endless work of PARC and the services they provide to families who have lost a loved one. Free copies of the 2014 edition of PARC's guide for families of victims called Finding your Way were available to all those attended in the hope that it would offer guidance to all those affected by road traffic collisions.
The ceremony ended with a song from Westlife called I’ll see you again, a very poignant end to a deeply moving ceremony.
Link to interview by Denise Meenaghan of PARC..
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2013
On Sunday 17th November PARC Road Safety Group held their 5th Annual Remembrance Day event to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
In order to encompass all in our country who have lost loved ones or who live with serious injury through road traffic collisions we travel to a different county each year. This year the venue was the Menlo Park Hotel, Headford Road, Galway.
Members of An Garda Siochana assisted PARC in preparing for this event along with the emergency services and members of the public.
Bereaved families took part in the ceremony where the theme was 'Celebrating the lives of our loved ones'.
To date 165 people have died in road crashes in 2013 compared to 145 for the same period last year..that's 20 additional needless deaths.
The aim of PARC is not merely to remember those who have died but to bring about a shift in driver behaviour in order that lives are saved. We also search for ways to bring practical help to victims and their families.
Therefore in conjunction with the World Day of Remembrance PARC launched their updated free guide 'Finding Your Way' which is designed to help families of victims following the death or serious injury of a loved one in a road traffic collision. This guide is now in plain english which makes the information very accessible. The updated version includes additional information from the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, in particular the 'good reasons' for the extension of the six month time limit for families to make a complaint. Link to guide...
For World Day of Remembrance 2012 PARC launched a guide for families of victims titled 'Finding Your Way' following the death or serious injury of a loved one in a road traffic collision.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2011
St.Thomas the Apostle Church, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, Dublin 15
On Sunday 20 November 2011, PARC Road Safety Group held a ceremony in Castleknock to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. If you weren't able to attend the Ceremony, we offered to light a candle in remembrance of your lost loved ones on your behalf. We could also add your message to our Book of Remembrance which is available to view here on our website. Balloons of remembrance were also released on the day in memory of all of those who have sadly lost their lives on our roads. PARC do not charge any fee for doing this on your behalf. Prayers for Road Victims were also included in Remembrance services in the various Parishes nationwide and many of the Road Safety Officers around the country were also publicising their own Remembrance activities in their locality. Thank you for supporting.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2010
Buncrana Youth Centre, Inishowen Co. Donegal
On Sunday 21st of November 2010 PARC's Remembrance Day for road traffic victims was held in Buncrana Youth Centre in Inishowen, Donegal
Many hundreds of grieving relatives and friends of those who have died on our roads attended the ceremony.
People came to the special service from throughout the county and further afield to pay personal tributes to their lost loved ones. Mr. Noel Brett CEO of the Road Safety Authority opened the ceremony for PARC Road Safety Group while members of the Gardai, emergency services and clergy took part. Monsignor Eamonn Martin (representing the Bishop of Derry), Fr. Seamus Gallagher (representing the Bishop of Raphoe), Rev. Sam Barton and Rev. Stanley Stewart lead the prayers during the inter- denominational service.The beautiful music was supplied by Hugh P. Doherty and his daughter Maria from Buncrana.
Families took the opportunity of signing a Book Of Remembrance as they entered and left a message to their precious lost loved ones.
During the service the names of the 198 people who have died on our roads this year in Ireland was read out by a member of the Garda Síochána, including the eight people killed in Inishowen, in the country’s worst ever car crash on 11 July 2010.
A candle in memory of all who died on the world’s roads (placed among the photographs of those killed) was lit, a candle in memory of those killed on Irish roads and a third candle was lit in memory of those who died on Northern Ireland’s roads.
Rows of grieving families formed a line to read out the names of their lost loved ones and light their special candle in their memory.
Absent families who contacted PARC and sent photographs of their lost loved one were also included in the service. PARC members lit a candle in memory of each of their lost loved one.
The service was brought to a close by the playing of “Aidan’s Exam Tips” by Michael Leonard and his son Brendan from Leitirm, composed by Brendan in memory of his brother Aidan who was killed on New Year’s Day in 2005.
After the service 32 balloons with the names of the 32 counties attached were released in memory of all those killed on the roads.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2008
Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo
Photo: Children release 32 balloons at a special ceremony at Knock, Co. Mayo, as a mark of respect to those who have died in road crashes in 32 counties across Ireland.
