Irish farmers have protested up and down the country in a show of solidarity with their counterparts across Europe.
While a large independent demonstration was held into the early hours of Friday morning outside the Athlone Springs Hotel, a number of separate protests took place during Thursday, believed to be in every county across Ireland, organised by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
Farmers protesting outside ICSA conference in Athlone Springs Hotel pic.twitter.com/gQXSFy7NeZ
— gript (@griptmedia) February 1, 2024
It came after the IFA agreed to the action following a meeting of its National Council on Wednesday night, with IFA President Francie Gorman announcing that farmers would turn out around the country “in solidarity with their EU counterparts.” The representative body said action would take place in every county across Ireland.
Farmers’ protests have been sweeping Europe in the last number of months, with demonstrations intensifying in France, Belgium and Germany in recent days. Farmers say they have no choice but to take to the streets over rising costs, smaller margins, and climate policies, which they say are putting their livelihoods at risk.
Irish farmers have highlighted that they are facing declining sale prices, coupled with increasing costs, regulation, cheap foreign imports and climate change – which are all within an EU agricultural system which they say is having disastrous consequences.
They have said they are in a fight for survival amid heavy bureaucracy and regulations from the EU, and many protesters insisted they would not stop protesting until the government listens to their demands.
In addition, the state’s commitment to achieving targets on climate emissions will require that almost 200,000 cattle will have to be destroyed over a three year period. It is estimated that the national livestock herd will need to be reduced by 740,000 in the longer term.The scheme, which is described as voluntary (but targets are mandatory) has been at the centre of international criticism, and was another reason cited by farmers for the action.
In Limerick, local Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue was among those who attended a farmers’ protest last night.
“These are food producers, our dairy producers, our beef producers – they support our transport network, and they support you, whether you’re rural or urban,” the Independent Ireland politician said in a video posted to social media.
Deputy O’Donoghue accused the government of being “out of touch with reality,” and said the action was only “a small taste” of what was to come from frustrated farmers:
Deputy Richard O'Donoghue General Secretary of Independent Ireland joining the farmers of Limerick this evening to send a clear message to the government.
Independent Ireland will hold the government to account. We will stand up for the farmers of Ireland. We will stand up for… pic.twitter.com/Eicy47zAUm
— Independent Ireland (@independent_ire) February 1, 2024
Limerick dairy farmer Louise Crowley said the protest was about sending a message to the government that “we aren’t happy.”
“We have shown huge support for our fellow European farmers and sent a message to our government that we aren’t happy. We are frustrated and we can rally the support, even during the calving & lambing season,” she said.
Limerick Farmers saying #EnoughIsEnough!
We have shown huge support for our fellow European farmers and sent a message to our government that we aren’t happy. We are frustrated and we can rally the support, even during the calving & lambing season. #LimerickIFA @IFAmedia pic.twitter.com/jHBHT4cQcs
— Louise Crowley (@CrowleyLouise) February 1, 2024
Tractors also took to the streets across county Cork – with huge demonstrations seen from Cork City to West Cork, as farmers sent an unequivocal message that “enough is enough.”
“No farmers, no food, no future,” was the call of one young farmer who spoke at a protest in Cork City.
Farmers head from Carrigtwohill to Cork as part of the nationwide solidarity protest. pic.twitter.com/SECUYLZqvN
— Irish Farmers Journal (@farmersjournal) February 1, 2024
West Cork #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/ujFgaAPvZm
— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) February 1, 2024
Counties Clare, Donegal, Tipperary and Longford all saw farmers take to the roads, attending a string of demonstrations. Tractors also blocked roads in Dublin on Thursday night, with support shown across social media for the demonstrations:
🇮🇪 Irish farmer protest: Tractorcade in North Dublin pic.twitter.com/qxtHKYuiua
— Michael Murphy (@michaelmurph_y) February 1, 2024
Irish farmers uniting and protesting in Dublin last night 👏🏻
English farmers next? pic.twitter.com/Q8Z7xKSAKN
— Active Patriot (@ActivePatriotUK) February 2, 2024
One farmer in attendance at a protest in Dublin told journalist Michael Murphy that he was attending the protest in support of the French farmers, adding that his own sons would not farm “unless there is radical change.”
