On Saturday, the town of Ballinasloe witnessed a moment of extraordinary unity and defiance as thousands of people from across the west and midlands of Ireland marched shoulder-to-shoulder to demand the full reinstatement of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH ). With estimates placing the crowd at over 3,500, this was one of the largest public demonstrations in the town’s recent history — a powerful expression of community resistance against what many view as a slow and silent erosion of rural healthcare.
The march, organised by the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance (PMA ), was sparked by the publication of a troubling review into five recent maternity cases at PUH, which concluded that there were “significant clinical risks” in the care provided. In response, the HSE made the controversial decision to divert high-risk antenatal care away from the hospital — a move that many fear signals the beginning of a permanent downgrade.
But on last Saturday, the people of Galway, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Tipperary and beyond had a different message: “Care Can’t Wait — Reinstate!”
A river of protesters
The streets of Ballinasloe pulsed with chants, placards, and palpable emotion. County flags fluttered beside hand-painted signs with messages like “No Births on the M6!” and “Rural Mothers Matter.” The crowd snaked through the town centre, their route taking 45 minutes to complete from front to end — a testament to the sheer volume of support behind the cause.
The Fairgreen was opened for parking to accommodate the influx of vehicles and buses. Gardaí and volunteers coordinated a well-organised and peaceful event, which many described as “flawless” in execution.
At the gates of Portiuncula Hospital, the heart of the demonstration, the crowd gathered for an emotionally charged rally featuring mothers, clinicians, politicians, and community leaders.
Voices of the movement
Cllr Evelyn Francis Parsons, a GP, Independent member of Galway County Council, and co-founder of the PMA, opened the speeches with a powerful address that resonated deeply with the gathered crowd:
“This hospital, and especially its maternity unit, is not just bricks and mortar. It is woven into the fabric of our families, our memories, our futures. Behind every statistic and policy decision are real people — mothers, babies, families, staff. Their voices will no longer be ignored.”
Cllr Parsons criticised the HSE’s decision as a betrayal of rural communities, stating that the failure to properly resource PUH was not a safety measure, but an abandonment.
The event heard the case of a mother whose child suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy at birth:
“Forcing a high-risk pregnant woman to travel is not a safety plan. It’s a terrifying gamble with our lives — with our babies’ lives — on the road. We were promised a safe, modern service. Instead, the HSE is abandoning rural mothers, and forcing us to bear the risk of its own strategic failures.”
Dr Kevin Connolly, a retired paediatrician who served at PUH for over three decades, followed with a speech both heartfelt and urgent:
“What has been imposed on us is not safe. It reduces capacity, takes away resources, and is patently the wrong decision. I’m proud of the care we delivered here — but I’m ashamed at what is being done to this place. It must stop. And it will, if we stand firm.”
He was joined by John Hanniffy, who had played a key role in saving the maternity unit in Portlaoise. His message to the crowd was clear:
“When communities stand together, with focus and determination, real change is possible.”
Not just a local issue
The PMA and its supporters argue that this is not just about one hospital. It’s about a broader trend of neglect toward rural healthcare — an issue felt acutely by families who already face long travel times for other critical services. The recent decisions affecting PUH echo the experiences of Nenagh and Roscommon, where emergency departments were closed and services never returned.
But as Cllr Parsons reminded the crowd, not all was lost:
“Look to Portlaoise. They fought. They saved their maternity unit. And so can we.”
The Portiuncula Maternity Alliance laid out a clear list of demands:
Full reinstatement of all maternity services at PUH
Immediate implementation of the Walker Report and its 34 safety recommendations
Proper staffing and resourcing for all departments, especially for nurses, midwives, and doctors
Appointment of a business manager — PUH remains the only Level 3 hospital without one
An independent review of the wider maternity network governance and accountability structures, particularly relating to University Hospital Galway (UHG )
The rally was attended by several local and national politicians, whose presence drew applause — but also sharp warnings. Cllr Parsons was blunt in her message to elected officials:
“Sympathy is not enough. We need action. If this downgrade is not reversed, then political consequences must follow. Who do you serve? Rural Ireland is watching.”
She hinted at broader political repercussions, even suggesting that failure to address this issue could justify a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health.
“Today you are all members of the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance. We stand together, as one, and we will not be silenced. If this downgrade is not reversed, if services are not fully reinstated, then government politicians must look within and ask- who do I serve? What do I want for my constituents? Do I stand with the people who elected me — or do I stand with a government dismantling rural healthcare?”
Among the most powerful moments were the stories shared of families directly impacted by the downgrade and the reviews. One mother recounted the harrowing fear of travelling in labour, labelled high-risk and told to make a long journey on unsafe roads:
“It felt like gambling with our lives, with our baby’s life. The road isn’t a maternity ward. And it’s not where decisions about safety should be offloaded.”
Another family praised the midwives at PUH who saved their child — only to later see their case used as a justification for cutting services.
The path forward
The PMA made clear that Saturday’s rally was just the beginning. Thousands of petition cards were signed, and demand was so high that immediate reprints were ordered. Plans are now underway to host further demonstrations in towns across the Midlands and west, drawing in more voices, more families, and more pressure.
A formal request for a meeting with the Minister for Health has been made, but as of now, no date has been confirmed.
In closing, Cllr Parsons paid tribute to the mothers, volunteers, unions, and businesses who made the rally possible:
“This day was powered by our community — by people who said ‘enough.’ Ní neart go cur le chéile — there is strength in unity. And united, we will protect Portiuncula.”
As the final words rang out — “No Downgrade. Every Mother Matters. Every Baby Matters. Our Families Matter.” — the crowd erupted into applause, the echoes reverberating across Ballinasloe, a town now firmly at the heart of a growing regional campaign.
