It has been estimated by Life Institute the rally organizers
that more than 60,000 people attended last Saturday’s pro-life rally in Dublin
making it the largest-ever pro-life rally against abortion that Ireland has
ever seen. The Rally which commenced at 2.00 PM at the Garden of Remembrance in
Parnell Square and ended at Dåil Eireann (The Irish Parliament) sent a strong
message to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Irish Government that the people of
Ireland do not want abortion and that the people must be consulted on the issue
by referendum.
Before the Rally for Life on Saturday, Archbishops Diarmuid and
Eamon Martin concelebrated Mass in St. Savior’s Church, Dominick St at 12.30pm.
Despite the determination of Enda Kenny and his Government to
enact pro-abortion legislation and the determination of mainstream media to
ensure their pro-abortion bias is presented at every opportunity, the presence
of over 60,000 Irish people at Saturday’s rally shows that the Irish public not
only reject the legislation but that they will not be conned by claims that it
is either necessary or life saving.
It is also evident that Government intransigence and Enda
Kenny’s reluctance to listen to the pro-life voice have resulted in more and
more opposition being expressed in public, in that the numbers attending the
vigils and the rally have been growing. Looking back at the 4 major pro-life
events since last December the first vigil in Molesworth street on December 4th
drew a then unprecedented crowd of 10.000, while the January vigil in Merrion
Square drew an estimated 30,000 pro-lifers. Last months vigil also in Merrion
Square drew even larger numbers with estimates being the region of 40,000 plus.
The attendance at all of the previous vigils was topped by the massive
attendance at last Saturday’s vigil
The Rally was addressed by various speakers, including
Eoghan de Faoite of Youth Defence, Niamh Ui Bhriain of Life Institute, Caroline
Simons of PLC, Bernadette Smith of Precious Life and Declan Ganley of Libertas.
Declan Ganley in a rousing speech told the crowd
“Let those Senators and TDs use the power granted to them under article 27 of our constitution to let the people speak on this bill, Let us vote. Let us pass judgement on Enda Kenny’s abortion bill in a referendum. He says his book is the constitution. Well use it, Taoiseach. He says he trusts the people. Well prove it, Taoiseach. He says this is a matter of grave concern to the public. Well ask them, Taoiseach. ”
Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said:
“If you refuse, Taoiseach, to let the people vote, then the people will be heard. 100,000 people have already signed the pro-life pledge, 100,000 will seek to build a new political alternative, 100,000 will remember Taoiseach, that if you ram through this law, you are the abortion Taoiseach and Fine Gael is the abortion party, and they will seek an alternative which protects both mother and baby. ”
Fine Gael, she said, had now awoken a sleeping giant, that
would work night and day to build an alternative to political parties who broke
their promises and betrayed their principles.
