Public invited to show support for Portiuncula on St Patrick's Day
Portiuncula Hospital.
The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance (PMA) is inviting people from across the region to walk with them at this year’s Ballinasloe St Patrick’s Day Parade in support of safe maternity care at Portiuncula University Hospital.
“For generations, Portiuncula has welcomed babies from families across a wide rural catchment including Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Longford, Leitrim, Offaly, North Tipperary and North Clare,” the group said. “Many people across these counties were themselves born in Portiuncula, or welcomed their children there.”
Supporters say the parade offers an opportunity for the community to stand together and show how much the hospital means to families across the region, as the issue of maternity services at Portiuncula now comes under national scrutiny at Oireachtas Health Committee.
They are encouraging anyone who was born in Portiuncula, or whose children were born there, to come along and take part.
“For generations of families, Portiuncula has been where new life begins. Stand together now to support safe maternity care close to home for future families,” the alliance said.
Members of the public from across the region are warmly invited to walk behind the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance float on Tuesday, March 17th.
The assembly point is at the Fairgreen, Ballinasloe at 1.30 pm, with the parade starting at 2.00pm.
