The Drogheda motor show isn't just about showing off shiny new cars to potential customers; it's also about trying to put across a memorable road safety message. And this year, the show decided to do just that, with a hat.
A hat?
Yes. A special, one-off hat created by hat designer and milliner Alison Connolly of Connolly & Moore, a Drogheda-based clothing store. The idea behind the hat is to "spark conversation and reflection” and was worn at the Drogheda motor show by Drogheda & District Chamber President Miriam Simon.
How does it work, so to speak?
The idea is that the hat is an attention-getting conversation starter. You'll notice it straightaway, thanks to the dramatic arrangement of red, bright orange, and green feathers, but then as you get closer, you'll see that some of the most important road safety messages, including anti-drink-driving slogans, are woven into the hat's material. The plan is that the hat's design is attention-grabbing, and then as you get closer, you start to see the serious message behind it.
Having been shown off at the motor show, the hat will now go on display in Drogheda as a permanent reminder to think of road safety.
How else was the Drogheda motor show promoting road safety?
For the first time at the show this year, there was a live stage, which included a road safety panel discussion led by CompleteCar's very own editor, Shane O'Donoghue. The panel brought together voices from across the motoring ecosystem, including Alan Reynolds of Brian Reynolds Car Sales, Laura Durrigan of First Citizen Finance, and Katie Kierans of Drogheda Life. Speaking during the discussion, O'Donoghue emphasised the real-world consequences of driver distraction, noting "Distraction can happen for one split second - and that can be the wrong second.”
According to the show's organisers: "The Drogheda Motor Show continues to position itself as more than a showcase of vehicles, evolving into a platform for community engagement, education and public safety messaging. This year's programme combined family-friendly entertainment, strong local business participation and a renewed emphasis on impactful storytelling - exemplified by the headpiece initiative.”