The protestors from SIPTU, IMPACT, INMO, CPSU, UNITE, INTO, TUI and others gathered at Sligo County Council offices and progressed across the pedestrian bridge onto the Mall, down Bridge Street across Castle Street and were addressed in O’Connell Street.
The march was led by the Sligo City Pipe Band and was joined by the Samba Band as it progressed to the meeting point.
The local Rackhouse Pilfers Band greeted the protestors who were addressed by John James McLoughlin from the Senior Citizens Party, who advised of the effects of austerity on the older population. They were also addressed by Alma, who is a Special Needs Assistant and who is losing her job as a result of austerity leaving her students without a service. Yvonne Rainey then told the crowd of 6,500 that she had suffered a €35 cut per week in her family income due to austerity.
Richie Carruthers was the main ICTU speaker and he stressed the Congress message of the need for a fair deal for Irish taxpayers. €9,000 each was not a fair burden considering that the average European had paid €192 for the bank crisis.
John McCarrick concluded the proceedings by thanking all who attended and asked those who could to spend some much needed cash in the local shops before they left town.
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