Up to 500 fuel stations could be without supply; Cork GAA fixtures cancelled
There is a large garda presence now in Whitegate. Picture: Larry Cummins
Ireland’s National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) has been told that the number of fuel stations without supply could rise to 500 on Friday as fuel protests continue.
The NECG, which brings together a number of Government departments and State agencies, met on Friday.
A statement said: “Three national fuel depots at Whitegate refinery, Shannon Foynes port and the Port of Galway remain restricted due to the blockades, and movement at the three sites is extremely limited.
“More than 100 fuel stations are currently out of supply, with the number potentially rising to 500 today. The NECG heard that there are approximately 1,500 fuel stations nationwide.
“The NECG also heard that there is growing concern from international shipping companies about the ability to offload stock at some Irish ports and are monitoring the ongoing impact of these delays on their operations.
“The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) continues to engage closely with the fuel sector.”
The NECG also warned the public to only buy the fuel they need to ease supply issues.
It said people are “continuing to miss scheduled health appointments due to travel issues” caused by the fuel protests.
It stated: “The provision of health and social care services is affected, including the provision of home care and critical care such as dialysis and cancer treatment.
“It is critical that clear and safe access to healthcare settings is available for all working across our healthcare services, including those who work in our hospitals and those treating and supporting people in their homes or in community settings, for example home care workers and those delivering the Meals on Wheels service.
“Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family. The critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services must be respected to ensure that access to care is never compromised.
“The HSE is advising people who missed appointments due to the disruption to contact the relevant service that they had their appointment for and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.”
Cork advocate for the elderly Paddy O’Brien has expressed concern over the impact the fuel crisis will have on the Meals on Wheels service.
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities, helping to combat hunger and isolation in communities across the country.
Mr O'Brien told : “Many of the recpiants of the daily meals are housebound, with large numbers unable to prepare food for themselves.
“The current petrol and fuel situation could I feel create serious problems in relation to Meals on Wheels.
“Petrol has become scarce. The operators of the scheme, many who work in a voluntary capacity, will be affected very seriously.
“I would make a very special appeal to neighbours of the people who receive Meals on Wheels, keep an eye out for them when they are going through this tough time.
“Neighbours have a very important role to play during the petrol crisis."
He added: “We all must be more vigilant in relation to senior citizens in our own specific areas.
“What I have noticed is that about senior citizens that I have worked with for many years, they are exceptionally very slow to discuss their lifestyle with anyone and may not make the first move looking for help.
“I have been saying for many years a knock on the door of a senior citizen could save a life.
“The most vulnerable here are those who live alone. If you know a person living alone that receives Meals on Wheels and are slow to approach them, please tell someone.”
A standoff is under way between protesters and gardaí in Whitegate.
Protesters left the original blockade site and are now at the far side of the garda cordon, stopping trucks from accessing the oil refinery.
One protester climbed on top of a fuel truck and waved a Tricolour flag.
There won’t be a single underage GAA fixture played in Cork this weekend as the county’s juvenile body, Rebel Óg, has postponed all games fixed for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to the ongoing fuel crisis.
Off the back of their decision on Thursday to postpone all juvenile games for that evening because of the fuel shortage and consequent traffic chaos, the latest Rebel Óg dispatch has confirmed the postponement of all hurling and football games scheduled for the next three days.
“We will be observing the situation over the weekend and we will let clubs know by lunchtime, Monday 13, where Rebel Óg stands at that time.”
Ongoing protests across Cork are causing major disruption to Bus Éireann services today, with multiple routes curtailed, diverted, or cancelled. The latest updates are as follows:
Route 241: Services are currently unable to serve Trabolgan and Whitegate due to protests in the area.
Route 261: Services are currently unable to serve Ballinacurra due to protests in the area.
Route 51: Due to ongoing disruptions, Route 51 services will operate only between Cork and Limerick until further notice.
At Limerick, a connecting bus will be provided to transport passengers travelling onwards to Shannon Airport.
3.25pm: ex Cork to Galway is cancelled.
5:25pm: ex Cork to Galway is cancelled.
Bus Éireann said a number of other services may experience disruptions and delays over the course of the day.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time for any bus journeys today.