🇮🇪 Irish farmer protest: Tractorcade in North Dublin pic.twitter.com/qxtHKYuiua
— Michael Murphy (@michaelmurph_y) February 1, 2024
“I’m out here to support the French farmers because the whole farming community right across Europe are being decimated by politicians and the Green agenda — which is demonising farmers as criminals in food production,” he said.
🇮🇪 Irish farmer protest: “I’m out here to support the French farmers because the whole farming community right across Europe are being decimated by politicians and the Green agenda — which is demonising farmers as criminals in food production.” pic.twitter.com/7nzpMRRwZR
— Michael Murphy (@michaelmurph_y) February 1, 2024
He said people must accept that farmers need to produce food, but “under current circumstances, we can’t do it.”
Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪
Irish Farmers are uniting against green agendas.#IrishFarmers pic.twitter.com/E7FsdAvrp1
— RM.tv🇮🇪 (@RealMessageEire) February 1, 2024
Similar scenes spilled across Galway, with farmers lining the streets of the city:
Galway farmers have gathered here in Carnmore before heading into Galway city. @IFAmedia @farmersjournal pic.twitter.com/7CQtRKhXlo
— Amy Forde (@amyforde6) February 1, 2024
Protests also reached Kerry, where a convoy of farmers took to the streets:
Kerry #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/kQSOq5rroZ
— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) February 1, 2024
Action spilled into Portlaoise and Letterkenny, where it was reported that there was “generally a high level of support” from night time commuters:
The protest has now moved to both lanes in and out of Letterkenny towards the Polestar. Generally a high level of support from commuters I’m talking to who are caught up. Although many asking what the protest is for. pic.twitter.com/uWxnpO4eFe
— Stephen Robb (@StephenRobbDL) February 1, 2024
#Portlaoise @farmersjournal @IFAmedia pic.twitter.com/JF6iLJ3oEq
— Noel Gavigan (@NoelGavigan) February 1, 2024
Speaking on RTE Prime Time, the IFA’s newly elected president Francie Gorman said Ireland was likely to see more protests from farmers in the weeks to come.
Mr Gorman said farmers were seeking policy to be implemented at national level that is “workable,” as he cited last year’s decision to cut the nitrate derogation limits from 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare to 220kg per hectare.
He said a “flawed review” had been carried out by the Department of Agriculture regarding the cuts, with “little or no consultation of farm bodies” and “announced as a done deal.”
“The commissioner came over and he basically gave the two fingers to farmers. He didn’t even visit a farm,” he told the programme. “He met with officials in Dublin and went back home. That’s not the type of engagement we need at farm level if we’re going to have policies that are workable at farm level.
“We need the government to sit down with us when they are formulating these policies at farm level to make sure that when they come out to us that they’re working, and to be fair [regarding] the funding side of it.
“We have a capped budget that is essentially frozen for twenty years, and in that time we’ve had the enlargement of the European Union. If they want to fund a level of ambition, particularly environmental ambition, they are going to have to come up with increased funding, not through an agriculture budget – but through an environmental budget.”
'Is that it, or will we see more?'@MiriamOCal asks new IFA President, Francie Gorman, whether we're likely to see more protests from farmers in the coming weeks. #rtept | @rtenews pic.twitter.com/aFo3bPjCa4
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) February 1, 2024
Farmers in Athlone who attended the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association’s AGM and annual conference, meanwhile, stayed late into the early hours of the morning in the hope of speaking to Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue. It was a separate protest to those organised by the IFA, having been organised by an individual tractor protest group.
Those in attendance included Tipperary farmer Maurice, who runs popular farming blog and YouTube channel, The Long Acre. He expressed disappointment that the Minister had not engaged with the farmers.
“He did not have the integrity to come out and tell people anything. He refused to engage with the men he is there to represent as the Minister for Agriculture, which is just beyond disgraceful,” the young farmer said.
NOW: Irish farmers are gathering to protest in large numbers outside the Athlone Springs Hotel, where Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is attending the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association's AGM and annual conference. pic.twitter.com/c4cUiMv3An
— gript (@griptmedia) February 1, 2024