Thousands turned up for the special ceremony at Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo on Sunday 16th November for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The ceremony, which was supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Mayo County Council, PARC Road Safety Group, Gardai and the Emergency services was organised by Mayo Road Safety officer, Noel Gibbons. Fr. Richard Gibbons gave a very moving and heartfelt sermon. Sean Costello was the guest singer at the ceremony and brought many to tears with his beautiful and very appropriate songs. Michael Rowland, RSA, Susan Gray, PARC and members of the emergency services read at the service. Prayer cards for protection on our roads were distributed to the many thousands who attended Knock.
Afterwards a special prayer was read by Teresa Leonard PARC Leitrim, while 32 children released balloons in memory of all those we have been lost on our roads in the 32 counties.
Everyone was moved by the beautiful ceremony and we thank the organisers for commemorating the dead and acknowledging the pain of their families.
A special service was also organised by Michael O Neill, PARC, Drogheda, Co. Louth, where thousands of stones bearing the names of collision victims were placed around candles at the alter. Services were also held in Co. Carlow.
It was a day that responded to the great need for public recognition of road crash victims, which is readily given to victims of other types of disasters. It also acknowledged the work done by all those involved in the aftermath of a crash: Gardai, fire services, ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses and counsellors.
Many thanks to Skellys Taxi Hire, Moville, Seamus Mc Laughlin, Minibus Hire, Greencastle and Mc Grory's of Culdaff Co.Donegal for supporting PARC on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Thousands turned up for the special ceremony at Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo on Sunday 16th November for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The ceremony, which was supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Mayo County Council, PARC Road Safety Group, Gardai and the Emergency services was organised by Mayo Road Safety officer, Noel Gibbons. Fr. Richard Gibbons gave a very moving and heartfelt sermon. Sean Costello was the guest singer at the ceremony and brought many to tears with his beautiful and very appropriate songs. Michael Rowland, RSA, Susan Gray, PARC and members of the emergency services read at the service. Prayer cards for protection on our roads were distributed to the many thousands who attended Knock.
Afterwards a special prayer was read by Teresa Leonard PARC Leitrim, while 32 children released balloons in memory of all those we have been lost on our roads in the 32 counties.
Everyone was moved by the beautiful ceremony and we thank the organisers for commemorating the dead and acknowledging the pain of their families.
A special service was also organised by Michael O Neill, PARC, Drogheda, Co. Louth, where thousands of stones bearing the names of collision victims were placed around candles at the alter. Services were also held in Co. Carlow.
It was a day that responded to the great need for public recognition of road crash victims, which is readily given to victims of other types of disasters. It also acknowledged the work done by all those involved in the aftermath of a crash: Gardai, fire services, ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses and counsellors.
Many thanks to Skellys Taxi Hire, Moville, Seamus Mc Laughlin, Minibus Hire, Greencastle and Mc Grory's of Culdaff Co.Donegal for supporting PARC on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2007
St Marys Oratory, Buncrana, Co.Donegal.
On Sunday 18th November 2007 the first ever Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims to be held in Ireland took place in Buncrana, Inishowen, Co. Donegal. PARC road safety group organised the ceremony held in St Mary's Oratory to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Over 400 attended the ceremony which ended with families releasing white balloons into the air, many with a name of a road traffic victim and others with a message of love.
(All photographs and editorial from Inish Times 21 Nov 07)
Pictured are family members of loved ones who lost their lives in road accidents at the World Day of Remembrance for road crash victims memorial service at St Mary's Oratory, Buncrana.
Stephanie Fullerton and Susan Gray of PARC releasing white balloons in memory of loved ones at the Wold Day of Remembrance for road crash victims memorial service at St Mary's Oratory, Buncrana.
Mrs Susan Gray, national chairperson of PARC, reading a short prayer at the World Day of Remembrance for road crash victims memorial service after the special mass at St Mary's Oratory Buncrans.
Included is priest Fr Con McLaughlin.
Included is priest Fr Con McLaughlin.
Stella Lynch and daughter Aoife write personal messages on balloons at the Wold Day of Remembrace for road crash victims memorial service at St Mary's Oratory, Buncrana in memory of loved ones who lost their lives in road accidents. Also in photo are Brendan Duffy, father of Gavin, and Terry Peoples, father of Rochelle, who both lost their lives along with their friends Darren Quinn, Charlene O'Connor,
and David Steele in a car accident at the Cross, Quigley's Point in 2005.
and David Steele in a car accident at the Cross, Quigley's Point in 2005.
Mrs Leonard pictured a the Wold Day of Remembrance for road crash victims memorial service.
The message on the balloon says it all.