O'Connell Street remains closed as fuel protests continue

Regan Kelly

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said, “It is not acceptable to turn O’Connell Street into a car park”, as protests continue into their second day.

Dublin City Centre was brought to a standstill on Tuesday, with tractors, lorries and haulage vehicles blocking roads in and out of O’Connell Street.

The protest was organised by ‘The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices’ group.

Although they did not object to individual members participating in the protest, the Irish Road Haulage Association did not endorse it.

In protest at increasing fuel costs, hauliers, farmers and other self-employed business people joined convoys across the country, blocking major road networks.

Disruptions

As of today (April 8), many of these protests continue, with O’Connell Street remaining disrupted, and Galway Docks disrupted as protestors block access.

Disruptions to traffic networks are continuing, and Dublin Bus is providing alternative routes.

Motorways and national roads were reduced to slow-moving traffic as protestors made their way towards large urban centres.

Some notable disruptions included the N52 in Tullamore, the M6 junction near Moate, the M6 near Athenry, the M7 near Limerick, and the M4 towards Dublin.

M4 Convoy

One of the main convoys that made its way towards Dublin started in Westmeath, leaving Kinnegad Plaza at exactly 7.30am.

From 6.30am tractors and lorries began arriving at the rear of the plaza, and by the time they took off there were nearly 30 vehicles. This included 12 lorries and around 10 tractors.

An Garda Síochána were well prepared for the day's events, with a number of Roads Policing cars located at Kinnegad Plaza.

When the convoy took off, Gardaí provided a safe escort for them, and as it passed just before Enfield, the roads policing vehicle was behind them with an infographic telling other road users to use the other lane and pass by.

Blocking off O’Connell Street.

On O’Connell Street, there was a heavy Garda presence from around 11am, closing off access to roads and engaging with lorry and tractor drivers.

From the early afternoon, protestors began arriving, met with a resounding reception from tourists, local Dubliners, and those who had travelled.

It was hard to hear the usual hustle and bustle of Dublin City Centre; there was a background noise of multiple vehicles honking their horns and chanting.

Gardaí managed to direct the drivers and their vehicles to designated areas along the street, but the row of tractors were massive in numbers, on both sides of the street and wrapping along the Liffey.

Demonstration

In the middle of the road, right beside the Spire, a stage was created from one of the lorry trailers, where hundreds of frustrated people began to gather.

Prior to this, the atmosphere was charged and somewhat celebratory as the vehicles began to arrive, spontaneous outbursts and cheers in support of fellow farmers and workers as they arrived in their vehicles.

There were multiple speakers, including Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín.

Most speeches were met with eruptions from the crowd, and one could sense the frustration building.

Spokesperson for those who are protesting, John Dallon, spoke passionately at the demonstration, with the crowd responding loudly to his points.

“Today is our day, and they are going to listen to us! People need to understand something: to the fork on the table, farmers produce that food and put it on the table.

“From the potato, to the vegetables and so on. With the price of diesel increasing, that food will escalate in price to the point where people will not be able to pay for it.”

Peadar Tóibín said: “The government is talking about price gouging at the moment, but they are tax gouging the people of Ireland when it comes to fuel in this country.”

Emerald Isle Beef Producers member and representative for beef farmers in Ireland, Eamon Curley, also spoke.

He said, “50 years ago, multiple men did the work that one man does now, and the reason for that is diesel.

“Green diesel is the lifeblood of rural Ireland; without green diesel, none of us can work.

“They tax and regulate the ordinary worker out of existence, the government are tone deaf, and we need a new one that will negotiate with the EU so that we are not faced with these crippling carbon taxes.”

Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy said: “You are talking about farmers, hauliers and people who work with machinery, these are the hardest working people in the country.

“They fear for their livelihoods, and they are telling us that if there is not immediate action, their livelihoods will go to the wall.

“If these people lose their livelihoods, then the economic impact on families, workers and communities will be profound.”

One thing stood out by the end of the demonstration: protests were going nowhere until the government engaged in discussions with them.

As the protests continue, so to do the ramifications of it, there are now transport delays throughout the country, with transport companies like Transport for Ireland (TFI), Translink Northern Ireland and Dublin Bus all experiencing delays.

It remains unclear at the moment what the impacts may be, but for now, it stays the same. Visit any one of Celtic Media's seven titles to keep up to date with the protests.