Thousands expected to attend anti-water charge protests in Cork city and county

Cork

Protests under the Right2Water banner are planned for Cork city and towns in the county including Bandon, Clonakilty, Fermoy, Mallow and Youghal. In the past two weeks, the Anti-Austerity Alliance and the People’s Convention have organised protests in Cork city which have each attracted about 1,000 people. Today’s protest takes place in the Grand Parade starting at 2pm.

In Bandon, the protest is at the main bridge at noon while in Clonakilty, it starts at Astna Square at 1pm as it does in Youghal at Barry’s Lane. The Fermoy protest at Chapel Square and the Mallow protest at West End are both scheduled to start at 2pm.

Galway

Protesters have been mobilising mainly through Facebook. Public meetings organised by the We Won’t Pay campaign and Anti-Austerity Alliance have helped to drum up support for today’s protest which starts at the Spanish Arch at 1pm. A march will take place through the city centre to Eyre Square where it is expected that more speeches will be delivered.

Sligo

The organisers of the Sligo Right2Water protest are predicting a show of strength which they say will increase pressure on the Government to abandon the charges “and respect our human right to water”.

The Sligo protest, which begins at the GPO at 2pm, has been organised by People Before Profit councillor Seamus O’Boyle, Independent councillor Declan Bree and Sinn Féin’s Seán MacManus and Thomas Healy. They have accused the Government of turning an essential service into a profit-making commodity.

“A lot of commentators were shocked at the size of the turnout in Dublin recently but they should not have been surprised. The Government has not been listening to the people,” said Mr O’Boyle.

Kerry

A protest is scheduled to start at the Horan Centre in Tralee at 1pm and it follows on from a similar protest organised by a number of trade unions, Sinn Féin and Right2Water last weekend which attracted a crowd of up to 1,000.

Donegal

Up to 10,000 people are expected to gather at three protests marches across the county today. The biggest rally will be in Letterkenny where organisers expect an estimated 5,000 to take to the streets.

Marchers will gather at the Port Roundabout at 2pm before walking up the town’s Main Street. A number of speakers will address the crowd at Market Square.

A similar crowd is expected in Ballyshannon where a rally will start at the Abbey Centre at 2pm before moving through the town.

A large crowd is also expected in the Border town of Lifford for the third and final protest which also starts at 2pm.

Roscommon

Householders in Boyle, Co Roscommon, who are still contending with “boil water” notices because of contamination are being urged to support today’s protest, which begins at the Royal Hotel car park at 1.30pm.

Recently elected Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who is due to address protesters in Boyle, Carrick on Shannon, Athlone and Roscommon throughout the day, said the situation at Irish Water was “a total fiasco and an embarrassment to the country”.

He said he had no problem with metering. “But how in heaven’s name can you even talk about charges until quality is sorted out?” he said.

Waterford

Campaigners will assemble in the Ballybricken area at 2pm. The Waterford Council of Trade Unions is one body behind the event and secretary Tom Hogan is acting chairman of the local Right2Water group. “I believe we’re going to have a very substantial march and I think, across the country, it’s going to surpass Dublin and the 100,000 who were there on October 11th.”

Elsewhere in Co Waterford there will be a protest in Dungarvan at 3pm and another in Portlaw at noon.

Wexford

There are four rallies planned. Protesters will gather at 2pm at the Riverbank car park in Wexford. Other gatherings will take place in Enniscorthy, Gorey and New Ross, all starting at about 2pm.

Kilkenny/ Carlow

Demonstrators in Kilkenny city will meet at the railway station from 1.30pm before marching through the city to the courthouse. Supporters of the campaign will assemble in Carlow town at the Liberty Tree at 2pm.