Cork Protest Marches

1st Dec 2010

Last Saturday Sinn Féin organised a protest in town for 2pm to coincide with the 60,000 strong rally against the government in the capital.

Ironically the meeting place for Cork's protestors was none other than the Celtic Tiger Cathedral itself, Brown Thomas on Patrick Street so as the handful of 'revolutionaries' assembled they came into rare proximity with shoppers and their fancy branded bags.

Protesting students fill Patrick Street on Wednesday

Marching and chanting through the biting cold wind onlookers filmed the small crowd which barely numbered 150, their faces only matched by the curiousness of a child peering into cages in Fota.

Among the intriguing exhibits was one man who's personal gripe was not with bankers, the IMF, the Department of Finance, NAMA or any other instrument of Ireland's enormous debt. No, his burden is his driving licence. Twelve attempts and still no joy.

Saturday's protest organised by Sinn Fein

Sometimes even the "pros" need to take lessons from the younger generation in how to protest. At Sinn Féin's gathering for some bizarre reason those with loud hailers insisted on facing them away from the crowd so much of Cllr Jonathan O'Brien's speech was lost on the assembled few. Something about burning the bondholders. Who wouldn't agree?

Today hundreds of young students packed Patrick Street with a well organised and heavily marshalled parade of their own. Chanting and singing songs deriding the government for cutbacks and the inevitable fee increases that accompanies diluting Ireland's sovereignty, the students made an impressive impact on the street as lunchtime shoppers were struck by their sudden appearance.