Protesters say they are not leaving the blockade at Whitegate oil refinery until some assurances are given on lowering fuel costs.
The cost of fuel has essentially doubled in just four weeks which is placing unbearable pressure on people in his sector, said agricultural contractor Dan McAuliffe.
Although Ireland cannot control the price of oil on international markets, the Government can adjust the tax rate on it. That needs to happen urgently to give hauliers and agricultural contractors a chance, he said.
“We need help because it's not sustainable what we're doing now. It's the mental impact it's going to have on people across the board. The pressure's on farmers, on hauliers, on customers.
"The mental health strain it's going to put on people down the line is going to be scary. And that's what is coming, when lads can't pay bills, when they've a shed loads of animals outside that they can't feed, they can't provide for. That's going to put a crazy mental strain on people."
His colleague Niall Linehan said they are out there protesting at Whitegate for lower fuel costs to help "the whole country".
"Everyone is standing outside here in the last few days, day and night, and they're supporting the whole country across the board. Whether it's home heating oil, it's the petrol, diesel, everyone is sick of [the cost of] it.
"We're getting unbelievable support from the public. It’s uplifting to see that the public are behind us."
Gardaí have now secured an entry point into Whitegate oil refinery.
Layers of barriers have been erected by gardaí at the blockade at Whitegate, effectively blocking protesters within the protest area.
Two fuel trucks entered this afternoon, with permission from protesters, to ensure that emergency services had fuel and homes were not deprived of heating oil.
But one protester said they now feel like they have been 'double-crossed' after the barriers were raised and access to Whitegate was secured by the State.
Cork politicians have urged the Government to engage directly with organisers of the ongoing fuel protests, warning that public anger in the region is deepening as the crisis worsens.
Social Democrat TD for Cork East Liam Quaide told
that the Government should engage directly with the organisers if it “wants to help defuse a situation that is clearly worsening".
He said: “There is no doubt that a great many people are angry, frustrated, and under severe pressure at the moment.
“The cost-of-living crisis has left households squeezed from every direction by rising bills, housing costs, childcare costs, and the everyday expense of simply getting by.
“That anger is real, and it should not be dismissed.”
Mr Quaide said that although everybody has the right to protest in a democracy, “the escalation we have seen in recent days, including the blockading of fuel depots, motorways, and large parts of central Dublin, is now causing more harm and division than any good it is achieving".
"That kind of action is hitting commuters, workers, and businesses who are already dealing with the very same cost-of-living pressures as those taking part in the protests," he said.
“Critical infrastructure should not be obstructed, and the decision to call in Defence Forces support may well be justified in those circumstances.
" That, however, comes with the risk of inflaming the situation further and prior to that happening we need to see an attempt by government to de-escalate by engaging with the protesters.
“The answer, however, is not to paralyse essential infrastructure. The answer is to actually reduce the pressure on households.”
Cork North West Sinn Féin senator Nicole Ryan said the Government needs to act in relation to the fuel protests.
“Leadership means listening, engaging, and acting. Right now, people feel ignored, and that must change,” she said.
“This situation is not going away. People need real supports, real engagement, and real leadership. It’s time for those elected to represent Cork North West to find their voice and use it.
“This is not about politics, this is about people. Farmers trying to keep their businesses going, workers trying to get to their jobs and families trying to heat their homes. They deserve representation, not silence.”
Ireland is on the “precipice of turning oil away from the country”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Speaking on RTÉ radio on Friday afternoon, Mr Martin said the blockading of ports and a refinery by fuel protesters was “unconscionable”.
He said that “somebody else could buy” oil that is on a tanker off the coast of Galway if it can not dock.
Asked if Ireland is at risk of “losing all its oil supply”, Mr Martin replied “correct”.
“It is unconscionable, it’s illogical,” he said.
Amid travel fears due to the fuel protests, Cork Airport has issued a statement to The Echo regarding people with travel plans over the weekend.
It said: "Passengers who are flying from Cork Airport over the coming days are advised to be mindful of potential traffic disruption and to leave additional time for their journey to the airport."
The chief executive of Cork Chamber has appealed to fuel protesters to stand down as the ongoing protest is causing “a major disruption” to business operations across the county.
Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said the ongoing protest and road blockages are having “a significant impact on business operations, commuters and the general public" across Cork.
“The situation has escalated considerably over the past 24 hours in Cork, resulting in major disruption for businesses and communities in the city and county,” said Mr Healy.
“Protests blocking access to the Port of Cork and the Ringaskiddy area are a cause for serious concern, impacting critical national trade routes and essential economic activity across many sectors.
“The ongoing blockages have also resulted in serious disruption for the many businesses operating in the area and the considerable number of workers commuting to and from these businesses.
“The ongoing situation at the oil refinery in Whitegate represents another considerable escalation of current disruption,” he added.
“Blockages of fuel transport and delivery at the refinery have a serious impact on the supply of fuel across the country and will have far-reaching consequences for all sectors of the economy and society if they continue.
“It is unacceptable that forecourts are running dry unnecessarily and this cannot be allowed to continue.” Cork Chamber president, Rob Horgan, said the organisation has "actively engaged with government on the impact of increased energy costs on the business community and will continue to advocate for supports to mitigate the impact of the rising cost burden on businesses”.
“While many businesses have genuine concerns about rising costs and the ongoing energy situation as a result of the current geopolitical environment, the current and ongoing actions are having a disproportionate impact on businesses, particularly SMEs, and communities across the country,” said Mr Horgan.
“Current road and facilities blockages in Cork will have a national knock-on impact on many sectors of the economy, disrupting vital fuel supplies and trade flows.
“Meaningful engagement through the appropriate and established channels must be prioritised in the days ahead, with an immediate end to the ongoing blockages to avoid further disruption to businesses and communities.
“Any prolonged period of disruption to business operations, fuel supply, trade and transport will have a serious lasting impact on Ireland’s economy.”
The Garda public order unit is now at the scene.
in Cork remain “stable” amid fuel scarcity, despite predictions that more than 200 fuel stations across the county are expected to run dry this morning.
Second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade Victor Shine told that while their fleet of emergency trucks are not currently in danger of running low on fuel, “it is always a concern”.
“We’re stable at the moment, so we’re not panicking,” said Mr Shine.
“We have a minimum supply of fuel ourselves that we fuel in-station, but we do need trucks to keep us topped up.
“We’re supported by some of our surrounding petrol stations on both the North and South sides of the city, so we can go to them for fuelling when we start to get critical.
“Our trucks use quite a significant amount of diesel when they’re running, it’s not economical driving, we burn up a lot of fuel, so we’re hoping our fuel suppliers will still be able to fill our tanks when we need it.
“If we have to go to those stations we’ll make arrangements with them and they may give us slots to come and fuel up,” he added.
“The emergency vehicles aren’t so bad, it’s staff coming in – when they run short on fuel, we could run short on staff, so it is getting a little bit more concerning.
"We’ll be relying on our neighbouring stations to look after us in a crisis.”
Mr Shine additionally said that due to a mixture of road blockades, road works and slow-moving convoys, the fire service is “exceptionally busy” as crews are responding to an increased number of road traffic collisions.
“We’re hoping that wherever the protests are, they will continue to allow emergency vehicles through,” said Mr Shine.
“We are exceptionally busy, we are dealing with life and death situations and I wouldn’t want to come out tomorrow saying that someone has died because we were blocked by a protest, but so far, we haven’t had a problem.
“People are now going from main roads to secondary roads, travelling at the same speed they would on main roads, and road traffic collisions are increasing due to that.
“It’s all vehicles that are using these roads now, and they’re not always the best for commercial vehicles or large volumes of traffic to be on.
“People are under pressure, stress levels are increased, so it’s a recipe for disaster.”
More gardaí have arrived at the Whitegate protest.
In Whitegate, locals brought donuts to protesters standing in heavy rain at the blockade and tents have been erected to provide shelter and hot drinks have also been provided.
has noted the following disruption to services in the South region today:
Route 223 08:15 South Mall to Carrigmahon - Cancelled 09:00 Carrigmahon to South Mall - Cancelled Route 223, 225 & 225L
Due to ongoing disruptions, services are unable to serve Shanbally and Pfizer Ringaskiddy stops util further notice.
