On-the-ground coverage of the April 2026 city centre blockades.
DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 11, 2026: A musician performs for a crowd on O’Connell Street at the height of the national fuel protest in the city centre. On Saturday afternoon, the demostration took on a festival-like atmosphere as people gathered among the vehicle blockades to listen to music and show solidarity. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 11, 2026: A protester stands in front of a parked truck on O’Connell Street during the height of the national fuel protest. As the demonstration entered its fifth day, a crowd of supporters gathered to show solidarity. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 11, 2026: Two protesters sit on a truck’s trailer on O’Connell Street at the height of the national fuel protest. On the fifth day of demonstrations, crowds joined the blockade in solidarity. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 10, 2026: A white van carrying Irish tricolour flags and lighting green, white, and orange flares passes the entrance of O’Connell Street during the national fuel protest. The unexpected event drew cheers from protesters and the attention of passersby on the afternoon of the fourth day of the blockade. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 10, 2026: A group of bikers gather near the blockade on O’Connell Street in solidarity with the national fuel protest. On the fourth day of demonstrations, motorcyclists joined hauliers and farmers to support the call for lower energy costs. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 9, 2026: A cyclist pauses to look at a large tractor parked on O’Connell Street during the early hours of the third day of a national fuel protest. The blockade by independent hauliers and farmers has brought Dublin’s city centre to a standstill, creating an unusual view as commuters try to find their way through the blockade. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 9, 2026: A line of trucks and heavy vehicles parked in front of the GPO (General Post Office) on O’Connell Street as the national fuel protest enters its third day. Independent hauliers and farmers have occupied the city’s main road, bringing the historic centre to a complete standstill. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 9, 2026: A line of trucks and heavy vehicles parked along O’Connell Street during the early hours of the third day of a national fuel price protest. The blockade by independent hauliers and farmers has effectively turned the capital’s main road into a car park, causing major disruption to city centre traffic and public transport. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 9, 2026: A tractor and truck blockade causes the closure of O’Connell Street and O’Connell Bridge in the early hours of the day as the national fuel protest enters its third day. Luas Green Line services were partially suspended after vehicles and demonstrators blocked the tracks, bringing the city centre’s main crossing to a complete standstill. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 8, 2026: Members of An Garda Síochána monitor the situation on O’Connell Street during the second day of the national fuel protest. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – April 8, 2026: A woman finds her way through a line of tractors and trucks parked on O’Connell Street during the second day of the national fuel protest. Photo by Rua Sud.
CEARTA National Protest (September 2025)
A visual report on the 2025 CEARTA protest, the largest Irish language rights demonstration in over a decade.
DUBLIN, IRELAND – September 20, 2025: Thousands of demonstrators march from Parnell Square to Leinster House during the ‘CEARTA’ national protest. As the first major Irish language demonstration in over a decade, participants demanded urgent government intervention to protect linguistic rights and Gaeltacht regions. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – September 20, 2025: Demonstrators march past Trinity College during the ‘CEARTA’ national protest. Two placards are visible; one reads ‘CEARTA TEANGA = CEARTA DAONNA’ (Language Rights = Human Rights) and the other ‘TÍR GAN TEANGA, TÍR GAN ANAM’ (A country without a language is a country without a soul), a famous quote by Pádraig Pearse. According to organizers, an estimated 25,000 people took part in the march from Parnell Square to Leinster House demanding better funding, housing, and education for the Irish-speaking community. Photo by Rua Sud.DUBLIN, IRELAND – September 20, 2025: A demonstrator leads chants with a megaphone on O’Connell Street during the CEARTA national protest. Thousands of people marched from Parnell Square to Leinster House demanding increased support for the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities. Photo by Rua Sud.
