Rally for Life 2024
Thousands at Rally for Life urge government to stop ignoring spiralling abortion numbers
Thousands have attended a pro-life rally in Dublin city centre which heard calls for the government to establish a special task force to tackle the "spiralling abortion rate", with speakers saying politicians must "wake up" to the fact that abortion numbers have more than tripled since 2018.
The Rally also heard that there was a disconnect between the government and the people on the abortion issue, and that Ministers needed to stop relying on the "same NGOS who advised them it was a good idea to ask the people to take the word 'mother out of the Constitution'.
Sandra Parda of the Rally for Life Committee said that it was "simply not good enough for the government to stick its head in the sand year after year as the abortion rate continues to rise."
Both Ms Parda and Independent TD, Carol Nolan, who also addressed the packed rally, said that women needed support and real choices, and that women were being "betrayed" by the lack of support for unexpected pregnancies.
Deputy Nolan also backed calls for the establishment of a special task force, saying that "thousands of women are being betrayed by the over-promotion of abortion as the only possible response to pregnancy in certain circumstances and the cruel under- promotion of life affirming alternatives."
"I have stated previously that we are now confronting an epidemic of loss. That, coupled with the virtual certainty that the numbers of abortions will continue to escalate at an annual level, this should be treated as a health policy emergency," the Independent TD said.
The Rally, which gathered at Parnell Square before marching to Custom House Quay where speeches were heard, also heard from Kaya Jones, Grammy winner, and former member of chart-topping group The Pussycat Dolls.
The songwriter and singer said she had a message for young women at the Rally in particular: "you are made to be loved and respected and cherished, not to be told that you must have a choice that no woman really wants - which is to end the life of her child."
She said that her personal experience of the music industry - where as a 19 year old she had to perform on stage while still suffering the after-effects of abortion - had led her to the realisation that it was exploitative and demeaning to women. She said when she found she was pregnant she had been told to "get rid of it" by those she felt were in charge of her career and her life.
Ms Jones, who won a Grammy in 2019 after she had left The PussyCat Dolls, told the Rally “I have a Grammy, but none of it will bring my children back" as she opened up on her abortion regret.
“There’s nothing beautiful about it. No matter how much money you may have, no matter how much fame you may receive, no matter how many records you may sell. The Pussycat Dolls ultimately sold 50 million singles worldwide, over 30 million albums worldwide, and I have a Grammy, but none of it will bring my children back."
Also speaking at the Rally, commentator Niamh Uí Bhriain said that abortion regret was being "swept under the carpet by a government increasingly acting as irresponsible cheerleaders for abortion".
"There is no serious, adult attempt being made to understand this surge in the abortion rate, and that deliberate ignorance cannot be allowed to continue," she said, pointing to the fact that less than 3,000 women travelled from Ireland for abortion in 2018 before the 8th was repealed. "The law is not working, and must be changed," she said.
Ms Uí Bhriain said that the two referendums in March showed the disconnect between the government and the people on many significant issues, including abortion.
"The government needs to stop relying on the same NGOs and the extremists on this issue - to the same people who advised them it was a good idea to try to take the word "mother" out of the Constitution," she said. "They need instead to realise that most people don't think a rapidly climbing abortion rate is a good outcome."
She told the crowd that those who believed in the right to life of every human being would eventually again be in the majority, because "the tragic reality is that those who don't are aborting their own future".
"Change is coming," she said. "It will take time, it will take perseverance, it will take a cultural shift that requires enormous effort, but change will come."
Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life, whose organisation co-hosts the Rally, said that it was the measure of a civilised society that it protected the most vulnerable, adding that political change was needed.
Also speaking at the Rally, Mary Fitzgibbon of Nurses and Midwives for Life said that a recent spike in maternal deaths in Ireland was a cause of huge concern, and that Ireland used to be one of the safest places for a mother to have a baby.
"Is that still the case?" she asked. "It is unprecedented for Ireland, in my memory, to see three maternal deaths in one week. So much for women being safer after abortion was made legal."
Pro-life councillors also addressed the Rally for Life, with Ms Parda saying that the local elections had returned some 70 winners for the pro-life cause, a trend she said she hoped would continue to grow.
See all the photos from the Rally on our Facebook Album HERE
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PRESS
Irish Times Anti-abortion rally in Dublin hears call for taskforce to address 'soaring' abortion numbers
Newstalk Pro-life rally and counter-rally taking place in Dublin today
Irish Independent Thousands take part in anti-abortion demonstration in Dublin
Breaking News Anti-abortion rally takes place in Dublin
Offaly Independent Offaly contingent attends Rally for Life
Donegal NewsLarge numbers from Donegal attend Rally for Life
Christian UK Pro-life rally demands Irish Govt address ‘spiralling abortion rates’
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Speakers
Kaya Jones
Kaya has described in stark terms how she believes the music industry controls and abuses young women, including pressuring them into having an abortion. She also gives an important insight into how a culture which does not value human life, and sees unborn babies as disposable, leads to women having multiple abortions and then living with the sad and heart-breaking consequences.
