A national demonstration and rally is set to take place in Athlone, County Westmeath, today in opposition to the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. The protest comes a day after European Union countries gave provisional approval to the deal, the largest trade accord the bloc has ever negotiated.
The event has been organised by Independent Ireland and will include participation from the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and other agricultural groups. Organisers have said the rally is aimed at presenting a “united front” against the agreement, which they argue could harm Irish farmers.
A convoy of tractors and other large vehicles is scheduled to travel west to east along the N6 between junction 12 and junction 10 at 11 a.m. Farmers will then march to the Technological University of the Shannon, Midlands campus, where a rally is expected to begin at 1.30 p.m.
Independent Ireland MEP for the Midlands-North West, Ciaran Mullooly, stressed that the agreement is not yet final. “Let me be very clear: this deal is not dead,” he said. “It has not been voted on in the EU Parliament. Nothing is done until MEPs vote in Strasbourg.”
Organisers have urged participants to ensure the protest remains peaceful and to cooperate with gardaí. Authorities have warned motorists to expect traffic delays in and around Athlone during the event. Slow-moving vehicles are anticipated on the N6, while increased traffic, parking, and pedestrian activity is expected near the N55 Cornamaddy roundabout, R916, and the TUS Athlone campus. Gardaí confirmed that the N6 eastbound will remain open but asked road users to allow extra travel time.
Gardaí said they are working closely with Westmeath County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to reduce disruption. Visitors to Athlone have been advised to plan ahead and anticipate delays throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Ireland was one of five EU countries, along with France, Austria, Hungary, and Poland, to vote against the Mercosur agreement during a meeting in Brussels yesterday. Twenty member states voted in favour, while Belgium abstained. This outcome met the qualified majority requirement, representing at least 65% of the EU population, allowing the deal to move forward.
The agreement now requires ratification by the European Parliament before it can take effect. Organisers and farmers in Ireland continue to express concern over the potential impact on local agriculture, particularly regarding competition from cheaper imports of beef, poultry, and sugar.
The Mercosur bloc includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and the agreement aims to expand trade between the EU and South America, reducing tariffs and opening markets for goods from both regions. Irish farmers, however, say they fear it could put them at a disadvantage in key agricultural sectors.
Today’s demonstration in Athlone represents the latest in a series of protests across Europe as farmers voice opposition to what they see as a trade deal that prioritises international commerce over domestic agriculture.
