Megaphone diplomacy as septic tank protest flushes out divisions

“I’M ON the mobile!”

Here’s a phrase that got a new meaning on Wednesday when Pádraig Ó Conghaola from Rossaveel, organiser of a septic tank protest from Galway, was wheeled from the start of a demonstration on Dawson Street to the gates of Leinster House while sitting on a toilet.

Pádraigs lavatory was placed on one of those wire cages used by supermarkets to move stock, looking positively magisterial as he was trundled up Molesworth Street for the main event.

From his command post on the bog, Pádraig controlled access to the megaphone. This led to some urgent exchanges (picked up by the prized megaphone) between protesters who wanted to speak.

Justin McCarthy of Today FM recorded the babble: “We’re all joined up in this . . . you insulted me the last time . . . we’ll have no division . . . cúpla focail . . . we’re all one . . .Not here, not here Séamus . . . Let him talk, we’re all united . . .”

Councillor Séamus Walsh, referring to the seated Ó Conghaola, thundered, “This protest is about Connemara, it’s not about him . . . Give me the mic, give me the mic . . . ”

Séamus eventually got his way, but not before someone told him: “[He] is winding you up.”

It was all becoming rather fraught.

“My name is Séamus Walsh, I’m a county councillor in Co Galway and I have stood for the people of Connemara for the last 20 years. I have pulled trial holes for ye, I’ve done everything I can for ye.

“And just because a couple of snots come along and think they’re going to stop me from talking. . .”

Highly indignant, he looked down at Pádraig sitting on his toilet in the wire cage and cried: “I stood for the people of Connemara when you were still in your bed and I’ll stand for the people of Connemara long after you’re gone, and with the help of God!”

“Keep it clean,” pleaded a female voice as Séamus was told to make his point.

“The point is this, the standards being set by the Government . . .”

Mattie McGrath interjected; “They have no standards!”

Things settled down after that and fears of a dirty protest subsided.