'Time to unite' - Donegal companies to join forces to protest against fuel pricing

A Donegal transport company has called on all bus operators/ hauliers and farmers to join forces in a protest in relation to skyrocketing fuel prices, which have pushed them “to the knees.”

Letterkenny-based McGettigan Travel are urging those in the transport industry in Donegal to get behind the national movement, The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest, to highlight government inactivity to assist the sector.

Those interested are asked to meet at Tesco car park in Letterkenny on Tuesday, April 7, at 6am, where the group will make their way south through Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and Bundoran and then onto Sligo.

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“​To our fellow family-run businesses and the Donegal community,” McGettigan’s posted. “​Like many other operators, for generations, our family has proudly kept this county moving - school runs, sports club outings, hens and stags etc. 

“Like many of you, our business isn't just a company; it’s a legacy passed down from our parents to us, with the hope of one day passing it to our own children. We don't just provide a service—we provide a livelihood for our families and our staff. ​But right now, that legacy is under threat. Put competition aside - it’s time to unite.

“The relentless hike in fuel prices has pushed us to the knees. Every time the price at the pump climbs, it’s the local operators who suffer the most. We have absorbed the costs, we have tightened our belts, and we have done everything possible to keep our wheels turning.

Enough is enough.

“We are asking my fellow operators to do something: Put the competition away. On any other day, we might be "rivals", but today we are all in the same boat. This is our chance to stand together and fight back for our industry. If we don't unite now, there won't be a business left to compete for. We are stronger as one voice than we are as individual companies.

“Come out on Tuesday and protest. Let’s show the strength of the Donegal transport industry. Our livelihoods and our children’s futures depend on it.”

Protesters and industry bodies like the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) have highlighted that over 60% of the price at the pump goes to the government in taxes.

While the government recently cut excise duty by 15c per litre for petrol and 20c for diesel, campaigners argue these measures are insufficient given that some families face an €800 annual increase in electricity and heating costs.

The movement in Donegal comes on the back of The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest, who said: “Unfortunately, we have had no meaningful engagement or progress with the government, so the decision has now been made to proceed with a national protest this Tuesday. Thank you all for the unbelievable support.

“The Gardaí have been notified in advance of Tuesday’s nationwide fuel protest and are aware of the planned convoy routes and meeting points across the country. We ask everyone to protest safely, respectfully, and to keep all emergency routes and hard shoulders clear at all times.”