Make Way Day in Dundalk highlights challenges of people with disabilities in public spaces

John Morgan, Accessibility for All member; Independent Cllr Maeve Yore; with Gardai Darragh Prior and Paul McAvinney; supported Make Way Day 2023 in Dundalk last Friday 22 September.

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: “This is our seventh year of Make Way Day in Dundalk - even during Covid John and I did separate walkabouts around areas to help raise awareness and educate people about the challenges faced.

“Louth County Council’s recently retired Director of Services Catherine Duff and Senior Engineers Mark Johnston, Sean O’Reilly and staff also have come on walkabouts and formulated a programme of accessibility works which have certainly improved the infrastructure throughout Dundalk.

“They have engaged with people with disabilities about the regeneration and upgrade of Clanbrassil Street which has proved an “accessibility success”.

John reiterated Cllr Yore's comments on “the great work and improvements carried out by Louth County Council” and acknowledged the co-operation of the local Garda Siochana led by Supt Charlie Armstrong, commenting, “from the first Make Way Day Supt Gerry Curley and his fabulous community policing Gardai, Darragh, Ciara, Kate and Paul has supported us.

“Recently retired Chief Supt Christy Mangan met us and launched the first Operation Enable outside of Dublin in April 2018 in Dundalk, which also reminds people not to illegal park in disabled bays.

“By working together with the council, the Gardai and the public we have seen great improvements year on year for people with disabilities in Louth and we thank them them all for their support and look forward to engagement on the many regeneration projects taking place across the county to ensure Louth is Accessible for All”