Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has urged thousands of Gaelic football supporters to “take care and drive safely” when travelling to tomorrow’s Ulster Senior Football Championship final in Clones, amid mounting concern over a sharp spike in road fatalities across Northern Ireland this year.
The Minister issued the appeal ahead of the provincial decider between Armagh and Monaghan at St Tiernach’s Park on Sunday 17 May 2026, which is expected to draw a large crowd to the County Monaghan venue. The match kicks off at 4.15pm.
Minister’s Appeal to Supporters
Speaking ahead of the match, Minister Kimmins confirmed she would be attending the “showpiece occasion” and backing the Orchard County, while thanking the GAA family for their support of road safety initiatives.
“I am delighted to be attending this showpiece occasion.
“It will come as no surprise that I will be supporting Armagh, but I want to thank Ulster GAA, Ulster Ladies and the wider GAA family for their ongoing support of the Share the Road to Zero campaign.
“By doing so, they are playing their part in the societal conversation about road safety because it’s something we all have to think about, whether that be on an everyday journey or travelling to an exciting and special occasion like the Ulster Final.
“I would also appeal to all supporters travelling to and from Clones to take care and drive safely.
“Here’s to a great day out for all the fans, especially those supporting Armagh.”
Road Safety Concerns
The appeal comes against a grim backdrop of rising road deaths in 2026. By late April, 29 people had lost their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads—representing a significant increase compared to the same period in 2025. The spike prompted Minister Kimmins and PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones to issue a joint safety appeal just weeks ago, describing one weekend in April as “catastrophic” for road collisions.
The Department for Infrastructure has been running the Share the Road to Zero campaign, which encourages individuals and organisations to pledge personal responsibility for road safety. Ulster GAA and Ulster Ladies Gaelic Football Association are among the high-profile sporting bodies to have signed up to the initiative.
Armagh captain Clodagh McCambridge has previously backed the campaign on behalf of Ulster Ladies, appearing alongside the Minister at promotional events. The Department’s press release notes that McCambridge signed up to the initiative to help promote safer driving behaviours across the province.
Recent Campaign Activity
In March 2026, Minister Kimmins launched two hard-hitting television advertisements—”Priority List” and “Control or Speed”—targeting driver inattention and excessive speed. The campaigns specifically highlight the dangers of rural roads, where two-thirds of fatal collisions occur, and form part of a renewed effort to reverse the worrying trend in fatalities.
The Department is also currently reviewing speed limits across Northern Ireland, including national limits on rural roads and dual carriageways, with a public consultation open for responses.
Questions Remain
While the Minister’s appeal highlights the importance of safe travel to major events, several questions remain unanswered:
- Will the PSNI be deploying additional road safety patrols around St Tiernach’s Park on Sunday to manage the expected influx of traffic from both sides of the border?
- Given that many supporters traditionally gather in pubs before and after matches, what specific measures are in place to prevent drink-driving on rural routes around Clones?
- How does the Department measure the effectiveness of these high-profile safety appeals in actually reducing collision rates on event days?
- With the 2026 death toll already at 29 by April, what additional interventions are planned if the current campaigns fail to reverse the trend?
Supporters can pledge their commitment to road safety at sharetheroadtozero.com, where they can also find the latest television advertisements and safety tips. The latest official road traffic collision statistics are available from the PSNI.