Longford walk to form part of new national campaign for court reform
Anna Kavanagh, convenor of the Walk In Our Shoes 2026 campaign, is coordinating the Longford event as part of a series of walks taking place simultaneously across all 26 counties
A LONGFORD woman is among those behind a nationwide campaign calling for reform of Ireland’s family court system, with a local walk taking place in Longford town this Sunday.
Anna Kavanagh, convenor of the Walk In Our Shoes 2026 campaign, is coordinating the Longford event as part of a series of walks taking place simultaneously across all 26 counties.
The Longford Walk will commence at 11am on Sunday at Tivoli House, (Tusla Offices), before finishing at Longford Courthouse.
The nationwide campaign is calling for a family court system that it says is transparent, trauma-informed and trustworthy.
A National Walk will follow in Dublin on Wednesday, September 30. Participants will gather outside the Four Courts at 11.30am before departing at 12pm and walking silently to Leinster House.
Speaking to Longford Live, convenor of Walk In Our Shoes 2026, Anna Kavanagh explained: “This event is a safe space for the people affected to come out and walk alongside ordinary members of the public, so nobody will know whether a person walking with them is somebody affected by the family court system or somebody who is walking in solidarity with somebody that they know that's affected by it, or just simply walking because this is an issue about justice.”
Anna feels strongly that there are three key areas the government should focus on regarding the Irish family court system: “The first thing is reform the in-camera rule, number 2, regulate the court experts and number 3, ensure that families have proper legal representation going into court. It shouldn't be a case of losing your home in order to pay your legal team.”
The in camera rule in family law means that court hearings take place in private behind closed doors rather than in an open public courtroom.
Anna stated: “Behind every case number, every report and every court order is a child whose life may be changed forever.
“We are walking for a family court system that listens before it decides, places children’s safety first and treats every family with fairness, dignity and humanity.
“Some people will walk because of what they and their children have experienced. Others will walk because they believe no family should have to endure the same experience in the future,” said Anna.
“This is not about mothers against fathers, nor is it directed against any individual judge, professional or organisation. It is about strengthening accountability, restoring public confidence and ensuring that every child’s voice truly matters.”
No registration is required to participate in the walks. Members of the public are invited simply to attend their nearest county walk, wear black if possible and carry a pair of children’s shoes.
The shoes represent the children whose futures are being decided in courtrooms they may never see—the children whose voices may not be properly heard and whose lives can be profoundly affected by the decisions made on their behalf.
Walk In Our Shoes is a peaceful coming together of people who believe children’s safety and welfare must be at the heart of every family court decision.