Local designer collaboration highlights life-saving message as national motoring voices call for greater focus on driver distraction
A striking, specially commissioned headpiece carrying a powerful road safety message became the defining symbol of this year’s Drogheda Motor Show, held on Saturday in its new town-centre location.
Created by local milliner Alison Connolly of Connolly & Moore, the bespoke piece was unveiled during the event and worn by Drogheda & District Chamber President Miriam Simon. The headpiece, designed to spark conversation and reflection, will now be permanently displayed locally as a lasting reminder of the importance of road safety and responsible driving.
Robert Murray, Head of Marketing at First Citizen Finance and representing the Drogheda Motor Show organising team, said the initiative was created to extend the impact beyond the event itself:
“We wanted to create something that would stop people in their tracks and start a conversation - not just on the day, but long after it.”
The initiative was part of a broader road safety programme delivered in partnership with Louth County Council, the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, reinforcing a key pillar of the show’s purpose year on year.
A new addition to the event - a live stage - hosted a dedicated road safety panel discussion led by motoring journalist Shane O’Donoghue. The panel brought together voices from across the motoring ecosystem including Alan Reynolds of Brian Reynolds Car Sales, Laura Durrigan of First Citizen Finance, and Katie Kierans of Drogheda Life.
Speaking during the discussion, O’Donoghue emphasised the real-world consequences of driver distraction, noting:
“Distraction can happen for one split second - and that can be the wrong second.”
The conversation focused on the collective responsibility across drivers, industry and community stakeholders to maintain road safety awareness not just during events, but consistently throughout the year.
The Drogheda Motor Show continues to position itself as more than a showcase of vehicles, evolving into a platform for community engagement, education and public safety messaging. This year’s programme combined family-friendly entertainment, strong local business participation and a renewed emphasis on impactful storytelling - exemplified by the headpiece initiative.
The event attracted strong attendance and has been widely regarded as a major success in its new format, with organisers confirming that road safety messaging will remain a central theme in future shows.