Organisers of the weekend’s Rally for Life, which saw thousands take to the streets in a colourful parade in Dublin, have said that the march will intensify a national initiative to urge a special task force looking at the impact of legal abortion on the “plummeting” birth rate, amongst other outcomes.
Spokeswoman Sandra Parda said that 10,000 abortions a year was clearly a factor in the collapse in birth rates – with 7,000 fewer births in 2024 than in 2018, the year before abortion was legalised.
The government urgently needed to take action on “spiralling abortion rates” – adding that housing, cultural failures, and a lack of support for women, were all factors to be addressed, she said. “They can’t continue to put their heads in the sand regarding the plummeting birth rate and the failure to support women in pregnancy.”
Holding placards and flags saying “Life Will Win”, and “Stop Aborting Our Future”, the crowd marched from Parnell Square to Custom House Quay where they heard from speakers and musicians.
Many also held posters saying 50,000 Babies Gone – a reference Ms Parda said to figures released earlier this year show that, to the end of February 2025, more than 50,000 abortions have taken place in Ireland, which she described as a “grim and heartbreaking new record”.
Amongst this year’s speakers were Aontú’s Paul Lawless TD, who said that “no mother in Ireland should ever feel she has to abort her child because the government will not support her. That is a government with no interest in humanity”.
Dr Haywood Robinson, a former abortionist who now seeks to bring the public and medical professionals to a deeper understanding of the harm caused by abortion, travelled from the US to address the Rally. He said that abortion was not healthcare because one of the people entitled to care and protection – the unborn child – was being killed, and urged those providing abortion to think how they could better care for women.
Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life said her organisation would continue to “work to replace abortion facilities with life-affirming centres that treat women and their children with dignity and respect.”
Vicky Wall who works with families where the baby had a life-limiting condition had a message for Ireland and the world. “Every baby deserves dignity. Every family deserves support. And every life – no matter how short – counts. We will not stay silent when parents cry out for hope. Together, we will build a culture where no parent feels pressured to abort, and every child is welcomed and loved.”
In a rallying cry to women at the Rally, barrister Grace Sullivan said the pro-life movement sought to defend their right to support in pregnancy. She slammed recent legislation saying, “Those who promote and ringfence abortion claim to stand for the rights of women. But why is it tell me, that the so called “safe access zones” legislation does not have the courtesy to mention the word woman once amongst its provisions?”.
The All-Ireland Rally for Life meets every year in Parnell Square before marching to Custom House Quay in a colourful display of banners and flags. The Rally is organised by Life Institute and Precious Life and is supported by 40 local pro-life groups, organisers said.