'Tractorcade' gathers momentum as it heads for Dublin

Hundreds of farmers protesting against falling farm incomes are resting for the night ahead of their descent on Dublin for a rally outside the Department of Agriculture offices tomorrow.

Today is the fourth day of the protest, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), which has seen farmers from all over the country joining tractor convoys that have snaked eastwards, causing major traffic disruption.

Up to 2,000 tractors were involved in today's action.The convoys are currently on the outskirts of the city.

The majority of the tractors will begin the return journey tonight, the IFA and the Gardaí having agreed that only 300 vehicles will be allowed to enter the city in an effort to prevent massive traffic chaos.

Tomorrow morning, six separate convoys, from Swords, Ashbourne, Clonee, Maynooth, Naas and Bray, will travel into the city centre to converge at Merrion Square. They will consist of about 50 tractors each.

Gardaí said they will escort each convoy and will use bus lanes and motorway sections where possible to minimise traffic disruption. The protest will also be monitored by the Garda Air Support.

The protest at Merrion Square is expected to end at around 2.00 p.m. and each convoy will return to its original starting point, again under Garda escort.

Gardaí said that they expect there will be no disruption to early morning traffic into the capital, but there will be some delays in the afternoon.

The AA is advising drivers to avoid the demonstration routes wherever possible.

• Routes to IFA protest in Dublin tomorrow

• Arklow, Co Wicklow to Bray/Shankill on N11;
• Kilkenny to Carlow and onto Naas, Co Kildare, on N7;
• Durrow & Mountrath, (both Co Laois) to Naas, Co Kildare;
• Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, & Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, to Maynooth on N4;
• Cavan to Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, on N3;
• Ardee, Co Louth, to Ashbourne, Co Meath, on N2;
• Castlebellingham, Co Louth, to Swords, Co Dublin, on N1.