“I firmly believe that prayer and reflection can change our driving behaviour, calm our aggression, remind us of the spiritual, moral and physical importance of what we are about to do”. This has been stated by the Irish bishop of Killaloe, mgr. Fintan Monahan, in the run-up to a very special weekend, since 31st October is a holiday in Ireland. The bishop calls car drivers to be extra careful as they drive and the parishes to pray for safety: “Up to this morning, 159 people have died already on our roads this year, and this figure is up from 127 deaths this time last year. This loss of human life is heart-breaking for the loved ones of the deceased and a tragedy for our society as a whole”. Thankful for the efforts made by the authorities in the promotion of road safety, the bishop points out that “we are all responsible”: “Road safety awareness is the parable of the Good Samaritan in action within our communities today. I am thinking here of all road users: motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians, and we all have a role in helping each other even if we do not know one another personally”. On Saturday, there will be a “Blessing of the Roads” ceremony in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis, officiated by mgr. Monahan, who asked the devotees “to pray for those who have lost their lives in tragic circumstances, and also to pray for the safety of our road users”.