Organisers expect upwards of 500 for todays cavan protest

Damian McCarney

Today's protest will gauge the extent the nation's anger to the water charges is shared by the people of Cavan. 

At 2pm today (Saturday November 1), on Market Square, the Right2Water group will stage a march and demonstration against the controversial bills, which will come in customers’ doors on January 1.

Despite the drizzly weather, the Cavan Says No campaign group are expecting a large turn out.

'Upwards of 500,' Michael McDermott predicted when asked by the Celt for how many marchers they anticipate taking to the streets.

Michael founded the Cavan Says No To Water Charges Facebook site. 

''I've been talking to people this morning and they say that even with the rain it's not going to put people off, which is great. It will be a sea of umbrellas marching up the road today,' he quipped.

Asked if we will be able to gauge from the number of demonstrators the anger felt in the county to the charges, he replied: 

'I think this march will be a stepping stone towards the next one. This is taking place in solidarity with the rest of the country who is marching, more so, just to build the interest and inform people of what's going on. It's going to be a big crowd, but I'd say the next time we come out in the smaller towns and back into Cavan Town it is going to be much bigger. You can see how quickly it's grown in the couple of weeks that we have got going in Cavan.'

People from Cavan Town are meeting in Market Square, whilst those from other towns and villages are meeting at the carpark at Argos at 2pm. Those starting at Argo will then march towards town, past Breffni Park. At the junction with College street they will be joined by the marchers who set off from Market Square. The combined march will continue along College Street, up Farnham Street, turn right onto Church Street and back up Main Street to Market Square. 

Back at Market Square, Michael promises 'speeches and music, all sorts of fun and a joyous occasion'.