Sun comes out for Rally for Life, as O'Connell St packed for protest

Thousands of people gathered in Dublin City centre for the annual Rally for Life which took place last Saturday. 

Large numbers of families with young children packed the side of the Garden of Remembrance while stewards handed out banners and singing could be heard from live musicians.  

"A powerful and important message to this government": The Irish government needs to stop "acting like cheerleaders" of "spiralling abortion rate" says the Life Institute as thousands attend pro-life rally in Dublin. pic.twitter.com/cFfh2E9MWZ

— gript (@griptmedia) July 6, 2024

As the rally took off, Gardaí assisted traffic with alternative travel routes to allow the crowd – which Gript observed took 14 minutes to pass a single point -to file down O’Connell Street with the Irish Times reporting that the crowed stretched the length of the street. 

Banners held by rally participants said, “Stop Aborting our Future”, “42,000 babies gone”, and “Our rights come from God, not the government”. 

Abortion advocates demand “separation of church and state”, an “end to the patriarchy”, and “abortion rights always”. 

A small counter demonstration was held with about 40-50 people gathered on the island beside the Spire shouting slogans such as “Get your rosaries off our ovaries,” and “What do we want? Abortion rights! When do we want them? Always!

One man could be seen repeatedly spitting in the direction of the pro-life demonstrators while another was heard shouting, “Nazis”. 

Some of the chants from the Rally for Life included, “Pro-choice that’s a lie, babies do not choose to die,” as well as, “What do we want? No abortion! When do we want it? Now!”

After an immigrant woman led a chant of “End the patriarchy” from behind the assembled squad of Public Order Unit Gardaí, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith was seen advising one of the chant leaders to “focus on women’s rights,”.

A number of bare breasted pro-abortion demonstrators with slogans written on their abdomens appeared dressed in black robes with upside down crosses made with tape. 

Award winning singer songwriter Kaya Jones speaks about personal story of abortion regret. 

After the march arrived at the Customs House, Grammy award winning musician and former Pussycat Doll, Kaya Jones, addressed the crowd by speaking of her own experience of abortion regret.

Jones spoke of how she felt pressured by the music industry to undergo abortions and how young women should learn from her “mistakes” and know their value and the value of human life more broadly. 

Gript contributor Niamh Uí Bhriain accused the government of failing to provide vital services such as healthcare and housing to thousands of Irish people, saying one of the only things they were “efficient” at was providing access to abortion. 

Uí Bhriain heavily criticised the government’s “acting as cheerleaders” for Ireland’s “spiralling” abortion rate. 

Figures released show that in 2023 a total of 10,033 abortions took place in Ireland bringing the total number since the repeal of the 8th Amendment to approximately 42,000. 

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Fatima Gunning

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This article first appeared on Gript and is published here with permission

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