Farmers from around county Longford took part in a tractor protest yesterday evening

Farmers from around county Longford took part in a tractor protest yesterday evening in the county town to show solidarity with farmers across Europe.

Protestors assembled at the Padraic Collum roundabout on the edge of the town in tractors just before 6.30pm. Over 50 vehicles joined the convoy before it drove along the bypass then on through the town centre.

Speaking on the decision to organise the nationwide protest IFA President, Francie Gorman said: “Farmers here have been watching the protests across Europe. They are just as frustrated by what is happening as farmers in other countries. They feel they are being regulated out of business by Brussels bureaucrats and Department of Agriculture officials who are far removed from the reality of day-to-day farming.”

Mr Gorman continued: “Irish farmers are pro-EU, but there is mounting frustration about the impact of EU policy on European farmers, and its implementation here in Ireland. The general feeling amongst farmers across the EU is that ‘enough is enough’,” he said.

There was a huge turnout at the Longford event as tractors lined up on both sides of the bypass before they went in convoy through the town.