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A series of free car safety events aimed at women has taken place across the Slieve Gullion and Newry District Electoral Areas. The EmpowerHER Auto Nights were designed to help women build confidence and practical knowledge around vehicle safety and maintenance.
The events were organised by the DEAs in partnership with Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and Road Safe NI. Sessions were held in March and April at Lissummon GAA Club, Three Ways Newry, Safe Mart Camlough, Buttercrane Newry and The Welcome Inn, Forkhill.
At each event, participants received guidance on daily car safety checks, basic vehicle maintenance, how to read dashboard warning lights and essential road safety advice. The PSNI also provided information on what to do in the event of a breakdown and how to stay safe in that situation. Attendees were welcomed into a relaxed environment where they could ask questions and gain practical skills, and each received refreshments and a goodie bag.
Slieve Gullion DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aine Quinn, said it was particularly important that events like these were delivered in rural locations such as Lissummon, Forkhill and Camlough, where access to services can often be more limited. "Bringing this type of practical, confidence-building initiative directly into local communities helped ensure that more women could benefit without the barrier of travelling long distances. It was encouraging to see strong local participation and engagement at all the events," she said.
Quinn (second left) with, from left, Councillor Declan Murphy, Tricia O’Neill and
Ciara Sands (Road Safe NI) and Slieve Gullion District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum
coordinator Aoife McComiskey at the EmpowerHER Auto Night in Camlough.
Newry DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aidan Mathers, described the EmpowerHER Auto Nights as a "fantastic initiative" that supported women to become more confident and informed drivers. Cllr Mathers added: "By providing practical, easy-to-understand advice in a relaxed setting, it helped remove some of the uncertainty around vehicle maintenance and road safety. It was great to see such positive engagement from those who attended."
The strong turnout across all venues reflects the demand for this type of community-based initiative, and the programme's reach into both urban Newry and the more rural parts of the district ensured women from a wide range of communities were able to take part.
