Race puts protest on the big stage

The protesters camped at the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow took their anti-roads protest to a wider audience yesterday - thanks to the Tour de France.

After several days of having their banners tidied away by Wicklow County Council, the warriors were out early yesterday with new banners in three languages, making their case against the £18 million road-widening scheme between Kilmacanogue and the southern end of the Glen.

Some of the protesters hung posters from the trees as others positioned signs so as to best be seen from the helicopter camera crews.

However, it was all good-natured stuff as gardai, protesters and members of the Civil Defence chatted and cheered as the pre-race cavalcade went past.

Down the road at the Delgany junction of the M11 several hundred sightseers, some with picnics, had gathered from about 11 a.m. to see the cavalcade and, at 12.20 p.m. to see the race itself speed by in all of 30 seconds.

The excitement was repeated in villages down Wicklow's east coast as the race, like an exotic Mexican wave, flashed by.

In Rathdrum, members of a local pipe band in full regalia abandoned their rendition of Slievenamon in favour of reggae music played from loudspeakers.

Up on Wicklow Gap the chairman of Wicklow County Council, Mr Pat Vance, professed himself delighted with the atmosphere and colour of the event.

Speaking to East Coast Radio, Mr Vance said the scene was "just like the Alps with thousands of people taking advantage of the longer views" as the race climbed into the hills.

It was, he said, a great occasion. Wicklow was the best place to enjoy the race and the Gap was the best place to be in Wicklow to soak up the carnival atmosphere, he added.