A community rally in support of the retention of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar is to be held on Monday next, June 11, at 7.30 pm
Amidst local concern that the hospital is due for closure, it is hoped the planned rally will send out a powerful message of resistance to the move, according to Conor Smyth, chairman of Castlebar Fianna Fail.
He added that although co-ordinated by the local Fianna Fail cumann, the rally will be a non-political show of community solidarity for the hospital, which has seen its long stay bed complement reduced from 300 to 120 over the past year.
“This will not be a political rally in any way. There will be no party emblems, no party slogans, no party speeches. This is a rally for people of all political views, and none, to gather in solidarity to stop the closure of the Sacred Heart Hospital.”
He said that all political representatives, of all parties, are invited and urged to attend.
“I would see it as their duty to show their support for a cause which is above politics and which affects people and families across the board,” he said.
Councillor Blackie Gavin said he expected every town and county councillor to come out and show their concern over the closure of the hospital.
“There is not a family in Mayo which does not owe a debt of thanks to the sacred Heart Hospital. That is why I am calling for a full community turnout to ensure that we stop its closure,” said Cllr Gavin, who has called on trade union officials and members also to get behind the rally.
