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| Niamh Ui Bhriain of Life Institute addressing the multitude |
Sleeping Giant has awoken
A sleeping giant has been awoken. Dublin in Ireland did not even have standing room when citizens from every village, town, city and County - both North and South - converged in the historic City.
Protesters against the proposed Abortion Legislation came in their tens of thousands, grim and purposeful as they wended their way to the Dail, the Parliament, to show - clearly as a clarion call - that "Abortion in our time and in our name" will not happen in this land of Saints and Scholars.
It was a pilgrimage, an outpouring of national fervour. Protester pilgrims went to the General Post Office in O'Connell Street to touch their fingers to the bullet holes left in the pillars after the sufferings of their forefathers to procure liberty and life for their children and their children's children.
In their other hand the Protester pilgrims clutched rosaries; prayers, banners; tracts supporting the sanctity of the life of the unborn child.
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| Wending past the GPO and the Spire in O'Connell Street - hour after hour of protesters calling 'Let us Vote' and 'Kill the Bill - not the Child' |
Official statistics estimate 60 000 protesters descended on Dublin today. It was - most of the people in the street agreed - probably far more. I have never seen so many people in one place at one time. Coming in to the Protest, public transport was more than packed - people were tucked in and trying to make way for more protesters at each platform. Many people had to walk all the way out from outlying areas in Dublin to the City Centre because public transport was simply too full for even another person to get on. Buses, coaches, trains, cars came in a steady stream for hours to bring all the protesters to the Rally.
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| Outside Dail Eireann, the Irish Parliament |
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| Irish Protesters standing for Life |
Threats of rape and forced impregnation of girls and women who are known to be prolife have been traumatising the female population of Ireland.
Girls and women have been electing to walk in groups, and have been afraid to be alone or out after dark due to the escalation of the threats.
Excrement has been smeared outside Prolife Offices.
The Prolife Offices were targeted by arson last week.
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| Pilgrimage to the GPO, symbol of Irish liberty |
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| Pilgrim protesters prayed at the bullet holes at the GPO |
During the Rally a small group of pro-choice proponents confronted prolife activists.
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The Rally began at St Saviour's Church in Dominick Street, Dublin.
Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Diurmuid Martin, Archbishop Eamon Martin, and numerous other Priests.
People in wheelchairs, with disabilities, seniors, mothers with nursing babies, fathers with babies, familes, couples, congregated in worship.
Police ringed the Church as protesters listened to the broadcast Mass, the streets full of people.
Cathedrals side by side would not have been sufficient to house those who came to pray before marching on the Dail.
So the people of Ireland stood patiently in the burning sun in street after street in Dublin, listening to the broadcast Mass, and praying.
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| Archbishop Diurmuid Martin, Concelebrants and Worshippers |
After Mass was over, the protesters purposefully took to the streets.
From Dominick Street into Parnell Street; wending past the historic Garden of Remembrance into O'Connell Street, over the River Liffey where Police presence seemed to also be on boats.
The Protesters went through the ring of steel, ever purposeful, down the streets which ring with the heritage of our forefathers - past Trinity College, eventually to the Dail.
And the Streets they passed; it seemed as if there was a Rally in each.
Abbey Street; Dame Street; Parnell Square;
Nassau Street; Grafton, Dawson, Kildare, Merrion Square; wherever you looked, the Protesters were locked shoulder to shoulder all the way across the city.
Traffic was severely held up due to the entire City and its environs being given over to the massive crowds of Protesters.
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| Declan Ganley addressed the multitude |
At the Dail speakers gave ringing testimony to the
Will of the People
Quotations include;
"The desire of the people is to protect their children,
To love their people.
100,000 have signed the pro-life pledges."
"The abortion bill should be put to the people in a referendum under Article 27 of the Constitution of Ireland.
Put this matter in the hands of the people."
"The People have Risen."
"Not one single child will be killed in our country and in our name."
"The Protection of Life Bill seeks to make normal what is unthinkable."
"Abortion is unspeakable cruelty.
The abortion bill casts aside the wishes of the people."
"Abortion is savagery."
"We will not stand for this law."
"We are being persecuted."
"Even if we have to lose our lives we will not falter."
"We have come here to tell the world that we are from Ireland and we choose life."
PROTESTERS
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| Protesters |
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| 93 years young - Guardian Emeritus |
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| We're from Letterkenny Donegal |
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| Hurray for Buncrana Donegal |
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| Pro Life |
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| Protesters choose Life |
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| Protesters get tired too |
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| Family for Life |
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| Kill the Bill Not the Child |
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| Prolife Message |
Ultrasounds showing the live baby in the womb, and sounds of recorded heartbeat in the womb met with cheers from the crowd.
A call has been sent out for three days fasting and prayer of all in Ireland.
Uncountable people in Ireland will be fasting and praying for the next three days.
We ask all of good will from every nation to join us in prayer to keep abortion from Ireland.
An All-Night Vigil will be held outside Dail Eireann on Tuesday night.
As protesters went to the Dail, a front page noted that Lucinda Creighton will vote against the Governments's abortion bill and will be disciplined accordingly. (1)
The word on the street is that it is possible that 10 will further follow her.
At the Rally it was voiced that the people have risen up because their Representatives, valued and trusted members of our communities, who were democratically elected by the People are being removed from office - their careers and their livelihoods for their families (some of them with small children) in tatters- because they are faithful to the promises upon which the democratic votes were cast.
Today was indeed a Day for Life.
Why not attend the All-Night Vigil outside Dail Eireann on Tuesday night
Watch this space for more information re same
See the next blog post for more Protesters
Choose Life message from Archbishop Eamon Martin, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh
http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/07/03/choose-life-message-archbishop-eamon-martin/
'Let the People Vote' - Latest News from Life Institute
http://www.thelifeinstitute.net/latest-news/let-the-people-vote-60000-people-demand-the-right-to-vote-on-abortion-bill/
Irish Daily Mail Saturday July 6 2013, Saturday Edition, Front Page Story(1)
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