Northern Ireland communities protest against Brexit

Demonstrators along Border criticise UK government decision to take ‘road to nowhere’

Anti-Brexit campaigners set up a mock customs search  at the Border town of Carrickcarnon. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
Anti-Brexit campaigners set up a mock customs search at the Border town of Carrickcarnon. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

About 150 protesters gathered at the Border between Belcoo in Co Fermanagh and Blacklion in Co Cavan in opposition to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union.

Farmers, business people and local politicians joined other members of the new campaign group “Border Communities Against Brexit” in the first protest of its kind in the area, which took place on Saturday.

Placards

Many participants were carrying placards criticising the result of the referendum.

It was a similar picture in other Border communities as demonstrations were held at Carrickcarnon on the Louth-Armagh Border, at Moybridge between Tyrone and Monaghan, Aghalane between Fermanagh and Cavan and Lifford Bridge between Tyrone and Donegal.

In an address to the assembled crowd a few short steps from Belcoo, farmer John Sheridan from the village of Florencecourt in Fermanagh criticised those in the UK government who backed Brexit.

“They want us to go on the road to nowhere with them, that could actually be the road to hell as far as I am concerned,” he said.

“This will leave six counties in complete isolation leading to a complete lack of investment as the younger generation move away to find themselves a life. God help us in two or three years.”

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter