Tractors block Potato Market as fuel protest hits home 

TRACTORS rolled through Carlow town on Sunday as farmers, hauliers and locals blocked roads through the town centre in a show of defiance against the government's carbon tax and spiralling fuel costs.

The protest was one of dozens of regional protests that took place across the country on Sunday morning following a week of nationwide go-slow protests and blockades at major fuel depots, as agricultural contractors, hauliers and farmers demanded the government take action on fuel costs.

Tractors and crowds assembled at Four Lakes Retail Park at 10am before setting off towards the town centre, travelling along Dublin Road and Tullow Street before eventually finishing at Potato Market.

Once the convoy reached Potato Market, vehicles parked up by the Liberty Tree roundabout and blocked road access to Kennedy Avenue.

In total, approximately 30 vehicles made up the convoy, the majority of which were tractors, with some lorries and vans also present.

According to a spokesperson from Carlow Garda Station, a crowd of around 100 people took part in the walk from Four Lakes Retail Park to the town centre, with more joining the crowd once the vehicles gathered at Potato Market.

A green John Deere tractor at the front of the vehicle convoy had a sign which read ‘Abolish the Carbon Tax’ on the front loader.

There was a largely peaceful and positive atmosphere at the demonstration, despite the widespread dissatisfaction at the government’s response to the situation, with some of the crowd joining together in song.

Independent Ireland cllr John Cassin, who attended the demonstration, told The Nationalist that despite the good-natured atmosphere, those who took part were “visibly frustrated” by the rising cost of living and felt “alienated” by the government’s response to the situation.

Cllr Cassin believes that protests will continue across the country unless there is “real engagement” by the government.

“Yes, I can see it continuing unless there is real engagement from the government and real engagement as regards to the cost of living,” cllr Cassin said.

“There doesn’t seem to be an understanding at government level at the actual impact this is having on people at the moment in terms of their mental and physical health,” he added.

On Monday night, cllr Cassin posted to Facebook about another planned fuel protest for this coming Saturday (18 April) at 2pm, calling on people to "Stand with us for fair fuel prices." 

The protest will follow the same route as Sunday's, starting at Supermacs drive through at Four Lakes Retail Park and finishing at the Liberty Tree. 

There was another go-slow protest on the M9 north-bound between Athy junction 3 and Kilcullen junction 2 on Monday morning, which contained a convoy of tractors and lorries and caused heavy congestion around the Kilcullen area.

Gardaí confirmed they will continue to monitor the situation across the county in the coming days.