Concrete Lock-on and a Bluegrass Band Stop Shell for a Day

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, show me a multinational corporation you can trust” -Belle Star

Between a concrete lock-on blocking the road for almost 4 hours and a bluegrass country band playing tunes in front of a Shell truck, Wednesday 3rd August was another impressive day of stopping Shell's work on the onshore pipeline of the Corrib Gas Project.

Bluegrass blockade

Wednesday 3rd August at 7am local residents and folks from the Rossport Solidarity Camp met at the gates of Shell's Ballinaboy refinery to begin blocking tractor movements. Everything coming out of the refinery in the morning was delayed by the protesters and no arrests were made. By 8:30am two people had locked themselves into a concrete barrel, blocking the road between Ballinaboy refinery and the compound at Aughoose.

The lock-on was cleared at about 12:30pm, having blocked the road for almost 4 hours. Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway, one of the people locked on, commented:

“I’m here because of the obvious corruption involved in Shell and Statoil’s gas project and the management of our resources. The Gardaí are partners in crime with Shell and Statoil in attacking the community.”

Later on people gathered at the refinery to listen to some bluegrass country music by the band Belle Star all the way from Virginia, US. The band had played a fantastic gig in McGuire's pub the night before and commented that the refinery gig was one of their 'strangest but most appropriate' yet.

People were in high spirits, dancing to the music in front of a Shell truck. The gardaí didn't seem to know how to handle the situation. They apparently found it difficult to use their normal force against smiling dancing people.

The hilarity made people feel pretty unstoppable. Even when guards were pushing people along the road with the Shell truck inching along, the bluegrass band kept up with everyone, walking along the road as they played, upright bass and all!

Down the road a bit someone managed to get on top of the truck and stayed there for about 30 minutes. After a warning the person got down and was not arrested, and no more vehicles attempted to leave the refinery for the rest of the day.

The day finished off with a traditional Appalachian square dance in front of the gates of the refinery. Everyone felt like it was a wonderful way to reclaim that space that is usually occupied by much more sinister activities.

Come up to the area and join us! There is plenty more dancing to be done...

The camp is located in a field in Aughoose, between Ballinaboy and Pullathomas.

To contact the camp, ring 085 114 1170 or email rossportsolidaritycamp[at]gmail[dot]com

Early morning blockade

Concrete lock-on

Dancing in the road

"Normally we make more jokes between songs, but this situation speaks for itself" -Banjo Player

Traditional Appalachian square dance

A great end to the day