Route 51 Due to ongoing disruptions, Route 51 services will operate only between Cork and Limerick until further notice.
At Limerick, a connecting bus will be provided to transport passengers travelling onwards to Shannon Airport.
07:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled from Limerick to Galway 08:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled 09:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled from Limerick to Galway 10:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled 11:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled from Limerick to Galway 12:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled 13:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled from Limerick to Galway 14:25 Cork to Galway - Cancelled
- Due to ongoing protests across Cork City and surrounding areas, a number of services may experience disruptions and delays today.
Please be advised that some routes are currently affected. For further information, please check the Real Time app or visit www.buseireann.ie/rtpi.
Bus Éireann regrets any inconvenience caused to customers and appreciates your understanding.
🔸Route 51🔸 Due to ongoing protests, Route 51 services operating between Cork and Galway (in both directions) may experience significant disruptions, including delays and diversions.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey and to check the website regularly for the latest updates.
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning that he believed an 'intervention' would be announced later today to help with assisting 'the most vulnerable' in the current fuel crisis. Organisations are due to meet with government minister this afternoon in Dublin. He said the government had been working on this 'for a number of weeks'.
The Revenue Commissioners have issued a statement to say they are aware that the rise in fuel and other costs may cause cash flow difficulties for certain individuals and businesses.
"Revenue appreciates that this is a difficult time for those affected and confirms that it will work with taxpayers that have been adversely impacted to ensure that good compliance records can remain on track.
"Today, (10/04/2026), Collector-General, James Twohig outlined that Revenue will engage with any viable business that experiences cash flow difficulties due to the rise in fuel and other costs."
The Collector-General stated that: “Rising fuel and other costs have affected businesses in a variety of ways. Revenue acknowledges that it can be a worrying time in terms of the ability to keep an otherwise good tax compliance record on track. Revenue will adopt a pragmatic approach where businesses have been adversely impacted because of rising fuel costs.” Mr Twohig explained that: “Revenue has a strong track record in successfully agreeing flexible and appropriate payment arrangements where businesses are facing temporary cash flow difficulties, and we will work with those affected by rising fuel and other costs to take their financial circumstances and capacity to pay into account.
"I would strongly encourage affected taxpayers to take the following practical steps: continue to send in your tax returns on time, and engage early with us if you run into, or are facing, difficulty in paying your tax.
Rather than hope that such payment difficulties will resolve in time, my advice to taxpayers adversely impacted by rising fuel and other costs is to proactively engage with Revenue to agree mutually suitable arrangements.”
Protests are continuing in Whitegate this morning outside the Irving Oil Refinery as gardaí are reported to have arrived on the scene and are engaging in conversation with the protest organisers. Protests at other key locations around the country, including on the Macroom bypass, are continuing once again.
There are reports of more filling stations having run dry on fuel overnight.
The HSE South West has said it is actively managing the emerging fuel supply issue in the region that has the potential to impact service delivery across Cork and Kerry.
As a precaution, local contingency plans have been activated, and senior management teams are maintaining close operational oversight to ensure the continued safety of patients and staff. Critical services, including emergency care, urgent patient transport and time‑sensitive treatments (e.g. dialysis, oncology, complex paediatric cases, bowel care, urgent care etc.) will be prioritised.
Services have been directed to review staffing, transport, supplies and discharge arrangements to minimise disruption, and non‑urgent activity may be deferred where necessary.
HSE South West added that it is working closely with national colleagues and relevant agencies to monitor the situation, and advises the public attending appointments to contact the service directly, if they are concerned about being late or missing their appointment.
Protest organisers have said there will be rolling protests once again in Cork tomorrow morning, from 9am. Locations will include
Midleton, Watergrasshill, Ballincollig, Mallow, Macroom, Clonakilty, Ballyhooly and surrounding county routes.
Acute petrol and diesel shortages have hit Cork with multiple service stations now empty in the city and county.
Cork has been particularly badly hit by the protests, said Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan.
Panic buying in Cork City is driving the problem, he said.
Some stations in Cork are now managing demand, limiting the volumes of fuel that they will dispense in any one transaction.
