Make Way Day Returns to Highlight Obstacles for People with Disabilities
25/09/2025
A campaign encouraging communities from all over the country to highlight the needs of disabled people in our public spaces returns on Friday 26th September. Make Way Day is an annual campaign led by the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and supported by local disability groups and Local Authorities across the country.
Photo Caption - L to R: Fiona Dineen (Cork City Council Operations Directorate) Mars Murphy, Johnny Murphy (Chair of Cork Access group), Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy, Stephen Murphy (RAPID Coordinator Cork City Council), Siubhan McCarthy (Age friendly coordinator Cork City Council) Alannah O’Callaghan (Cork City PPN Coordinator), Janet O’Connor (Healthy Ireland Coordinator).
Cork City Council are delighted to be once again working with Disability Federation Ireland to highlight Make Way Day 2025 across the city in association with Cork Access group, Cork City Public Participation Network, Cork Disabled Persons Organisation, the Independent Living Movement Ireland Cork, and Cork Age Friendly City.
At the launch of Make Way Day Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy said:
“Cork City Council is proud to support Disability Federation Ireland’s ‘Make Way Day’ in Cork City. This important initiative promotes a more inclusive society by encouraging everyone to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share. The core message is simple but powerful: keep the way clear for all—especially wheelchair users, those who are visually impaired, and older members of our community who may face mobility challenges."
"The initiative is a call to action for us all to be more mindful of where we park—whether cars or bikes—and to ensure footpaths are free from obstacles like bins. Together, we can make our communities more accessible, welcoming, and safe for everyone.”
Campaigners will be sharing the challenges they face navigating urban spaces. These can include:
- Cars mounted on curbs that block footpath access
- Bins, sandwich boards and overhanging branches
- Bicycles and motorbikes chained to lamp posts.
DFI Diversity and Education Officer Pierce Richardson said the campaign is an opportunity to highlight how the difficulties of navigating public spaces disabled people can be made easier in a more disability conscious world.
“Public spaces are for everyone. But they are often not designed with the needs of disabled people in mind. And with obstacles like cars mounted on kerbs or wheelie bins placed in the middle of a footpath, we can unconsciously contribute to an already difficult space for disabled people, he said.
“That’s why, on Make Way Day, we’re encouraging everyone across the country to post anything they see on streets or paths that can make things more difficult for disabled people to get around.”
The campaign aims to make a collective impact on some of the habits that may contribute to these obstacles. That means increasing awareness of people’s unconscious behaviours that might impact the daily lives of disabled people. Mr Richardson explained,
“The campaign is not about finger-pointing. It’s about creating that collective awareness that our actions can impact others in our communities. And through making small changes to our habits, we can make a significant positive change to our community.
“People with disabilities are the backbone of this campaign are. It will once again give them the chance to share their frustrations by posting photos of obstacles to social platforms with the hashtag, #MakeWayDay24. Make Way Day is one day of action, but it’s important that the campaign message resonates long after 27 September.”
Cork City Council would like to remind all motorists that it is an offence to park on footpaths, in a disabled bay without displaying a blue badge or mis-use a disabled persons parking permit and these actions are subject to a fine. Parking on footpaths blocks the use of the footpath for users and may force them onto the road and into live traffic.