{"id":387790,"date":"2026-04-08T08:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/387790\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T08:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:36:08","slug":"traffic-chaos-reported-in-dublin-city-centre-as-fuel-protest-extends-blockade-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/387790\/","title":{"rendered":"Traffic \u2018chaos\u2019 reported in Dublin city centre as fuel protest extends blockade \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main PointsFuel protests are continuing in several areas after a major national demonstration<\/a> on TuesdayProtests are continuing on the M8 close to Cashel in Co Tipperary, with traffic disruption also reported this morning in Galway city, Limerick city, Macroom, and Portlaoise In Dublin<\/a>, there is major transport disruption this morning with the Luas<\/a> partially suspended and disruption to Dublin Bus<\/a> services as protesters extend a blockadeThe action is aimed at securing an immediate Government-subsidised price reduction on fuel and a guaranteed cap thereafter, as costs spiral amid war in the Middle East<\/a>Transport Infrastructure Ireland publishes map<\/a> of disruptions to help those who are planning their journeys.Key Reads<\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 20 minutes ago<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell Street in Dublin remains blocked both northbound and southbound. <\/p>\n

Custom House Quay, Eden Quay north and the southside of O\u2019Connell Street are all occupied by protesters .<\/p>\n

Motorists have been advised to avoid the city centre and its approaches.<\/p>\n

Please be advised that due to an operational issue at Busaras, there is currently no service operating between Busaras and The Point. Services will continue to operate between Tallaght \/ Saggart and Connolly. Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus within the affected area for the\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Luas (@Luas) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cork: Protests causing major delays<\/p>\n

Fuel protests are causing major delays across Cork again this morning with approach roads into the city, the N28, M8 and the N22 Macroom bypass all affected. <\/p>\n

The N28 Shannonpark and Ringaskiddy road has a slow-moving convoy reported between Shannonpark roundabout and Shanbally. <\/p>\n

Traffic on the N28 at Carrs Hill is experiencing significant delays as a result, with reports of the Shannonpark roundabout area at a complete standstill.<\/p>\n

There is a lot of traffic backed up at Carrigaline with significant queuing at Ballinrea Cross. <\/p>\n

The N22 Macroom Bypass is blocked by trucks at Coolcower.<\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 32 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Dublin Bus announces curtailed services<\/p>\n

Dublin Bus has advised its passengers of the following service disruptions because of the fuel protests. <\/p>\n

Southbound: Services will operate to and from Parnell Square only. <\/p>\n

Northbound: Services will operate to and from Merrion Square and St Stephen\u2019s Green only. <\/p>\n

Westbound: Services will operate to and from Heuston Station only. <\/p>\n

M18 Southbound + N18 southbound + Condell road + N18 bypass all blocked for Clare traffic going to limerick today again \ud83d\ude48 pic.twitter.com\/qU18ilCiKc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Angela Coll \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc99 (@AngelaEnnis14) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce2 Passenger Advisory: <\/p>\n

Passengers travelling to and from Dublin Airport today are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to the possibility of protest activity causing traffic disruption on roads around the airport.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 36 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Dublin city centre protests are \u2018indefinite\u2019<\/p>\n

The blockade of both sides of O\u2019Connell Bridge is \u201cindefinite\u201d according to a spokesperson for the fuel protestors, John Dallon.<\/p>\n

The Kildare man, who spoke to The Irish Times on behalf of the protest movement, put the onus on the Government to end the blockages, noting the \u201cpower is in their hands\u201d to reduce fuel prices. <\/p>\n

The blockages are in place on O\u2019Connell Bridge, as well as the junctions towards D\u2019Olier St and on to O\u2019Connell Street, and began at 6am this morning.<\/p>\n

While those stuck in traffic believed there was to be a reprieve at 10am, Dallon said the blockade is \u201cindefinite\u201d, but asked commuters to \u201cbear with us. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are doing this for the common good,\u201d Dallon said, noting fuel prices affect all drivers across the country in addition to those in farming, haulage and related industries. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 38 minutes ago<\/p>\n

M8 disruption could last until Friday <\/p>\n

Organisers of the fuel protest on the M8 motorway in Cashel say they could be there until Friday, writes Sarah Slater. <\/p>\n

