Huge turnout for athlone water charges protest

Around 1,500 people from across the midlands took to the streets of Athlone town last Saturday, November 1, to voice their opposition to the impending water charges.

The Athlone march was held as part of the ‘National Right 2 Water Rally’, which saw protests being held in various towns and villages across Ireland in a national day of protest against the charges.

Protesters started off in St Peter’s Square on Saturday afternoon and made their way through the town, towards Golden Island, and back to a rally near the civic centre on Church Street. Several local politicians joined the march, including Independent Cllr Kevin “Boxer” Moran, Fianna Fáil Cllr Aengus O’Rourke and Sinn Féin Cllr Paul Hogan.

Anti-austerity campaigner Geraldine Hudson addressed the crowd at the rally: “We will show this government they can have their power for now, but the Irish people are going to show them our power,” she said. “We put them in and we can take them out.”