Longford IFA stage council protest

The Longford branch of the Irish Farmers Association say they were happy with the response from local politicians when they brought their 'Enough is Enough' campaign to Áras an Chontae.
Longford IFA and farmers held the protest in advance of Longford County Council's statutory monthly meeting last Wednesday (February 14).

The farmers assembled outside Templemichael College in tractors before driving in convoy to the Council headquarters at Great Water Street.
“We got a great reception,” Longford IFA Chairperson John Sheridan told the Leader, “ We were allotted 10 minutes to address the councillors, but I think we may have spoke for a bit longer.”
The event was Longford IFA's bid to engage with the councillors and deliver a clear message on key farming issues as part of the 'Enough is Enough' campaign.

“We explained to them what's going on. We had a full policy document that we read out to them. I think they were very supportive.
“We outlined the benefit farming is to Longford, the amount of people employed directly and indirectly because of farming,” Mr Sheridan said.
The IFA chair was happy with the local authority's decision to accommodate them: “They will discuss a resolution at their next meeting proposing they formally support the 'Enough is Enough' campaign.
“Cllr Paul Ross was the acting Cathaoirleach, he was happy to accommodate us. The majority of the councillors waited outside the door of Áras an Chontae for us. They welcomed us in,” he said.
The council protest was the second in a fortnight. Farmers from around the county converged on the N4 bypass on the edge of Longford town at the start of the month to show of solidarity for farmers across Europe.
Mr Sheridan says the campaign is in the early stages: “Every county in Ireland is going to have the same campaign with their local authority.

“We will wait to see what response they get before we decide on the next step. The local councillors are part of the government parties, and they have a responsibility to bring our message to the Government.
“We are in talks about doing something for the St Patrick's Day parade. That will be a good way to get our message across to the general public, who have been supportive so far,” he concluded.

Acting Cathaoirleach on the day Paul Ross said he wanted to accommodate the farmers: “It's a good campaign. We were happy to accommodate them and listen to what they had to say.”