The blockade was maintained overnight by up to 80 trucks, vans and tractors.<\/p>\n

Adrian Williams, a local organiser told Tipp FM News that many of the protestors are \u201cprepared to stay out all week\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Williams said diesel prices need to be capped at \u20ac1.70 and petrol at \u20ac1.60.<\/p>\n

The protestors claim that they will not end their action until the government does something about the rising cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil.<\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 41 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Further help is on the way, says Healy Rae<\/p>\n

Minister of State Michael Healy Rae has said the government is going to react in a positive way to support hauliers and agricultural contractors impacted by rising fuel costs, writes Vivienne Clarke <\/p>\n

Speaking on RT\u00c9 radio\u2019s Morning Ireland programme, the Kerry TD said it was obvious that \u201cmore has to be done for these people, because you cannot expect people to work for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf further reductions can be given, that is what the government will seriously have to look at, because if you take, for instance, last week, the Irish Road Hauliers Association met with Minister Darragh O\u2019Brien. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe explained to them the measures of what he was going to be trying to do to help that association, and they actually, because of the negotiations and talks that they\u2019ve had, while I\u2019m not trying to say they\u2019re happy, but they know that government are going to react and react in a positive way.\u201d <\/p>\n

When asked if the government would be encouraging people to use less fuel, Healy Rae responded that the government had always encouraged people to use less fuel. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut practicalities apply here, and if you live in a rural location, you can cycle or walk to work. You don\u2019t have a bus outside your door to take you to work. You have to go to work,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are certain things that have to happen every day to move goods, to feed people and to keep this country going, and one of those things is a thing called diesel oil, and we need to keep our transport going and we need to keep things moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hauliers have to do their job every day, which is keeping us all alive. If it wasn\u2019t for those people, this country would cease to operate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 43 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has published this map<\/a> of disruptions which may help those who are planning their journeys. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 49 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Transport Infrastructure Ireland spokesman Se\u00e1n O\u2019Neill has outlined the main locations for traffic disruption outside Dublin at present. <\/p>\n

– There is a go-slow on Junction 17 of the M7 near Portlaoise <\/p>\n

– there is another go-slow on the M7 as you leave Limerick city<\/p>\n

– the M22 in Macroom is seeing large tailbacks causing disruption <\/p>\n

– the Ennis plaza on the M18 is also the site of fuel protests which is leading to traffic backing up. <\/p>\n

– in Galway city there is disruption around the Docks area. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Protesters block fuel terminals <\/p>\n

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan has warned that the blockage of oil terminals in Galway and Foynes could have a big impact on supply. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very concerning for us. We don\u2019t want a situation where forecourts run out of stock,\u201d he told RT\u00c9\u2019s Morning Ireland programme. <\/p>\n

He expressed frustration that the garda\u00ed had not done more to ensure that those fuel terminals remained free of protests. <\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWe pay more tax than any other European country. I have been told and I was told last week that we would have a meeting with the Tanaiste Minister of Finance this week. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m waiting for that to be confirmed, and that\u2019s the point I\u2019ll be making to Simon Harris when we meet this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fuel protests in Dublin City Centre have extended beyond O’Connell St, both sides of O’Connell Bridge are shut down with commuters in gridlock for more than two hours – for @IrishTimes<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FpYLBqf72B<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hugh Dooley (@HughPDooley) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u26a0\ufe0fPassengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen’s Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O’Connell Bridge. We\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Luas (@Luas) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Fuel protestors have extended their blockade of roads in the capital, writes Hugh Dooley. <\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the blockade had focused on \u201cturning O\u2019Connell Street into a car park\u201d, but as commuters came into the city at 6am this morning, they were met by the disruption having spread onto both sides of O\u2019Connell Bridge.<\/p>\n

Lorraine, an office worker from the Northside, said her usual 20 minute commute into work for 6am has seen her stranded on the Dublin quays for more than two and a half hours. <\/p>\n

She said she understands the reasoning behind the disruption, but is \u201crunning out of sympathy\u201d for the cause. The only people the action hurts, she said, are \u201cthe Joe Soaps\u201d. <\/p>\n

She described the traffic as \u201cchaos\u201d, with lengthy diversions in place. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Dublin Bus warns of widespread disruption <\/p>\n

Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland has said that there is significant disruption to services because of the fuel protests, writes Vivienne Clarke.<\/p>\n

