Tag Archives: protest

Members of the East Clare Windfarm Opposition Alliance participated in a recent demonstration outside the Dáil against onshore windfarms. This group was formed by people who are opposed to the planned windfarms in East Clare in Carrownagowan, Lackareagh, Fahybeg, Knockshanvo, Oatfield, and Ballycar plus the planned expansions, over and above those plans. According to the group, developers are seeking planning permission to provide 150 turbines in a circle of less than 10km radius around Broadford. “Clare County Council was lately opposed to these plans and wrote a letter to An Bord Pleanála asking for a moratorium on onshore windfarms, at least until new and appropriate guidelines are published and put into law,” said a group spokesman. The group has previously warned about the impact on local communities and the landscape if major windfarm developments secure planning approval and proceed as planned. These include 19 turbines at the Carrownagowan Wind Farm near Bodyke, 8 turbines at Fahybeg Wind Farm near Bridgetown, …

HUNDREDS of people opposed to controversial plans to build on two carparks in Ennis gathered in the heart of the town last Saturday to voice their objection. A crowd of more than 200 people came together in the historic O’Connell Square for the rally calling for an end to the Ennis 2040 proposals for the carparks. Among those to speak out was Ennis resident and retired teacher Joan Duggan, who last October had presented a petition against the plans to Clare County Council signed by more than 3,700 people. She told those gathered that the only motive of those against the proposals is “to save your town for the future generation.” The Abbey Street carpark plans involve the development of retail and office space with the Ennis 2040 DAC (Designated Activity Company) saying the proposed project will create jobs and attract shoppers. They predict an estimated 100 permanent jobs to be created once the development is complete, alongside 200 jobs …

VEHICLES could not enter or leave Shannon Airport this afternoon for well over an hour, as a couple of dozen protesters staged a sit down protest. Shannonwatch had organised a demonstration at around 2pm, and after that concluded a minority of those who attended refused to leave the roadway at the entrance to the airport. Not only did they fail to heed the direction of Gardai, they also ignored calls to leave from some of the leaders of the original protest and many others who had taken part in it. While the original protest started to break up at around 3pm, having only caused a relatively short delay, the splinter group continued to block access until just before 4.30pm, At this point a number of Gardai physically removed them. This is the most disruptive protest against the use of Shannon by the US military for years, and caused issues for hundreds of people.  A number of passengers left the buses …

PEACE group Shannonwatch have organised what it calls “a major national mobilisation” against the US military use of Shannon Airport, which will take place this Sunday. The demonstration will call for an immediate end to the use of the airport by the American military, and it is being supported by a number of antiwar organisations and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign. It comes on the back of a number of recent protests at the airport, one of which restricted passengers ability to use escalators in the terminal, and another which saw people go past the perimeter fencing around the runway. “We welcome the Irish government’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and their intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel,” said Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch. “However, this means nothing if they don’t do everything in their power to cut off the supply of weapons and other support to Israel. “One of the immediate actions Ireland must take is to …

A large crowd is expected in Doolin this Sunday for a call-to-action of local people against the designation of the old Doolin Pier as a port. Hundreds of swimmers and other water users are expected to congregate at Doolin Pier at 6.30pm this Sunday, September 3, in a show of community strength against plans which could see people prevented from using the old pier for personal use. Local people have traditionally used the old pier in Doolin as a location for swimming and water sports. Indeed, Clare County Council stationed a lifeguard at the pier as recently as 2014. Earlier this year, signs were erected at the old pier which indicated that swimming was prohibited from that location. A new pier was recently completed in Doolin and many locals feel that the new pier should be designated for the use of ferries and boats, while the old pier should be reserved for the use of the public. “We are having …

PEACE group Shannonwatch held its first protest of 2023 last Sunday. Spokesman John Lannon said that the monthly protests will continue throughout 2023. “The conditions at Shannon are still the same. There are US military planes landing and taking off, in particular the troop carriers are coming through, there are other planes as well. “There has been no response from the authorities or the Government to all the requests we have made over the years for proper inspections, for information about what’s on the planes and where they are going, so the protests will continue.” There were relatively small numbers there last weekend, but he said that is usually the case at the start of the year. “January is always a poor month in terms of turnout. I can’t remember how many we had there, I think there were 10-15. “The protests have been ongoing since January 2008, with the exception of the months during the Covid lockdown when congregations …

TEMPERATURES weren’t very far above freezing on Friday, but a number of Shannon Heritage workers still assembled outside Bunratty, looking to vent frustration over the uncertainty around Shannon Heritage’s future. The delays around the transfer are widely seen as farcical and workers outside what was once one of the country’s top tourist attractions brandished signs indicating their disillusionment. ‘Political ping pong’, ‘Master Plan to Master Sham’ and ‘Staff in the dark’ a sample of them read. “We’re gutted at this stage, it’s going on for over a year and a half at this stage,” said Caroline O’Sullivan, one of the protesting employees. “We were told in February of last year it’d be taken over in June. In June we were told Christmas, and here we are another year down the road and we still don’t know. It’s very uncertain for people with mortgages, children going to school or college. It’s a tough time,” she added. Workers are very disappointed with …

SHANNONWATCH has organised a peace protest for this Sunday at 2pm against the ongoing US military use of the airport. The event takes place two days after Armistice Day which is intended to mark the end of fighting in World War I and to honour those killed in it. Shannonwatch says Sunday’s protest will draw attention to how little peace there is in the world today and how Ireland’s increasing support for militarization is escalating global instability. Armed US troops pass through Shannon on a daily basis, despite the fact that the country claims to be neutral. “What is happening at Shannon Airport is in breach of international laws on neutrality and makes the Irish people complicity in US war crimes and torture,” said Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch. The group has been protesting at the airport on the second Sunday of every month since 2008, while they say that the human and financial costs of the military movements through Sahnnon …