Petrol stations across Carlow running out of fuel due to protests

PETROL stations across Carlow have run out of diesel and petrol as those protesting at increased fuel prices have blocked major oil terminals, preventing trucks from leaving terminals to deliver petrol and diesel. Staff at petrol stations are unsure when deliveries will be able to get to them as the protest entered its fourth day.

EMO XL petrol station in Pollerton is out of diesel and is expected to run out of petrol later this (Friday) afternoon.

Mohammed Hassan, the supervisor of EMO XL petrol station in Pollerton told The Nationalist that: “We put in an order two days ago and there’s been no response. Obviously, you know, the blockages and everything. We will probably get it on Monday if everything goes on time.” Last night (Thursday), petrol stations across Carlow saw long queues as people attempted to fill their cars up before fuel ran out.

Mohammed said that yesterday evening the queue for petrol from EMO XL petrol stations stretched to a butcher’s in Graigue.

Like EMO XL, Centra petrol station in Ballon ran out of diesel yesterday and had placed an order for more but has no idea when to expect delivery.

Drive petrol station in Leighlinbridge ran out of petrol and diesel yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

“We were meant to have petrol and diesel delivered this morning, but it didn’t come with all of the protesting going on,” a worker at Drive petrol station in Leighlinbridge said.

O’Toole’s petrol station in Tullow also ran out of diesel yesterday and have “a bit” of petrol left. A worker told The Nationalist that their station has been incredibly busy and that they have no idea when they might get a delivery of fuel.

“We’re not really sure what the story is. We just have to wait and see how it goes,” a cashier at O’Toole’s said.

The only petrol station that The Nationalist spoke to who did not expect to run out of petrol and diesel any time soon was Inver in Bagenalstown. A worker said that there were long queues as people panic bought fuel last (Thursday) night; today (Friday) the station is busy, but does not have long queues.

Local opinion about the fuel protests is mixed.

Micheal Purcell, the Carlow county chair of the Irish Farmers Association told The Nationalist that while he has immense sympathy for the hardships they are facing, he would tell those protesting to go home.

“It’s causing a lot of inconvenience and a lot of stress with everyone because it’s hard to deal with the way things are going. You have the hospitals, you have healthcare workers being affected by it now.” Micheal hopes that commonsense will prevail after representatives from different interest groups, including the IFA, met with the taoiseach and the minister for agriculture this (Friday) afternoon.

The Lemon Grass Café in Rathvilly shared on their social media that they had gifted protesters sandwiches, drinks and biscuits.

A spokesperson for the café said that they decided to support the protesters as “they are showing up for the country. They’re up there doing it and losing out on their livelihood for the week or two days or whatever. We just thought we would support them. Simple as that.” Andy Cowman, the owner South-East Freight, also supports the protesters. “The protesters are 100% right in what they’re doing because the government won’t listen.” Andy said. “Everyone is at breaking point, it’s going to put companies out of business. Our diesel bill has gone up 40% in the last couple of months.

“Our local politicians, they’re all great people when they’re looking for votes, but there’s none of them to be seen now.” Andy estimates that 80% of the people who work in his industry are out protesting. While he supports the protesters, their actions are having a big impact on his business.

“We’re near enough out of fuel at the moment. We’ve enough for probably two more days,” Andy concluded.