Rally in Athlone against Mercosur deal

A national protest against a controversial free trade deal between the EU and South America’s Mercosur bloc will be staged in Athlone this Saturday, January 11th. Similar protests have taken place around the EU.

Organised by Midlands-North West MEP Ciarán Mullooly, Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice and with the backing of major farming organisations, the rally will send out “a clear and unified message” to the Government that Irish farmers and farm families are saying “NO to Mercosur”.

Both MEP Mullooly and Deputy Fitzmaurice have warned that the Mercosur deal poses an “existential threat” to the Irish beef sector, “comparable to the devastation Brexit inflicted on the fishing industry”.

There are fears among the farming community here and in Europe that the deal, which is now entering its final ratification stage, will lead to cheap imports of South American commodities, notably beef, that do not meet the EU's green and food safety standards.

The Athlone protest, starting at 11 a.m., will include a tractor and vehicle cavalcade around the town. It will cross the River Shannon and end in a rally at the indoor sports arena at the Technological University of The Shannon (formerly AIT -Athlone Regional Technical College) on the old Dublin Road.

Organisers say that traffic on the N61 from Ganly’s roundabout on the Roscommon road out of Athlone back to Roscommon Town will be extremely busy with tractors and lorries. 

Local residents should expect delays from 9am to 4pm Saturday.