Protest over fuel prices planned for Roscommon
Traffic down to a crawl on Carrick Bridge with a large tailback along the N4. Pic: Gerry Faughnan
A protest to block both sides of the N61 at Knockcroghery on the main Roscommon Town to Athlone road is set to get underway this morning.
The Roscommon protest, which will also hit Roscommon Town, is part of a nationwide protest in towns and villages around the country today, Sunday over the rising price of fuel.
Organisers say that “this isn’t just about disruption — it’s about being heard. It’s about showing that ordinary people have had enough and are no longer willing to sit back while decisions are made without us.
“For too long, we’ve been told to wait, to accept, to stay quiet. But change doesn’t come from silence — it comes from action. It comes from people showing up, standing shoulder to shoulder, and saying “enough is enough.” If you’ve ever felt frustrated, ignored, or pushed aside, this is your moment. Your voice matters. Your presence matters.
"Let’s get out, stand together, and show that we are stronger when we act as one. This is about all of us. Be there. Stand up. Be counted.”
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Moylan has expressed his “full and total support for the people who continue to work in agri and on the road. As someone with deep roots in both farming and road haulage, this has been my working life from an early age and well into adulthood. My late father instilled in me a strong work ethic grounded in these industries.”
Cllr Moylan went on to say that “the agri and haulage sectors are the backbone of rural Ireland, and it’s vital that we come through this crisis with their financial stability intact.
“The cost of fuel—especially diesel (green and white) —has become unsustainable, even in light of our very welcome €250 million government intervention, (diesel would have been €2.40). It's time for Government to move again on tax, and I’m hopeful that Government talks with representative bodies from farming, contractors and hauliers will lead to meaningful progress, allowing people to return to work as soon as possible. I'm sure the Government will work with these bodies to try to find a pathway forward from this and I'm also confident that all at the table will do likewise.
“No one in these industries wants to be parked on the hard shoulder, blocking infrastructure or sleeping in tractors. They want to work, provide, and keep the country moving—and they deserve the support to do so.
“But we also must also remember the wider impact - fuel stations need replenishing, emergency vehicles need clear roads to reach their destinations, and people need to be able to travel hospital appointments to work and education. It’s not just about economics—it’s about keep Ireland functioning,” said Cllr Moylan.
