Primary school students at Culleens National School (Scoil Naomh Bríd) in Ballina, Co Mayo have joined their teachers and parents in a roadside protest against high speeds and the lack of a footpath space outside the school.
A number of local gardaí and politicians also took part.
This is the second time the school has staged a day of action calling for a safe route and a pedestrian crossing.
In October 2024 they protested with placards calling for a 30km/h speed limit and a footpath as a matter of urgency.
But so far there has been no progress on the matter.
Deirdre O'Loughlin is the green schools coordinator at Culleens NS.
"So we decided to hold a bigger and louder protest with classes lined up on both sides of the R315 road in high-viz jackets, dressed in red and carrying signs asking drivers to slow down.
"We are also embracing the LOVE 30 campaign requesting that the speed limit on the R315 outside of our school be reduced to 30kmh.
"All staff and children will be dressed in red and pink to raise awareness of our campaign."
In April 2024 staff and pupils moved across the road into their long sought after new school on the Killala Road.
But the ongoing stress of a busy roadway and no footpath on the school side of the R314 has taken its toll.
A survey conducted by the school showed that the number of those travelling to school by car had increased since the move across the road to the new school, and those travelling by foot and by bike had decreased.
The small rural school has over 500 signatures in a petition to reduce the speed.
It was organised by teacher Michael Duffy.
"There are big companies in the area and there's a lot of traffic.
"It's the main road and the speed limit past our school is 80 kilometres an hour.
"That's just too fast and too dangerous for kids walking or cycling to school.
"We have to cross the main road which is treacherous in the morning.
"We have been campaigning for a path as a matter of urgency but we're not a priority so we have to keep up the fight ourselves."
A lack of footpaths is an ongoing issue for many schools in rural Ireland and there calls on national bodies such as TII and the NTA to support local councils in the delivery of plans to improve safety measures outside schools.