Mr McPartlan urged motorists to avoid buying fuel on Thursday if they did not need it. “We’ll be in a much better position tomorrow,” he said.
“Once access to the refinery in Cork and the terminals in Foynes and Galway are reopened. we will catch up within a couple of days. It's not an existential threat to supply.”
A fuel protester in a high-vis jacket has confronted Taoiseach Micheál Martin at an event in West Cork on Thursday afternoon.
Gerard Murphy, a farmer and contractor from Bandon, attempted to prevent Mr Martin from entering the newly refurbished Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhuirne.
Mr Murphy waited outside the refurbished Campas Íosagáin while Mr Martin was welcomed there on Thursday afternoon, and when the Taoiseach reached the door, Mr Murphy attempted to prevent him from entering.
“What are you going to do about the diesel?” Mr Murphy asked the Taoiseach.
Mr Martin did not engage, but had to push past him to enter the new co-working facility, at which point Mr Murphy accused the Taoiseach of “walking away from the Irish people”.
A garda detective then prevented Mr Murphy from entering the building.
Afterwards, Mr Murphy told The Echo he hadn’t slept in three days.
“I’m a contractor, a farmer, and a truck driver, we’re involved in everything, and all our businesses are on their knees,” he said.
“You can see the amount of lorries [in Macroom] protesting, that have stopped work.
“Fuel bills are gone crazy, the fuel bills have gone over double now, they’re not bringing them down, they’re not bringing down the customs, they’re not bringing down the fecking carbon tax."
He claimed: "Micheál Martin has done absolutely nothing for the people on Irish roads, I’m on about the people now, whatever about the contractors.
“Everyone has a car, everyone has diesel, and no one has talked about the kerosene heating the houses.
“There’s a population here in Baile Bhuirne of probably 2,000 people, a lot of them elderly people, they can’t afford to heat their homes.”
Mr Murphy said the last thing he wanted to do was protest.
“I don’t want to be here today. I have fields to plough, I have cows to feed," he said.
“We’re at wit’s end, you can hear it in my voice, we are at the point of breaking."
Cork is experiencing acute petrol and diesel shortages, with a growing number of service stations across the city and county now running dry.
The county has been “particularly badly hit” by the fuel protests, according to Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan.
He claimed panic buying in Cork City is driving the problem and that some stations are limiting the volumes of fuel dispensed in any one transaction.
He urged motorists to avoid buying fuel today if they did not need it.
“We’ll be in a much better position tomorrow,” he said.
“Once access to the refinery in Cork and the terminals in Foynes and Galway are reopened, we will catch up within a couple of days," said Mr McPartlan.
"It's not an existential threat to supply.”
Although the Government has sanctioned the Defence Forces to aid gardaí in clearing protests that are blocking critical infrastructure, Mr McPartlan said the announcement came too late.
“We waited too long. I don't think we should be waiting for the army. I don't think we should need trucks and tractors to be towed out of access roads.
“But we needed a response today in order to prevent this becoming a far more grave situation.”
Although he said he empathises with the protesters, Mr McPartlan said the blockages on fuel terminals and oil refineries have not been properly thought through.
“Is their aim to stop ambulances having fuel to get to emergencies? Is it to stop ESB workers getting to sites to keep the energy supply going?
“I have huge empathy with their concerns.
“If I was an agricultural contractor and I was paying 60c per litre more for my diesel and the Government response was ‘I’ll tell you what, we’ll knock 3c a litre off on the taxes that you’re paying', I’d be angry.
“But who are they angry with? They’re surely not angry with the nurse trying to get into work in ICU tonight in CUH. But that’s the person who is suffering, and her patients who she is not able to get in to treat.
"I think they’re working with good intentions but they’ve really badly got this one wrong."
Queues have been reported snaking from a petrol station outside Blackpool onto the dual carriageway outside Cork city.
North Cork and Kerry have also been badly hit, with major shortages reported in Tralee, Listowel, Abbeydorney, Lixnaw, and Newmarket.
More than 20 men gathered outside the entrance to the IDA industrial estate in Macroom, where Taoiseach Micheál Martin was attending the opening of an €8m plant extension by Cygnum, a firm specialising in the manufacture of timber frame structures.
