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Updated 17.30pm
ANTI-WATER CHARGES protests took place across the country, with the largest in Dublin.
The Right2Water group — the umbrella group supported by trade unions, left politicians and others — did not have any role in organising today’s actions.
Today’s protests were organised by grass root campaigners around the country, with Dublin’s march organised by the Dublin Says No campaign.
There were major disruptions in Dublin, but roads have since re-opened.
Protests
Speaking on the Saturday with Claire Byrne radio programme, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy today said that the water charges issue is not dying.
Asked whether people would be put off by taking part in a march, following comments that were made to President Michael D. Higgins during the week, he said that the Irish people are capable of making their own mind up and said that people won’t be deterred about what one individual said.
He said the issue is going to explode once the bills start to drop in people’s homes.
Protests gathered around the country:
While protesters have begun to gather at Dublin’s Heuston Station:
And at Stephen’s Green:
Moving around Dublin city was difficult:
And this was this morning in Wexford:
In Cork, a massive protest is reported, with one report putting the number of protesters at between 20,000 and 25,000. This is on the South Mall:
They were marching in Galway, too:
TheJournal.ie was out on the streets of Dublin asking people why they were marching today.
Lorraine from Tallaght, who was walking on crutches said that people have had enough with the current government.
“They have tried to blacken protesters as they have nothing else on us. We are just normal people, everyday people, who are saying no more. We are in debt, we are losing our homes, people are taking their lives, and enough is enough. We won’t take it,” she said.
“Every age group is here, it is a peaceful protest,” she added.
John from Finglas said that the slogan today is “No way, we won’t pay”. He said that he is broken by the taxes he has to pay, but said while he has no problem paying his taxes, this one is just “too far”.
He said that the government are “shooting themselves in the foot” by not listening to the people, but said that message will be delivered to them “loud and clear” at the ballot boxes.
Here are protesters waving to each other across the Liffey river today:
Here are the two Dublin crowds converging on O’Connell Street:
Two people were arrested by gardaí today for public order offences.
Photos show that there appear to have been some minor scuffles between protesters and gardaí at O’Connell Street today.
“It’s time for this government to stand down. They no longer have a mandate from the people, it’s time for them to go,” Derek Byrne of the Dublin Says No group, one of the protest’s organisers.
“The movement has developed into more than just about water, it’s about everything — austerity, the bank bailout, all the cutbacks.”
Richard Boyd Barrett told TheJournal.ie at the Dublin march that the government “tends to talk down the movement”.
“The crowd that has turned up today is a declaration that this movement is not dying, in fact, it is going to escalate once the bills start arriving through people’s post boxes,” said Barrett.
He said that he felt that while the remark made about the president was not right, but he thought it had been “overstated”.
However, one protester approached Barrett to tell him that the remarks against President Higgins were totally “unacceptable” and said that it is that kind of comment from protesters that “makes me want to just pay the thing now”.
We also caught up People Before Profit councillor Brid Smith:
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Source: Christina Finn" title="">A spokesperson for the Minister of the Environment, Alan Kelly, who is spearheading the changes, told AFP there would be “absolutely no change in the government’s position.”
“We have listened to people’s concerns and addressed them and people have certainty, clarity and affordability for charges,” he added.
Additional reporting AFP
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23 years of age. Hope it works out for him. Met a 15 year old on the streets of Dublin last Sunday evening. I sat and chatted. He seemed to enjoy the company. On the street through no fault of his own either, lovely kid and clearly a fighter
Nobody should be on the streets, but at 15 God help him to be in such a vulnerable position. Fair play for not just walking past.
I’m unemployed and can work hard. Currently undergoing the day/week/year from hell … Any chances?
FairPlay very fond of,
Why all the red , no harm in trying anyway possible.
Thank you Patrick – guess all the red thumbers don’t have any vacancies/opportunities
Might not suit but I worked in a call centre before and they’re always hiring especially in sales positions because people get sick of it quick. Target based and can be stressful but Base salary and commission usually.. I worked in a Cork office but I know there’s plenty around the country.. They’ll hire based on motivation and interview alone and where I worked at least no qualification needed. I didn’t mind the work at all but not for everyone!
Ignore all the red thumbs Very Fond Of. They’re just internet trolls wishing nothing better to do. Hope you find something soon. I was made redundant after 12 years and found it hard to find work but after 10 months I finally got something. Wasn’t my ideal job and barely paid me for travelling to and from but after 6 months I applied to another job I really wanted and wishing 2 days had a response for an interview and landed that job. Been in it now almost 10 months and still love it. What I’m saying is take what you can then look if not happy because it’s much easier to get a job when already in one.
The “hell” that I mention above is only partly due to job/money issues. Other traumas this year also. Anyways – thanks for the contributions A B and Andrew .
@very fond of. what skills do you have? it would be useful to know what industry suits.
You should check to see if he is one of those missing kids and contact right people. Goodfor that young man in uUK hope all goes right for him now.
P.s good on that young lad for tweeting it. :)
Hunger is a great source, in the sense he got on with what he had to do with the tools he had available and it worked. I would employ someone with that much enthusiasm and commitment. Hope it works out for you and your new employer.
I heard our government piss on about all the plans they have in place to tackle the crisis on this issue. Once again all looks good on paper.
Gavin Redmond you are right all plans and no jobs.there are plenty of jobs if you are mad enough to accept twenty euros on top of your social welfare.then you have to consider bus fares meals irregular hours.They allow you to work twenty hours a week..but employers are jumping on the wagon and your twenty hours are worked out over five days.This means you are cut off the social welfare.In other words you are working for npothing what ever happened to enda kennys five point plan .AS YOU SAY ALL PAPER AND NO DEACENT JOBS
Homeless kids being sent to school, homeless teenagers sent to college, homeless women finding husbands, homeless men getting jobs, cash offers from all over.
Think I’ll give up my grotty bedsit and head out on the streets.
Better prospects all round.
No milk for the coffee, then. doesn’t it just suck?
Coffee is coffee.
And tobacco is tobacco.
You’re some tool Jack
My grandad was right, hunger is the best sauce!
you know that’s not actually about motivation right?
have your say