She has been outspoken about her past abortions, including being pressured into undergoing one while she was a former member of The Pussycat Dolls. Years later, she found faith in Jesus Christ and began sharing her story with the hope that it would change lives.
"If I could genuinely say, what I would hope for, is that women would hear my testimony and choose differently," Jones has said.
"But once you've crossed that line, you can do it again. And that's why women are susceptible to two and three abortions and even more," she said.
By sharing her story, Jones hopes it will inspire others to share their stories of abortion regret as well, including men who regret helping women get abortions.
"I can't tell you how many messages I get from men that are like, ‘Hi, I heard your story and I paid for one. And I really feel bad that I did that. I really feel bad that I pressured her into getting an abortion,’" she said. "The amount of men that have regret that I hear from is astounding. So I hope more men in the public eye can speak on this."
She also hopes her story serves as a strong warning to young women who find themselves in unwanted pregnancies.
The singer believes there needs to be more education given to women about the unintended consequences of abortion. She likened the warnings about cancer risks on packets of cigarettes to the kind of warning labels she thinks should come on abortion pills or at clinics.
After being "broken and bruised" by her past choices, Jones says her faith has helped her see a new version of herself. The now 38-year-old said her relationship with Jesus and prayer is what led her to come to terms with her abortions, although she insisted that you “never get over it”.
The Canadian born singer-songwriter believes there is a need for society to take a hard look at the messages it promotes about beauty, fame, and success, and what it tells women about abortion.
The singer experienced an epiphany during a Pussycat Dolls performance, during which she says she spotted two little girls in the crowd watching her with a huge adoration. “At that moment, I was going through an abortion,” she recalled. “I’m losing my child in real time." She said that she was caught in a lie in that moment. "I was living in my worst self.”
Kaya now says: “Children are a blessing from God,” she says. “I hope to one day be able to be a mom, I hope to be a wife and get to be able to share what I do believe is the greatest gift, and ultimately the greatest job you’ll ever have on this planet as a woman, to be a mother.”
We urge you to make sure you don't miss the chance to hear Kaya's testimony and save the date for this year's Rally for Life.
PRESS
- Former Pussycat Doll singer to speak at Dublin Rally for Life, Irish Catholic
- Podcast on Spirit Radio with Niamh Uí Bhriain
Niamh Uí Bhriain
Chairwoman of the Life Institute, Niamh is a veteran pro-life activist for nearly 30 years and a prolific commentator on right to life issues
“We need to rebuild a culture when it is so broken that abortion is seen as a solution.”
Vicky Wall
Vicky Wall is mother to baby Líadán who was diagnosed in utero with Trisomy 18. “Líadán is our precious daughter. Her short life taught us all so much about love & family and about what’s important in life,” she says. Vicky does amazing work with Every Life Counts, a support network for families who have received a diagnosis that their child may not live long after birth.
“Every baby is precious and deserves all our love”.
Carol Nolan, TD
Carol Nolan is a highly-regarded Independent TD for Offaly who courageously left her former party last year because of its refusal to allow pro-life elected members to vote on the abortion issue according to their conscience. Carol will urge pro-life women at the Rally to become a powerful voice in Irish politics so that pro-life views can be represented in Dáil Éireann.
Bernie Smyth, President Precious Life
Bernadette Smyth, Founder and Director of Precious Life, is a pro-life activist for over 20 years now. She regularly appears on TV and radio as a pro-life commentator and is instrumental in saving hundreds of babies through crisis pregnancy initiatives in the North of Ireland
“We need to make abortion unthinkable - all mothers and babies need is love”
The All Ireland Rally for Life is supported by:
- 40 Days for Life
- Bunclody for Life
- Choose Life Cavan
- Cork Life Institute
- Divine Mercy Conference
- Donegal Pro-life
- Dun Laoghaire Pro-life
- Dungarvan for Life
- Every Life Counts
- Family & Life
- Fingal for Life
- Galway Pro-Life Action
- Gianna Care
- The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants
- Kerry Life and Family
- Kildare Pro-Life Action
- Laois for Life
- Leitrim for Life
- Life Institute
- Limerick for Life
- Louth Pro-Life Network
- Meath for Life
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro Life movement
- Precious Life
- Pro-Life Trust
- Pro-Life Wexford
- Roscommon Pro-life Action
- Sligo for Life
- Stanton Health Care
- St. Joseph's Prayer Group
- Tipperary Pro-life
- Tyrone Pro-Life Network
- Vigils for Life
- Waterford for Life
- Youth Defence
- Youth for Life NI
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