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Protesters descend on Irish Water's headquarters

Angus Melia and Oona McFarland at the water protest at the headquarters of Irish Water. Expand
Derek Byrne, from Donaghmeade speaks at a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015 Expand
Leah Walsh (8) at the Irish Water protest on Talbot Street Expand
A water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015 Expand
Sean McGuinness, from Horseleap, Offaly, joins a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015 Expand

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Angus Melia and Oona McFarland at the water protest at the headquarters of Irish Water.

Angus Melia and Oona McFarland at the water protest at the headquarters of Irish Water.

Derek Byrne, from Donaghmeade speaks at a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

Derek Byrne, from Donaghmeade speaks at a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

Leah Walsh (8) at the Irish Water protest on Talbot Street

Leah Walsh (8) at the Irish Water protest on Talbot Street

A water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

A water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

Sean McGuinness, from Horseleap, Offaly, joins a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

Sean McGuinness, from Horseleap, Offaly, joins a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

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Angus Melia and Oona McFarland at the water protest at the headquarters of Irish Water.

Nicola Anderson Twitter Email

The offices of Irish Water were occupied for a short time by a small number of anti-water charge protesters yesterday, following a march by campaign groups from around the country who descended on the capital.

Over 100 demonstrators assembled at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm before marching down Dublin's O'Connell Street to the Irish Water offices nearby.

Protesters travelled from Cavan, Offaly and Wicklow for the march, 'symbolically timed' for April Fool's Day and ahead of the issuing of the first water bills this week.

Organiser Michael McDermott from the 'Cavan Says No To Water Charges' group explained that they felt they had to mark the day with some presence.

Protester Sean McGuinness, a pensioner from Horseleap, Co Offaly, said some older people are forced to go to bed at 6pm as they cannot afford the spiralling cost of living.

Around three protesters managed to get into the Irish Water building and sat in the doorway inside, with a sign reading: "We are unstoppable. Another world is possible."

Earlier, Paul Murphy of the Anti-Austerity Alliance's Non-Payment Network launched plans for a national 'Bin Your Bills' protest on Saturday April 18, claiming water charges will become an election issue if people hold out and do not pay the charge.

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