Angry farmers protest at M6 opening

Date Published: 30-Jul-2009

ANGRY farmers made their feelings perfectly clear as they drowned out theTaoiseach with calls for a reversal of farm payments cuts, as Brian Cowen attempted to officially open the latest completed stretch of the M6 last Thursday.

A noisy chorus of boos and chants calling on the Government to “reverse the cuts” greeted the Taoiseach as he arrived at the road opening ceremony half way between Ballinasloe and Athlone.

Several hundred farmers from IFA branches in Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath disrupted the speeches that were delivered after Mr Cowen unveiled a roadside plaque to mark the official opening of the 19 kilometres stretch of the M6 linking both towns.

There was a large Garda presence on the M6, but the farmers agreed to stay behind the road’s central dividing barrier as they voiced their disgust at the farm payment cuts in no uncertain manner.

Michael Silke, Connacht vice President of the IFA, pledged that farmers would “bring the Government to heel no matter how long it takes”, before accusing them of “tearing the heart out of rural Ireland.”

“We have been kicked in the teeth and we have taken enough. We are prepared to stand up and fight,” he told the protesting farmers who used hooters and loudspeakers in an attempt to drown out the speeches made by the Taoiseach and other dignitaries.

Mr. Cowen said…