Mayo school pupils make a stand against speedsters

Pupils from Belcarra National School are taking a stand to make their community safer. 

Armed with brightly coloured signs saying 'Slow Down Through Our Village', the children lined the footpaths outside their school on Monday, September 29, and today (Friday, October 3), to remind drivers to reduce their speed. 

The initiative is part of a road safety campaign led by Belcarra Community Council to highlight concerns about traffic speeding through the village. 

Fionnan Nestor, chairperson of the community council, said: "We are so proud of our little village and all that takes place here, we need it to be a safe space. The whole community stands behind the children of the national school. Their message is clear and heartfelt: they want a safer village for everyone. We urge people to take note and respect their voices and slow down."

One of the pupils taking part remarked: “We just want people to slow down so everyone can get home safely."

School principal Ms Goggins added: “Our children walk, cycle, and travel these roads every day. Their voices carry an important message: this is not just a road, it’s their village and their home. We’re proud of them for taking part in this campaign.” 

Parents have also voiced their support, with many concerned about safety during school drop-off and collection times.

“We hope that when drivers see the children holding their signs, it will make them think twice about their speed,” said one of the parents.

Garda Olive Lafferty, from Community Policing in Castlebar and a parent of pupils in the school, said: “We fully support the efforts of the pupils of Belcarra. Speeding through villages puts lives at risk, especially children walking to and from school. We are asking all motorists to slow down and drive responsibly.”