Make Way Day highlights public space issues in Dundalk
A public awareness annual event to highlight the needs and challenges of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share
John Morgan, ‘Accessibility for All’ member; Independent Councillor Maeve Yore; Sgt Ronan Loftus and Garda Darragh Prior, from Dundalk Community Policing Unit; along with Finbar Gethins and Bryan Coughlan from Louth County Council; supported Make Way Day 2024 in Dundalk.
The Disability Federation of Ireland’s Make Way Day is a public awareness annual event to highlight the needs and challenges of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share.
Obstacles can include cars or vans parked on a footpath blocking the way, bicycles/motorbikes chained to lamp posts creating a trip hazard for a visually impaired person, illegally placed sandwich boards and forgotten bins.
Cllr Yore said: “Great progress has been in Dundalk municipal area in the seven years since the inception of Make Way Day”. She thanked Louth County Council’s Senior Engineers, Paddy Connolly, Sean O’Reilly, Mark Johnston and staff at Louth County Council, who formulated a programme of accessibility works which she said, have certainly improved the infrastructure throughout Dundalk Municipal District.
“They engaged with John, myself and with other people/groups with disabilities about the regeneration and upgrade of Clanbrassil St which has proved an 'accessibility success' and are in the process of doing the same for Bridge Street’s regeneration”, Cllr Yore added.
Above: Obstacles can include cars or vans parked on a footpath blocking the way
He reminded us that Louth was the first county to launch Operation Enable outside of Dublin in April 2018 and has been transformative in tackling illegal parking in disabled parking bays.
“By working together with Louth County Council, the Gardai, and the public, we have seen great improvements year on year for people with disabilities, and I thank Maeve for her unstinting support for people with disabilities across Louth.
“On our walkabout we met Eimear Casey originally from Dundalk living in Kilkenny who enquired about our Make Way Day campaign and she said Dundalk is definitely more accessible than Kilkenny and she thanked us and all involved for this and raising awareness - I encouraged her to organise a Make Way Day in Kilkenny next year.
“We also met local man Anthony Gorham whose lovely wife Jean sometimes uses a wheelchair, and he thanked the Gardai, myself, Independent Councillor Yore and Louth County Council for the great improvements across Dundalk and told us to keep up the great work - these are just two examples of what Make Way Day is all about and by working together we see a huge difference in Dundalk being accessible and safe for all”