Irish Farmers and Truckers Shut Down Ireland over Fuel Prices

In the early morning hours of April 12, hundreds of Irish gardaí police (national police and security service of the Republic of Ireland) were working to clear roads, gas stations, and fuel terminals, after six days in which farmers, truck drivers, fishermen, and others had effectively shut down the country in protests over high fuel prices and the general high cost of living. Downtown Dublin and other cities were closed to traffic, with farm tractors and trucks blocking many of the roadways, according to RTÉ News. The protests had continued day and night as protesters slept in their vehicles. Hundreds of gas stations ran out of fuel as fuel terminals could not deliver supplies, yet a poll by the Sunday Independent showed 56% of voters fully supported the protesters. The protests were highly coordinated, yet there was no command structure.