Group pictured at the Together for Yes Mayo canvassing training session on Sunday.

Together for Yes Mayo campaign up and running

TOGETHER For Yes Mayo volunteers are ready to start canvassing around the county for a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum to remove the Eighth Amendment.

Said Together For Yes Mayo spokesperson Richael Carroll: “We plan to reach as many people as possible on the doorsteps over the next seven weeks leading up to the referendum.

On Sunday we had a successful canvassing training session in Claremorris with volunteers from all over the county. Our focus is to speak to the people of Mayo about how a Yes vote will ensure access to compassionate healthcare.”

She continued: “Over the past number of months we have held street stalls in Ballina, Westport, Claremorris and Castlebar. Reaction from the public at our stalls has been hugely positive but we still have to reach lots of people who haven’t made up their minds.

Most of our volunteers have never been involved in any form of politics or canvassing before, so we really appreciate the canvassing training from Together For Yes. Canvassing will help us reach more of the small towns and villages around Mayo.”

Ms. Carroll explained that voting Yes on May 25 is the only way to ensure women do not have to travel to the UK for abortion care in future.

We know that 38 Mayo women travelled to England or Wales in 2016 to access abortion care. More ordered illegal abortion pills online and took them in secret. We want to bring these women out of the shadows and into the care of medical professionals, here at home.

That is why we are going out to knock on doors and ask people to vote Yes to remove the Eighth Amendment,” she added.

A public meeting will be held in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, this Thursday, April 12, at 7.30 p.m. All are welcome.

The meeting will have three high profile speakers: Ailbhe Smyth, the co-founder of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, Mairead Enright, member of Lawyers for Choice, and Christine Greene, Parents for Choice member and writer for the parenting magazine The M Word. Together for Yes Mayo convenor, Richael Carroll, will chair the meeting.