So today, for the first time every, I participated in a protest. Unless people have being living under a rock (which is highly plausible with the recent crumbling of the economy), there was a budget, an early budget at that. And our beloved government kindly decided to impose sanctions as they’d gone and fucked us over.

With relation to why I was out marching instead of attending classes, it was one particular ministers reach and grab attitude that had a few hundred A.I.T. students (possibly thousand, I’m short, couldn’t see everything :P) marching against the reintroduction of Third Level Fees. Now I understand that money for education is tight, I know the Teachers, Parents and Schools are up in arms over cuts and I know that budgeting has to be done. But what I don’t understand is the complete reversal of what people over decades have struggled to achieve, to enable the citizens of this country access to free education, one minister wants to reverse in the space of a few months. I hope Batt O’Keeffe realises that lots of people hate him and his cut-throat attitude.

I need to clear this up even further, it’s not the reintroduction of “Fees”,  it’s the hiking of the “Administration/Registration Fee” by 600 Euro, up from 900 Euro making it 1500Euro. It’s a “sneaky” way of reintroduction fees without calling them fees. What’s worse is that is has not been indicated that the increase will go to the college, which is what the fee is intended for, sounds like a tax.

Anyway, most people know about that, I’ll get back to the protest. We started out at the college, the students union tried their best to get us riled up in the canteen and ready to march, but well, songs a little more aggressive wouldn’t have went astray, felt like being in the pub, being honest. Anyway, off we went on our excursion, main intention of disrupting traffic, getting pictures into the papers etc.. I actually couldn’t believe that so many students would get off their arses and out marching, fair ball to the A.I.T. Students.

Onwards, outwards, aroundwards, we found ourselves marching at a nice slow, traffic unconvincing pace, making our way to our first way-point, the Dublin Road roundabout, then swiftly on towards the nearest Fianna Fáil office, Mary O’ Rourke’s office. Allegedly Mary wouldn’t come and talk to us at our final destination (she’s a local TD and member of the Dail), which is annoying because I actually like Mary, thought she’d have a bit more consideration for her constituents (yes, I voted for her last election). So we swung around to her office and boo’ed at it. There was nobody there. We continued onwards, to our last destination, Athlone Town Council.

There were three speakers, all locals, one a member of Sinn Fein, one Labour the other Fina Gael. Fair play to them for coming out and talking to us (wish I could remember the Fina Gael guys name, good speech, felt real), the Sinner was Paul Hogan, who I think is a plank, but at least he took the time to come down and the Labour guy (again can’t remember his name either), well I can’t tell you much about his speach because I couldn’t hear it, the megaphone wasn’t the best.

Anyway, a bit more chanting, some shouting and we eventually dispersed. (Almost forgot to mention the last leg of the journey (probably done by the students union, the laying of a wreath for Mary’s career at her door step, wonder if they did it.)

The weather was nice, not too cold, dry, perfect for marching, got a bit of exercise, hoarse from shouting though. Good day all in all.