Gearóid Crowley, who described himself as “an extremely small contractor, a one-man operation” from Bantry, said the fact that Mr Martin had entered the estate by a rear gate, avoiding the protest, was a mark of the respect he had for the protesters, “which is zero”.
Mr Crowley said that like many contractors, his fuel bill had soared in recent weeks and he was asking the Government for help.
“My fuel bill is getting out of control and it’s getting hard to make ends meet.
“We are not asking for the world, we are not asking for handouts, we’re not asking for anything, we’re just asking for a little bit of help, in the short term, until this conflict will dissipate a bit and we can get back on our feet.
“We are the people who put the food on the table. The farmers that are here are the people that grow the food. The hauliers are the people that bring your food to the market for you, so you have the convenience of going in and picking it off the shelf.”
Mr Crowley said he had been speaking in recent days to a small contractor who has “five tractors, a silage harvester, and a pike on the pit”.
“That man is facing this summer, if this is not brought under control, an extra €1,500 per day in his fuel bill,” he said.
“He can’t absorb that, he is going to have to pass that on, and if he passes that on, that knock-on effect is going to go down the line, and that’s going to end up in the shops, on the shelves, in the price of food.
“What we are trying to say to the public is you are not going to notice this now, but come September, October, November, you’ll all be standing there wondering you’re paying €5 for a loaf of bread, and this is where it ends.
“If this is not brought under control, and quickly, this is where it’s going to end up.
“The price of food, come the fall of this year, is going to go through the roof.”
Mr Crowley said farmers, contractors, and hauliers were protesting for the entire country, “not just to line our own pockets, it’s nothing to do with that”.
“It’s surviving, keeping our businesses afloat so that we can continue to produce food at an affordable level for the public, plain and simple, we’re not asking for the world.”
He said that protesters were committed to behaving peacefully, and he rejected what he called false reports of ambulances and fire services being blocked by pickets, which he said had not happened.
“When this protest kicked off on Tuesday morning, I drove from Bantry to Cork to pick up my daughter from the hospital. I got in there with no problem.
“The disruption that they’re saying is being caused is not being caused. That is BS.”
‘If we get shifted, we’ll only be back again,” one of the protesters at the Whitegate Oil Refinery said on Thursday morning, as the Taoiseach confirmed the Defence Forces had been asked to clear routes to critical infrastructure, as the fuel protests enter a third day.
Attendance at the ongoing blockade outside the oil facility in East Cork continues to grow, with dozens of trucks, tractors, buses, and cars positioned at the gates of the Whitegate Refinery.
Two squad cars and four members of An Garda Síochána are present at the protest, and have spent more than 30 minutes in discussions with participants.
It is understood that there is potential for participants to receive parking fines as a result of the blockade, although this has not been confirmed by gardaí.
In a statement issued by An Garda Síochána, a spokesperson said that “this is not tolerable and is against the law”.
“The wilful obstruction of public roads and the movement of vehicles and persons are offences under various statutes including the Public Order Act and Road Traffic Acts,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of our well-established graduated policing response in dealing with protests, An Garda Síochána is now moving to an enforcement phase in relation to those impacting on critical infrastructure unless they desist and disperse from these blockades.
“An Garda Síochána is advising protesters to immediately cease blockades of such critical infrastructure or face the full rigours of the law.”
Speaking to , local farmer Kate Manning said due to rising costs, “people won’t be able to survive the next few weeks and months”.
“I’m here to support everyone who is affected by the rising cost of fuel — hauliers, farmers, bus drivers, the people who are literally moving the country,” said Ms Manning.
“I’ve been here now for a couple of hours and I was here last night too.
“I’m affected myself, my tractor has to run and green diesel has gone up an awful amount.
“It’s not fair what's happening to people on the ground — how are farmers mean to sow seeds? How are trucks meant to deliver food? The prices are making it impossible.
“I’m hoping the Government will listen to us and will put down the price as much as possible to make it affordable for people.
“It’s just not right, a lot of people won’t be able to survive the next few weeks and months so it needs to stop.”
Protester Joe Moloney, whose partner is a professional bus driver, said he will “stay here the whole day".
