Today's protests in Galway

galway | eu | news report Saturday January 17, 2004 01:47 by Orla Ni Chomhrai nichomhrai at eircom dot net

Hi all,

Just a quick run down on today's protests in Galway.

Over 300 attended today's protest in Galway which were held under the banner 'Another Europe is possible', and which had the heading No to War, Racism and Privatisation. Groups which attended this protest (judging from personal information and the banners and placards) were Galway Alliance Against War, Galway Anti-Capitalist Movement, Galway Travellers Support Group, Green Party, SWP, Sinn Féin, members of the grassroots network, union and trades council members, members of the labour party, taxi drivers, Nunca Mais, Save the Tress, Women in Media and Entertainment, Global women's strike, refugees and anti-racism campaigners, fair trade campaigners, and just members of the general public. (Can anyone else add anything I have left out?).

The demo had a good atmosphere and was very lively. We gathered at the top of Eyre Square and fairly quickly moved down to the bottom of Eyre Square when we realised that ministers were arriving in the Great Southern. We were kept back a bit from the Hotel, though some people managed to get in closer but were quickly moved by police (on horse back, no less). People stayed in Eyre Square for a good while chanting. There was no easy way to march to the Radisson as we had originally planned, so many people just stayed in Eyre Square for a while and went home. Some people did go on to the Radisson. At least 2 were arrested for obstruction (of traffic) - probably for a sit down protest in the middle of the road. I will update on this issue as I get the information.

There were earlier protests on 'Save the Trees' and the connemara fishermen. All of the protests were peaceful. There were many complaints (not just from people out on the protest) about the amount of money which was spent on security, and on the whole thing. I never saw so many guards in my life. They had a helicopter going all day. I heard from a reliable source that they even had a water cannon available to them. The Guards were also not clear enough about road restrictions which caused a lot of frustration.

I was very pleased with our own 'Another Europe' protest and think that it was a success. I hope that it will encourage people around the country.