More than 3,000 protest in Limerick against water charges

More than 3,000 anti-water demonstrators converged on Bedford Row in Limerick city centre today protest over water charges.

Limerick’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street was closed to traffic because of the numbers who have turned out for the second time in a week to demonstrate their anger over planned water charges.

More than 6,000 people took part in a similar protest last Saturday.

Pouring rain didn’t deter the estimated 3,500 people taking part in today’s protest, which saw protestors converge on the city centre from four separate meeting points dotted outside the city centre and its suburbs.

One of the groups marched four kilometres from Westbury in Co Clare. Loud chants of 'Enda Kenny, Not a penny!' was heard from underneath the sea of umbrellas as protestors called on Fine Gael to "look up high and see the water falling from the sky".

Addressing the huge crowds gathered on Bedford Row, David Houlihan who organised the march from Westbury Shopping centres in Co Clare said: "These water charges have absolutely nothing got to do with conservation of water it has nothing got to do with repairing infrastructure.... Let us not forget why we are marching today. We are marching for our elderly, those who are afraid, our children, our vulnerable our sick."