Hauliers Bring Protest at High Fuel Prices To Tralee

Kerry hauliers arriving in convoy into town at Rathass Roundabout on Friday 15th September to protest at high fuel prices

They said they'd come .... and they did - but not as many as had been expected. A convoy of about twenty trucks descended on Tralee at 2:05pm on Friday 15th September as part of the nationwide "Go Slow" one-day protest against the Government's refusal to reduce excise duties on fuels.

The trucks' arrival was heralded by the truckers blaring their horns as they travelled at 15mph approx. on their way through the town, causing delays and inconvenience for motorists and other road users, as well as interest and curiosity from onlookers.

However, Gardaí were satisfied with the co-operation that they received from the protesting truckers in helping to ensure that the inconvenience and disturbance caused was kept to a minimum. The Chairman of the Kerry branch of the Irish Road Hauliers Association, Sean O'Sullivan, said that he was disappointed that more support from members was not shown for their day of protest and would have expected more drivers to turn out for the day. While the protestors generally had the support of the general public, two important points helped to significantly reduce the potentially chaotic implications of the day-long campaign:

• the fact that the Olympics was starting on Friday in Sydney and so many workers decided to take the day off and watch proceedings on television and
• many motorists expected massive delays as the campaign had been well heralded and so they decided to make alternative travel arrangements.

All in all, it was a good-humoured and peaceful protest and showed the might of this very powerful lobby group. If further action is taken, it is likely that it will have much more serious consequences. The protestors drove through the town at a snail's pace and then left Tralee to head to Killarney at 4:00pm approx., where they continued their protest until after 6:00pm.