Statistics indicate that Bank holiday weekends can be high-risk periods on the roads, with more people travelling than usual.
Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe led a ‘Blessing of the Roads’ ceremony in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis, on Sunday afternoon after mass.
He told Premier why the prayers are so important.
He explained: “Bank holiday weekends statistically the worse on the road.
“This year in Ireland already, 125 people have been killed on the road. Last year 160 around the same time were killed.”
The parishes in the Diocese of Killaloe were invited to say a simple special prayer to bless the roads, which Bishop Monahan said helps raise awareness.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) are reminding people to be safe and be seen, particularly as the clocks went back an hour at 2am on Sunday.
Bishop Monahan told Premier the “special, simple prayer” would be said in the presence of hundreds of members and why he has kept up with the tradition of praying for the roads during this time over the years.
He said: “As priests, as clergy, as church people, we’re so aware of when we frequently get called out to an accident and also the aftermath that the terrible carnage causes and the bereavement that is there and the sadness.
“It’s the same with the emergency services … it causes terrible suffering and pain amongst families, so anything that can alleviate that by way of alerting or praying…
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