Queues reported at many filling stations as fuel shortage starts to impact motorists
Several locations in South Kerry are now completely out of fuel and have effectively closed their pumps – including Macs Filling station in Kenmare which is owned Cllr Dan McCarthy.
He had hoped that he would have enough fuel to last for another day or two, but despite a second delivery, he only has limited diesel left.
This is the case right across the county with several outlets in towns and villages completely out of fuel.
Kilgarvan now has no fuel source at all as the village’s sole pumps – owned by TD Michael Healy-Rae have closed.
Deputy Healy-Rae said they have no idea when the next delivery will be.
“Approximately 40 per cent of the country’s fuel comes from Whitegates including our own and locations across South and Mid Kerry. We got a text last night to say that we would not be getting a delivery and given the backlog we don’t know when the next one will be.”
It is the same situation in Whytes in Kenmare who received a message that they would be not be getting a delivery today and no new date is available given the ongoing blockage of the Whitegates Refinery.
Robert Whyte said there has been queues all day but thankfully customers have been patient and understanding of the crisis. Thankfully he has been able to supply Kenmare Fire Servcie and SouthDoc before his pumps emptied this afternoon.
The remaining fuel stations in Kerry are seeing ever growing queues and it is feared that most locations will be out of fuel this evening.
Heavy traffic and long queues at Daly’s Texaco on the Cork road in Killarney. Photo by Tatyana McGough.
Ireland’s fuel protests explained – And how it could end
Bjorn Minnie, the store manager for Daybreak Sheahan’s The Market House in Cahersiveen, one of the petrol stations in the town said queues have been gathering all day.
“It has kicked off massively, we’re two or three times busier than normal. The reports are going around that some pumps in Tralee and in Killorglin are dry. I’m very lucky that I got my delivery late Tuesday evening but in the last two hours there’s probably been three quarters of the day’s sales already.”
While their reserves usually last a week, he said. “I’m blessed, my thanks are full. But at the rate I’m going now, I’ll be running dry in a couple of days.”
Mr Minnie said they had no plans to ration customers and would serve until reserves ran dry.
Sean Teahan, a driver for South Doc, was amongst the many filling up outside. He had 160km left in the tank but a call from his boss sent him to the pumps.
“I have to fuel the car now for medical emergencies. We have to go to Tralee four times a week for bloods,” he said
There were traffic jams in Listowel this morning as road users queued for fuel at service stations at different ends of the town.
The queue for petrol and diesel at the Texaco-Corrib Oil station on the Bridge Road caused a blockage that extended to almost 500 metres back into the town centre.
At the eastern end of Listowel, there was traffic jams on both sides of the Applegreen station in Cahirdown as a result of road users queueing for fuel.
The traffic jam coming from town extended back 400m beyond the Tim Kennelly Roundabout.
Just outside town, the Inver station in Skehanierin on the road to Tarbert was totally out of fuel.
The woman serving customers behind the counter in the Spar shop attached to the Inver pumps said that she wasn’t sure when the station would have fuel again.
“Whenever the depots fill back up,” she said. “That’s all down to the powers that be”.
One of Tralee’s largest and busiest fuel stations announced on Thursday morning that it has run out of fuel, as nationwide strike action continues over the high cost of fuel.
Mace Kelliher’s fuel station at Rathass in Tralee made the announcement at around 9am in a social media post saying that it cannot sell fuel for the foreseeable future as the fuel delivery it was expecting is postponed until further notice.
The station also run a busy deli and barista counter which is still open as usual. Management apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused by the closure.
Supplies are also thought to be running low at other fuel stations around Tralee and county, with reports of customers being allowed a fill up to €40 only.
Cllr Dan McCarthy has hit out at the protesters.
“What are the protesters going to achieve from this? It needs to be known who the organisations involved are and sit down with the government. The carbon tax should be removed for at least three months to see how it goes. Trump is over in America with plenty to eat and drink while people around here will be without milk and bread. He will bring us back to the horse and cart,” he added. Minister for State Michael Healy-Rae has also urged the Goverment to talk to the protesters saying ‘It cost’s nothing to tallk.”
He has been contacted by many workers who are fearful they won’t be able to travel to work due to the ongoing crisis.
Sporadic fuel protests have taken place in Tralee and around the county since Tuesday as part of countrywide disruptions over the rising cost of fuel.
The Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has said the gardaí have called on the defence forces to deal with fuel protesters blocking critical infrastructure such as fuel depots.