Kildare protestors slam Government response after week‑long fuel crisis

KILDARE fuel protesters voiced their disappointment at the government’s response to a week of fuel protests that paralysed parts of the country.

After six days on the fuel price protest front line, prominent protest figure, Castledermot farmer John Dallon, said “the tactics of the Government are not good enough.” “Hitting oil for the oul’ folks? That’s disrespecting them, and they’re the ones that built the country and kept it going. To crucify them over kerosene? It’s an insult to farmers as well.” 

Mr Dallon was turned away from a meeting with Government on Thursday and described it as disrespectful.

“How can you have dialogue with doors closed in your face?” 

The Kildare Nationalist asked Mr Dallon why he got involved, and he replied: “I have a strong voice. I led a farmers’ protest in Dublin in 2019 over the price of beef. I’m farming sucklers and beef outside Castledermot.

“There’s a lot more to be done on the diesel, but I can only speak for the farmers. There’s a lot more to say for the IRHA (Irish Road Hauliers Association).

“I think they (the government) are forgetting we put food on the table three times a day.

“I must emphasise that when I came home down the M9, there were about 1,200 people gathered on a bridge. I had a mother in tears because she couldn’t get treatment for her son with scoliosis.

“I remember another couple who—after getting mortgage approval—were told by their builder that materials had increased the price by €25,000.

“The buck should stop here, and we should prioritise the people of Ireland before sending any money somewhere else.

“It broke my heart, after spending six days up in Dublin, to see the number of homeless people on the streets.”

 Mr Dallon wished to thank his local supporters, including Maurice Kelly and Dave Walsh, “and anyone I forgot.” The government announced a €505 million relief package announced on Sunday which aims to address some of the concerns raised by protesters. However, there has been a mixed reception to it.

One Kildare haulier who took part in the protest in Dublin last week was blunt in his disappointment with its outcome.

“No more to say. I wasted five days of my life last week for nothing,” he said.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon TD, in a statement, acknowledged “the impact of increased costs” due to the war in Iran and noted that the Government is formulating a temporary fuel support scheme to “provide support for critical sectors that impact everyone’s cost of living.” The package includes a further 10c per litre excise duty cut on petrol and diesel, a 2.4c per litre excise cut on green diesel, and a pause on the increase in carbon tax until October, when the Government will draft Budget 2027.

Kildare South TD Mark Wall said the package was “welcomed” but does not address the struggles of ordinary working families.

“The people that were at this protest were under severe pressure… and they have got a package that will help them,” he said. “But unfortunately, it doesn’t help those that are working every day in this country, and that’s a serious problem.” Deputy Wall described a growing number of constituents who, despite earning what would traditionally be considered stable incomes, are now living “week to week.” He pointed to rising childcare costs, housing shortages, and general living expenses as key drivers of financial strain.

“They feel totally undervalued and forgotten about,” he said, adding that many of those attending protests were not just sectoral workers but families “at the end of their tether.” The protests, which began on 7 April 2026, were driven by sharp increases in fuel prices linked to the war in Iran. Rising costs have placed significant strain on households and key sectors, prompting a coordinated response led largely by farmers, hauliers and transport workers.

Across Kildare, major routes including the N7, M7 and M9 were affected, with protests running from Tuesday, 7 April, through Sunday, 12 April. Many Kildare commuters were impacted throughout the week.

Petrol stations in parts of the county ran dry as fuel deliveries were disrupted, while public transport services experienced delays and cancellations. However, many Kildare petrol stations were able to keep going, with some deliveries making their way through.

Newbridge county councillor Tom McDonnell was seen prominently at demonstrations on Dublin City’s O’Connell St, and was captured carrying a coffin reading ‘RIP Ireland’ all the way to Dáil Éireann.

According to protester and Independent Ireland party member Willie Carton, “there were over 1,000 people” at a protest at Junction 3 of the M9 in south Kildare over the weekend.

Mr Carton said that local butchers sponsored food and local restaurants sent refreshments to the protesters.

John Dallan came down and gave a speech to the protesters at the south Kildare junction on Sunday.

Mr Carton predicted that the protests would ramp up again this week.

While acknowledging the right to protest, Deputy Wall expressed concern about the disruption caused by blockades, including emergency services being held up as a result. However, he said such actions had forced political attention onto the issue.

“To a certain extent, they’ve been proven right. They got some solutions,” he said, warning that public frustration is likely to grow if broader cost of living concerns are not addressed.

Deputy Wall confirmed he would support an upcoming motion of no confidence, arguing that current policies amount to short term fixes rather than long term solutions.

Looking ahead, uncertainty remains. While the immediate disruption in Kildare has begun to ease, underlying issues such as fuel affordability, housing, childcare and rising living costs persist.

As Deputy Wall noted, “People are getting more vocal, and rightly so.”