\u201cEssentially anything that\u2019s trying to come across the city is trapped,\u201d he told RT\u00c9 radio\u2019s Morning Ireland programme. <\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell Street is now closed on both the north and south sides with Dublin Bus attempting to divert buses along Eden Quay and Gardiner Street.<\/p>\n

Protestors have now blocked Fleet Street, he said, which has blocked what was an access route. While a number of buses were able to leave their depots earlier this morning, there was now a challenge in getting buses across the city, added Boland.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you might be expecting a bus on the outskirts of Dublin, 10, 12 kilometres away that simply can\u2019t get out there in order to turn and do that trip back into town again.<\/p>\n

\u201dWith 130 routes and 800 to 900 buses on the street, the situation was very changeable and Dublin Bus would be trying to keep the public up to date on cancellations, delays and diversions through on street signage, the Dublin Bus website and social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everybody is sympathetic to the fact that there are delays and diversions out there, so we\u2019re trying to get the information out to people, we have chief inspectors there on site, and what they\u2019re doing is trying to marshal buses, move them around, perhaps communicate with customers on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Widespread disruption to commuters across the country <\/p>\n

Commuters across the country are facing a second day of significant disruption because of fuel protests. <\/p>\n

In Dublin city centre. O\u2019Connell Street and O\u2019Connell Bridge are at a standstill, and both the North and South Quays are now also affected. <\/p>\n

Slow-moving convoys are causing tailbacks on the N21 from Adare towards Limerick city at the Ballysimon Road and the Macroom bypass in Co Cork in both directions. <\/p>\n

An Garda S\u00edochana is also reporting traffic disruption at the Galway Docks in Galway city. <\/p>\n

In Tullamore, those taking part in the protests are gathering at the retail park in the town with groups from Clara, Kilbeggan, Edenderry and Birr present.<\/p>\n

The bypass of the town is blocked by those meeting to protest. <\/p>\n

They plan to move out from the retail park at 8.30 am arriving into Tullamore town for 9am.<\/p>\n

Luas passengers in Dublin have been advised that Green lines are currently not operating between St Stephen\u2019s Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St Stephen\u2019s Green and Brides Glen only. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Senior ministers to discuss further fuel price measures <\/p>\n

Oil prices continued their roller coastal of recent weeks and plunged 15 per cent on news of a US-Iran two week ceasefire.<\/p>\n

At one stage the price of a barrel of Brent crude fell from $110 to less than $94 a barrel, but that is still elevated from the $72 a barrel it was before the war. <\/p>\n

Damage done to oil and gas infrastructure is likely to keep fuel prices elevated to a higher level than before the war started. <\/p>\n

Senior government ministers will meet on Wednesday to consider further help for hauliers and farmers. <\/p>\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin, the Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister for Transport Darragh O\u2019Brien are expected to attended. <\/p>\n

Ronan McGreevy – 1 hour ago<\/p>\n

Fuel protests are continuing in several areas after a major demonstration<\/a> on Tuesday that saw convoys of trucks, tractors and coaches bring traffic to a standstill in many parts of the country<\/p>\n

There were protests on the M8 close to Cashel in Co Tipperary overnight with scores of people maintaining a blockade.<\/p>\n

In Dublin<\/a>, there is major transport disruption this morning with O\u2019Connell Street closed on both sides amid continued protests.<\/p>\n

Slow-moving convoys and significant traffic delays are currently reported at locations including:<\/p>\n

Co. Limerick- N21 from Adare towards Limerick city
Co. Limerick- Ballysimon Road
Co. Cork- Macroom bypass in both directions
Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly pic.twitter.com\/m9hgqRm1iZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Traffic Alert \u2013 Dublin City Centre<\/p>\n

There is ongoing protest activity currently disrupting traffic in Dublin City Centre. O\u2019Connell Street and O\u2019Connell Bridge are at a standstill, and both the North and South Quays are now also affected.<\/p>\n

Please plan your journeys accordingly. pic.twitter.com\/LUJZn2sG5x<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Slow-moving convoys and significant traffic delays are currently reported at locations including:<\/p>\n

Co. Tipperary- M8 Junctions 6-9 Northbound pic.twitter.com\/p3wO5xWryo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n