An event remembering local people who have been killed in road traffic collisions will take place at Castle Saunderson this Sunday.
November 19 is World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims.
Organised by a Clones woman whose 17-year-old son died in a traffic collision, the Irish Road Safety Authority, Monaghan County Council and the representatives of the emergency services, the special remembrance event is open to all those who have been affected by road collisions in the Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan, Monaghan, and surrounding counties. 
Martina Crudden, from Clones, lost her son Daniel in a road traffic accident in March 2011. She said: “This will be first of these events to take place in the border region to remember all our loved ones who were taken far too soon on our roads. It is open to anyone who wants to remember a parent, son, daughter, brother, sister or friend.”
After attending a remembrance event in Mullingar which gave Martina great comfort, she lobbied Monaghan County Council for a similar event in the border area.
“I felt a local event would help the many families and friends unable to travel to Mullingar whose lives have been changed forever as the result of a road traffic collision” said Ms. Crudden.
A spokesman for Monaghan County Council added: “The third Sunday in November is a time to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected. It is also a day to thank our emergency services and reflect on the tremendous burden and cost of this daily continuing disaster to families and communities.
“Over the 10 year period from January 2007 to December 2016, a total of 2,920 people have lost their lives on the roads on the island of Ireland; 7,75 of these occurred in Northern Ireland and 2,145 were in the Republic of Ireland,” he said, adding: “These figures don’t include the countless numbers left with life changing injuries over the same period and the bereaved are not counted or included in road traffic injury data.”
“Road deaths and injuries are sudden, violent, traumatic events. Their impact is long-lasting, often permanent,” the spokesman continued. “The grief and distress is all the greater because many of the victims are young and many of the crashes could and should have been prevented. The effect on our emergency services, who deal with the consequences of crashes on a daily basis, is also profound,” he said.
The event at Castle Saunderson will take place from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, November 19 and will include prayers, poems, music by ‘Tully’, special guests and light refreshments with face painting and bouncy castles for the children.