Shell to Sea Campaigners send message of discontent to Fianna Fáil

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday July 28, 2009 18:51 by Graham - RSC

Yesterday afternoon, Monday the 28th of July, Shell to Sea campaigners organised a demonstration at Glenamoy crossroads Co. Mayo. The crossroads is the access point to Rossport, where Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs Eamon Ó, Cuív had purported to be arriving with the intention of ceremonially launching an already open community center.

However due to other engagements, the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Mayo TD Dara Calleary was sent instead, albeit his journey was severely impaired by opponents to the controversial Corrib gas project.

A group of protesters from the local community as well as activists from the Rossport Solidarity Camp dissatisfied with having their voices ignored, decided to express their discontent by congregating around the ministers car preventing him from proceeding into Rossport.

Despite a Garda presence two individuals emerged from the crowd and covered the windscreen of the government car in red and yellow paint, the colours being synonymous with the multi-national Shell oil company.

Calleary was forced to turn back, however he returned some two hours later after swapping his paint smeared Audi for a Garda jeep.