Go dté tú slán this St Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend
As the country prepares to celebrate the festival of our patron saint on Monday March 17, Monaghan County Council Chief Executive, Robert Burns, is encouraging all road users to ensure they Go dté tú slán’ (Arrive alive) this upcoming Saint Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend.
“Saint Patrick’s Festival is a period of national celebration when towns and villages across County Monaghan will be awash with green. It’s a time for parades with marching bands and colourful floats providing entertainment for all the family. We want people to have fun but are also reminding everyone do their part to act responsibly and help keep roads safe. If you’re going to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and intend to consume alcohol, then plan for your journey home in advance. Don’t take the risk, choose a taxi, public transportation, or trusted designated driver to get you home safely” said Mr Burns.
The Chief Executive added “Drink-driving destroys lives. At best, you could lose your licence and perhaps your job as a result, but far worse is the possibility of seriously injuring or killing someone on the roads”. He also warned of the dangers for anyone who may be tempted to walk home when intoxicated saying “don’t walk home if you’re drunk, as almost a third of pedestrians killed on Ireland’s roads had consumed alcohol.”
Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Councillor Paul Gibbons, spoke of the dangers of being over the limit the next day. ““Figures show that 10% of fatal collisions where the driver had consumed alcohol happen between 7am and 11am, so please be aware that it may not be safe to drive the morning after. If you have done the right thing the night before by leaving the car keys at home, you may also need to make alternative arrangements the following morning. It takes your body one hour to process one standard drink and there’s no quick fix. Be mindful of the time of your last drink the previous night as it will affect when it is safe for you to drive the following day, as nothing can help to remove alcohol from your body, except time.
“Everyone should be able to enjoy the St. Patricks Festival without the fear of meeting a driver that’s impaired, so this Bank Holiday weekend, do your bit to support the local community and stop these drivers from putting lives at risk. If they don’t listen, phone your local Garda station or report any non-emergency related incident online at www.garda.ie – you might just save a life” said the Cathaoirleach.
With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday this year, Adrian O’Sullivan, Monaghan County Council Road Safety Officer reflected on the additional dangers this can pose on the roads. “Long weekends can be particularly hazardous when people deviate from their normal driving behaviour or routes that they are familiar with. Motorists are urged to slow down, stop and take breaks when driving long distances to avoid fatigue, and most importantly to stay safe on our roads”.
Monaghan County Council has the following simple advice for anyone planning to socialise this bank holiday weekend:
- Plan for your journey home, whether by taxi, with a designated driver or public transport.
- Don’t walk home if you’re drunk, as almost a third of pedestrians killed on our roads have consumed alcohol.
- Never ever drink and drive. Any amount of alcohol impairs driving, so either leave the car at home, or stick to the soft drinks or zero alcohol alternatives.
- Don’t forget that you could still be over the limit the next morning, so take the necessary precautions. Approximately one in ten drink driving arrests happen between 8am and 2pm so if you have had a heavy night out, leave the car at home.
- If you are a passenger, remember to wear a seatbelt, as there is a close link between alcohol consumption and the non-wearing of seatbelts.
Gardaí in Monaghan wish to remind road users they will be out as normal over St Patrick’s Weekend conducting their usual checks. While there will be a focus on driving when impaired, they will also be on the lookout for other killer behaviors such as speeding, non-seatbelt wearing, drug-driving and using a mobile phone while driving.
As of 5th March, 29 people have been killed on Irish roads so far in 2025. This represents a decrease of ten compared to the same period last year, when 39 people lost their lives. None of these fatalities have occurred in Co Monaghan.