“I’m out here because of the cost of living and the cost of fuel, it’s too much,” said Mr Moloney.
“There are people who can’t afford to fill their oil tanks and fill their cars.
“They need to drop down the price, bring it back to the way it was before Christmas when it was around €1.60 per litre.
“I’ll stay here the whole day, I stand with the people here. They can’t put us all in jail, the prisons are already full.”
Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue, who was also present at the protest, said “all these people are asking for is for the Government to talk and meet with them”.
“It’s fantastic to see people out here today, there are people from all aspects of society — which is great, because everyone across the board has been affected by rising costs,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
As protests continue nationwide, there are reports that fuel stations across the country have seen an uptake in sales as members of the public move to fuel their vehicles for fear of shortages.
In East Cork, stewards are directing customers to pumps at the Midleton fuel station, with reports that queues at the station continue to grow.
Meanwhile, protesters blockading the Macroom bypass this morning have vowed to remain there for “as long as it takes”.
They heard repeated calls from organisers to remain peaceful throughout the protest, and claims that “Government bots” would try to stir up violence.
More than 100 people were gathered on the road just after 9am, with more than 60 trucks, tractors, lorries and cars blocking the road from the city side, with traffic diverted through the town.
An ambulance was let through earlier in the morning, and a garda car was parked at the city side of the bypass.
One organiser instructed the crowd – mostly men wearing orange or yellow hi-vis bibs - to remain peaceful, saying that they had to maintain the high ground, adding that “whoever breaks the peace first loses this”.
He claimed that the Government was “ready to fall” and it wouldn’t take much to topple it.
“Lads, I would plead with ye to remain peaceful, we are peaceful people, we are working people and we’re protesting peacefully, and the public is on our side, as long as we remain peaceful we have the upper hand,” he said.
“We are here for the long haul and we will stay here as long as it takes, we have people ready to take our place if any of us have to leave, there is no problem with numbers.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday described the blockade of the Whitegate oil refinery as an act of “national sabotage”, a statement described by the Macroom protesters as “borderline unconstitutional”.
“Micheál Martin did us the greatest favour of all time saying what he said about us, and this Government is ready to fall because of it,” one organiser claimed.
“It won’t take much to bring this Government down, as long as we stay peaceful, because they are only waiting for an opportunity to come down hard on us and we can’t give them that opportunity.”
He repeated calls for peaceful protest and claimed that if there was violence, it would be stirred up by “Government bots”.
Protesters in Macroom heard that those blockading the Whitegate refinery would stand their ground but would not rise to provocation “if the army goes in”, as they were “fellas with cool heads”.
The mood at the protest was upbeat and friendly, but protesters were instructed not to talk to certain media outlets.
Mr Martin is due to open a factory in Macroom later this morning, and is due at Ballyvourney this afternoon. Messages were sent around WhatsApp last night urging that the Taoiseach’s exit from Macroom be blocked.
The Port of Cork has issued a statement this morning, saying access to the Port of Cork facilities at Ringaskiddy is currently restricted due to the ongoing national protest.
"Organisers have indicated that the blockade may be lifted at 11am today, with the potential of a further blockade anticipated this afternoon. This remains a developing situation and we are in close contact with organisers and An Garda Síochána," said the statement.
"While access to port facilities is being affected by external disruption, customers, staff and port users safety remains our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience."
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and HSE chief executive Anne O’Connor have called for all approaches to medical facilities be kept clear for emergency service access and for patients attending appointments.
They said this is also essential to ensure hospital staff and healthcare workers providing care in homes or community settings can reach their workplaces and treat patients.
"Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family," they said.
"Please respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised."
Up to 40 forecourts are already without fuel and that number “could touch 100 by the end of the day,” warned Vincent Jennings, chief executive of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association.
The number of forecourts without fuel is “growing by the hour” with Munster particularly badly hit, he said, warning that the fuel shortages could last into next week, even if the blockades end soon.
Munster has been badly hit, with blockades halting supply from Foynes, Whitegate, and Galway.
Shannon now essentially has no fuel left in its forecourts, Mr Jennings said.
Clare has been badly hit, with major fuel shortages in Newmarket-on-Fergus, west Clare and Ennis.
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