Several hundred people staged a protest in Galway city centre at the weekend in opposition to Galway Corporation's riverside walk project.
Carrying placards and banners bearing such slogans as "Save our green belt", the protesters included elderly residents from the Woodquay area of the Corrib who have vowed to do everything they can to stop the work.
The project involves paving a section of grassy riverbank from the Salmon Weir bridge on the Corrib as far as Steamer's Quay, part of which is known as the "Green Walk".
The Independent MEP for Connacht-Ulster, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, met some of the protesters earlier in the city to hear their concerns.
Last week, members of the Woodquay and District Residents Association tried to prevent a bulldozer from continuing work in an area behind Galway courthouse near the Salmon Weir bridge.
Galway Corporation officials have already met the objectors and pointed out that a notice of intention in relation to the work was advertised in local papers.
The residents' association at Woodquay says it did not object because it was unaware of the full details.
Ms Martina Moloney, assistant town clerk, said that the local authority wished to develop the walkway for the benefit of the people of the city and visitors, but a number of issues relating to trees and types of bench were being examined.
Ms Sheila Gallagher, spokeswoman for the objectors, warned that Galway would be the "greyest city in Europe" if the corporation continued to lay cobblestones and install limestone benches and uproot "the little green belt we have left".