AROUND 170 PROTESTERS have gathered outside the Fine Gael national conference in Castlebar this afternoon to protest against water charges.
The protesters assembled in Market Square in the centre of the Mayo town before making their way up to the Royal Theatre where a number of people addressed the demonstrators.
The protest appeared to be organised by the People Before Profit movement with several people wearing luminous PBP branded bibs and councillor Brid Smith among those present.
There were numerous banners and a Sinn Féin flag was also flown by one protester.
Several of those present addressed the crowd including Smith, who accused the government of trying to prevent peaceful protest.
As a number of journalists came out from the conference to cover the protest, Newstalk’s political correspondent Paraic Gallagher was asked to leave:
Follow @oconnellhugh and @TJ_Politics for coverage of the Fine Gael national conference in Castlebar this weekend.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say