On the same day that the Cork village of Ballyhea celebrated their second anniversary of weekly marches, a group of ordinary people from the Inishowen peninsula gathered for the third Sunday in a row to voice their distrust of the upcoming property tax and other planned austerity measures.
Spokesperson for the weekly gathering, Frankie Lavelle, has extended the invitation to local businesses.
“We would like local business owners to supply at least one representative to attend these short protests. Next year if this property tax is allowed to take a grip on the country, local retailers will find it very difficult to keep their doors open.
“The average householder will be paying around three hundred euro to the Revenue Commissioners. That’s money that our local shops will sorely miss.”
He went on to say that all county councilors, elected by the people, are especially welcome to show their support.
In conjunction with the weekly gatherings the group are also giving the opportunity of protest to everybody, even the housebound, simply by displaying a homemade, or purchased, red flag outside the home.
“A few flags in a neighbourhood, will work wonders in promoting courage, unity, and strength in that area. We cannot allow ourselves to look back on this period in Irish history and say there was nothing we could have done to stop the unfair taxes and sell-off of our natural resources.
“At the rate this government are handing over forests and offshore oil fields, there is no way I will trust them with my home,” said Frankie.
Next Sunday’s gathering will be held in the heart of Buncrana, in the Market Square, at 1:30pm sharp. All are welcome.
For further information please visit “Red Flag Protest” on Facebook.