Pictured above: Youthreach workshop participants with Sean Donegan (Facilitator), Kathleen Mulvin Brady (Staff), and Valerie Bryce (Public Engagement Officer EAF).
In the run-up to a weekend that will be dominated by the Donegal International Rally, Earagail Arts Festival has rolled out a creative approach to exploring youth car culture.
As part of the festival’s Public Engagement Strategy and in conjunction with actor/director and facilitator Sean Donegan, a workshop titled ‘What my car means to me: Becoming an adult driver’ was delivered to 24 young participants from Buncrana and Glengad Youthreach.
It presented a unique opportunity to reach a demographic who are adversely affected by a variety of social and cultural issues and who are impacted by their rural location. While acknowledging the positives of car ownership it challenged risk beliefs and behaviours.
According to the Road Safety Authority, Donegal is the county where speed featured most as a contributory factor in collisions (8.4%).
In areas like Inishowen where road quality is poor in many places the fatality rate among young drivers is many times the national average year on year. It is also significant that 91% of culpable drivers in speed related collisions are male.
Yesterday‘s workshop aimed to serve as an additional resource for young people who are currently drivers or who will be in the future.
Earagail Arts Festival is kindly supported by Donegal County Council, Arts Council Ireland & Wild Atlantic Way.
