{"id":389378,"date":"2026-04-09T06:49:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/389378\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T06:49:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:49:09","slug":"traffic-disruption-massive-public-transport-delays-and-blockades-at-some-fuel-depots-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/389378\/","title":{"rendered":"Traffic disruption, \u2018massive\u2019 public transport delays and blockades at some fuel depots \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main PointsNationwide fuel price protests<\/a> are set to enter a third day on Thursday Protesters continue to block O\u2019Connell Street and O\u2019Connell Bridge in Dublin city centre Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland has warned commuters of the \u201cmassive disruption\u201d expected again this morning<\/a>The Luas <\/a>Green line is currently not operating between St Stephen\u2019s Green and Dominick St due to protesters blocking the tracks at O\u2019Connell BridgeOn Wednesday demonstrations closed off parts of the M50, M7, M11, N18, M8 and N28 routesTaoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> has condemned the blockade of the State\u2019s only oil refinery as an \u201cact of national sabotage\u201dBest Reads <\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 12 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Forecourts could run out of petrol, fuel chief warns\"FuelsFuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartland warned that if the blockades continue much longer then soon \u201cscores\u201d of forecourts around the country will run out of fuel. Photos: Joe Giddens\/PA <\/p>\n

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartland has said the blockade of refineries in Foynes, Galway and Whitegate – through which 50 per cent of all the fuel sold in Ireland goes through – means fuel is not getting to forecourts, Vivienne Clarke reports.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means 50 per cent of households in Ireland, 50 per cent of businesses in Ireland, are not going to be able to get fuel if this is allowed to continue,\u201d he told Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find it interesting that the Taoiseach talks about a national sabotage and then we don\u2019t seem to be responding to that. To me, if you have the head of Government talking about a national sabotage, then that would demand some sort of response from the State.\u201d<\/p>\n

McPartland called for greater enforcement from Garda\u00ed in relation to the protests.<\/p>\n

He warned that if the blockades continue much longer then soon \u201cscores\u201d of forecourts around the country will run out of fuel. Dublin Port needed to remain accessible, he said, as it supplies Dublin Airport. <\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 13 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Burgh Quay and College Street are both blocked in Dublin city centre. People have been advised to allow extra time for journeys or to avoid certain areas if possible.<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 17 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Delays on M50 and other routes<\/p>\n

Delays have been reported on the M50, M18, M9, M8, M7\/N7, M4\/N4, M3\/N3 and several other routes.<\/p>\n

Congestion Report:<\/p>\n

M50 Southbound: J04 – J06 & J12 – J13.<\/p>\n

Delays on routes around Dublin: N3\/M3 (E), N4\/M4 (E), N7 (E) M1 (S).<\/p>\n

Closures on following routes: <\/p>\n

M7 – J16 – J18 BOTH DIRECTIONS
M7 – J29 – J30 BOTH DIRECTIONS
M8 – J9 – J8 NORTHBOUND
M8 – J18- SOUTHBOUND
M18 – J2\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/wWOPUkJZRf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 21 minutes ago<\/p>\n

\u2018Massive disruption\u2019 expected in Dublin<\/p>\n

Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland has warned commuters of the \u201cmassive disruption\u201d expected again this morning, Vivienne Clarke reports.<\/p>\n

Speaking on RT\u00c9 radio\u2019s Morning Ireland, Boland said Dublin Bus was creating temporary terminuses around the city which allowed buses run in as far as they could before turning around. <\/p>\n

The protestors in the city centre were \u201csplintering out\u201d with two or three people blocking off certain junctions not allowing buses through, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019ve been doing is making diversions on those cross-city routes, but that\u2019s not really possible at this stage, to a large extent. So, what we\u2019re doing now is we\u2019re creating what we might call temporary terminuses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re running buses from the outskirts of the city in as close as we can get them before they risk them being trapped by the protesters, turning those buses around and operating them back out. And that\u2019s particularly important on those cross-city routes. So it helps us to avoid buses getting trapped in the city centre and, at least, operating as much of that route as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boland added that Express services had been cancelled with the purpose of using those resources to \u201cclose the gaps\u201d.<\/p>\n

A full list of Dublin Bus cancellations and diversions can be read here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 29 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Fianna F\u00e1il TD John McGuinness has said the Government needs to speak to protesters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Government should met with a number of the protesters and resolve the situation once and for all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Speaking on RT\u00c9 radio\u2019s Morning Ireland, the Carlow-Kilkenny TD added: \u201cWe need to diffuse what\u2019s happening and that\u2019s the Government\u2019s job.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the same programme, Social Democrats TD Cian O\u2019Callaghan said the protests \u201chave gone too far, I think it\u2019s counterproductive\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Dublin Bay North TD said \u201ctargeting working people\u201d by blocking roads and impacting public transport will \u201calienate\u201d the public, rather than \u201cgalvanise\u201d support. <\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 34 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Fuel depots blocked<\/p>\n

Access to three major fuel terminals – in Foynes, Galway and Whitegate – is expected to remain blocked today. There are fears some forecourts could run out of fuel.<\/p>\n

Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan warned yesterday there was a risk to forecourts\u2019 supply as a result of the protests.<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 38 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Traffic in Dublin city is expected to be severely disrupted again. O\u2019Connell Street and O\u2019Connell Bridge are closed, as are other roads in the city centre.<\/p>\n

\u274c North City \u274c<\/p>\n

Good morning. Disruption remains due to ongoing demonstrations across the city.
Bachelors Walk, Eden Quay, Custom House Quay closed.
O’Connell Street & Bridge closed.
Burgh Quay blocked. pic.twitter.com\/ijXglQ3F6H<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LiveDrive (@LiveDrive) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 43 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Slow-moving convoys are expected on a number of motorways and roads again today.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude9b A slow-moving demonstration has joined the M1 southbound at J6 (Balbriggan).
Expect long delays.<\/p>\n

\u2014 LiveDrive (@LiveDrive) April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has the latest updates on traffic and road closures here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Disruption caused by rolling nationwide fuel protests are set to enter a third day with public transport companies warning of service disruption due to road closures. <\/p>\n

Dublin Bus has said this morning that road closures in Dublin city centre are causing delays and disruptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish to advise customers that due to fuel price protests, we are experiencing ongoing severe service disruptions and delays across the Dublin Bus network,\u201d Dublin Bus said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Luas commuters also face disruption. Luas Green Line trams are currently not operating between St Stephen\u2019s Green and Dominick due to protesters blocking the tracks at O\u2019Connell Bridge. <\/p>\n

Green Line passengers, 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\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Luas (@Luas) April 9, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

#DBSvcUpdate<\/a> Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest. We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time. More details here:https:\/\/t.co\/iybbl02cun<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 9, 2026<\/a>