BSafe Launch 2017

Better BSafe than sorry!

The creative kids of Culmullen NS were celebrating after their eye-catching artwork took the centre stage for an innovative new road and water safety campaign launched by Meath Chronicle in association with Generali and Meath County Council last week.

The new BSafe initiative involves a three-pronged campaign over the coming months covering road, cycle and water safety. Each element will include varied activities that will engage pupils of both national and secondary schools.

The BSafe campaign was officially launched on foot of a unique competition aimed at primary school children who were asked to create posters around the three safety themes. The artistic Culmullen NS winners were Ella Smith, Alexa Kelly and Loche Kelly McCann who worked closely together on their poster. As well as receiving framed copies of their own posters, the young artists also get to take their class to the Showtime Cinema in Ashbourne.

Guest of honour at the launch was Ratoath racing car driver Cian Carey who has just won the prestigious Leinster Trophy. Past winners include Ayrton Senna, Mikka Hakkinen and Eddie Jordan.

Launching the campaign, Mary McGuigan, Group Commercial Manager with Celtic Media said the Meath Chronicle was thrilled to be able to kick-start the drive to reduce fatalities and injuries on our roads and waterways. “This is a campaign very close to our hearts and one we are delighted to champion this cause. As a media group we are only all too aware of tragedies that occur on our roads and our waterways. It fills far too many column inches every week and every year. Every death on our roads or on our waters is a death too many and if we can help increase awareness of the need to be constantly vigilant then it will be extremely worthwhile.

Often the best teachers to show us where we are going wrong are our children so we hope that what we are doing will at least start conversations around the kitchen table and hopefully help save lives. We couldn’t undertake this campaign without the support of our great friends Generali who have been keen supporters of our various campaigns over the years and also with the great support of Meath County Council.”


The campaign launch was the first formal launch of any kind held in Buvinda House in Johnstown, the new home of the Council and Des Foley Director of Services said he couldn’t think of a more fitting cause to have that honour.

Des Foley, Director of Services Meath County Council said that Meath Chronicle and the Council had been partners in many events and initiatives down through the years but none more important than BSafe. He said he was delighted with the response from the schools and that Meath County Council are happy to help in any way they can to make this campaign a success.

Paul Gillett, Head of Generali Pan European said he was delighted to be partnering with the Meath Chronicle and Meath County Council on the BSafe campaign. “Our business is the business of safety. We insure about 10 million drivers globally. It really aligns with what we believe in as a company and and what we want to achieve and I wish it every success.”

Cian Carey has agreed to be the BSafe Sports Ambassador and he will visit a number of schools throughout the year to talk about BSafe. Cian said it was vital that young drivers be safety conscious at all times. “When we race we have rules, procedures, marshals and stewards and emergency services on hand. We take safety very seriously. People on the roads don’t have all that back-up to hand so they really need to be ensuring that they prioritise safety for them and fellow road users.” The 22-year-old posed for pictures with his Leinster Trophy with the poster competition winners.

Frank Mulrennan, Chief Executive with Celtic Media said.“The campaign has a great feel to it. We’re very happy to be backing it. The message has to be BSafe, take your time, learn to cycle properly, swim properly, drive properly. We have great partners in Generali and Meath County Council.”

Also in attendance at the event was Navan Mayor Tommy Reilly and Meath County Council Cathaoirleach Gerry O’Connor as well as members of the emergency services including members of Meath River Rescue and Navan Community Garda Paddy Skehan.

In the coming weeks the BSafe camapign will launch a competition aimed at secondary schools to produce a video or a storyboard for a video. Winning group will get €500 and the video will be on the Meath Chronicle Facebook page and website and will be distributed to all the schools.

Make sure to pick up a copy of this week's paper to see all the images from the launch and details of how your school can get involved.