Hundreds of men and women gathered in Dublin on Saturday to protest lockdown restrictions enacted by the Irish government.
The protests were organized by the group Yellow Vests Ireland, and several hundred maskless people showed up to demonstrate against what they view as burdensome restrictions on their day-to-day activities.
“Hundreds of people are taking part in a demonstration at Government Buildings, calling for an end to #Covid19 restrictions and the use of face coverings,” RTE News wrote on its Twitter account.
Hundreds of people are taking part in a demonstration at Government Buildings, calling for an end to #Covid19 restrictions and the use of face coverings | https://t.co/JkKpbPhJ9H pic.twitter.com/s9IcgM655f
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 12, 2020
Speakers at the rally questioned the efficacy of masks and demanded the country’s small businesses be allowed to reopen immediately. National Party member Michael O’Keeffe told the gathered crowd that the Irish people have had “enough” of top-down lockdown measures in a country that has recorded more than 1,500 deaths from the coronavirus.
“We’re told who we can and cannot see,” said O’Keeffe. “We’re told how many people we can have in our house with us. And I’m here to say no more. Enough is enough. When you’re told who you can visit, when you’re not allowed to attend your granny’s funeral, when the women in your life can’t get breast cancer scans or cervical check scans […] enough is enough.”
Great Irish patriot @MickO_Keeffe “Enough is enough” pic.twitter.com/Ad9B28zqtR
— Gearóid Murphy (@gearoidmurphy_) September 12, 2020
The protests come on the same day that Ireland’s National Public Health Emergency Team recorded a small surge in cases in the Irish capital. The health organization recorded 159 new cases of the coronavirus and two deaths in Dublin on Saturday.
“Forty seven of the cases reported today are in Dublin City and County. For the people of Dublin in particular, this is a critical moment to address the spread of the disease in the community,” said acting Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health Dr. Ronan Glynn. “Individual choices can make all the difference — reconsider your plans for the weekend, reduce the number of people that you meet and avoid social activities that involve large groups of people.”
