Fuel protesters block Portumna bridge on Tuesday

A CONVOY of fuel protesters blocked Portumna Bridge, a vital crossing point over the Shannon, on Tuesday, starting in the early morning and continuing all day. Blocking the vital crossing points over the Shannon is one of the strategies drawn up by the organisers behind the nationwide fuel protests.

Cllr Declan Kelly of Loughrea Municipal District attended at the bridge, standing in solidarity with the protesters.

"I was at the fuel price protests at Portumna Bridge this morning," Cllr Kelly said on his Facebook page. "We need something a lot better from the government than patronising advice to 'drive slowly'. The government cannot protect the country from every economic jolt but it can take urgent measures to help alleviate matters. Businesses and households are being pushed to a financial breaking point."

"This Government," said one person responding to the Councillor's post, "is underestimating the support that's out there for the fuel protests. It's time for a national day of protest against the cost of living in Ireland."

Another said: "Home heating oil is almost double the price that it was in December. Blockade the depots."