Wednesday 22 May, 2013
AROUND 12,000 PEOPLE converged on Waterford city centre today for a rally against the downgrading of Waterford Regional Hospital to a county hospital.
Sinn Féin Waterford-based Senator David Cullinane, who marched today, told TheJournal.ie that people are saying “save our hospital services, save our cancer services, save our regional hospital”.
The photos below, taken by Colin Shanahan, show the scale of the protest.
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Thanks for posting my photos. Let’s spread the word that the people of Waterford won’t give up without a fight :D
They’re on my page Alan (click below). The Journal.ie chose these ones :D
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151245909588706.483199.106549863705&type=1
More, more and yet more of this. The sooner we as a nation get out on the streets and tell this government that we as a people and as a nation have had enough of th crap they are happy to shovel on us to keep their (not our) European friends happy. Well done Waterford..let’s all take a lesson from them. Btw..this was organised by two people on Facebook…
I disagree Barry , waterford is bleeding to death and it’s not down to any single reason. it’s an unemployment Blackspot with nothing been done.
the march is about total frustration before it’s too late , and maybe it is
The March is frustration I’d agree esp when it comes to unemployment in Waterford, however may I point out one very important thing that everyone should have remembered when it comes to protests in Ireland?
Have the pensioners when it came to the medical card. Teachers when it came to pay etc and farmers when it came to payments thought people nothing?
A big protest is a good idea, but it’s location wasn’t, would have been 100 times more affective in Dublin where it can be seen and could have ended outside leinster house.
Perhaps something to keep in mind ?
@ barry, i think the most effective way would be for organised marches coinciding throughout the country. i cant afford to travel to dublin to protest but i’m more than willing to march in cork, my nearest city. i love the idea of ” (insert region) gives a shirt” , its non political and has the potential for all groups to come together under one banner. well done waterford, ye should be very proud of yerselves.
So when the people of waterford start to stand up for themselves, there is nothing but bitching about it. But when it is anywhere else, ie Dublin, Nothing said!!
WELL DONE Waterford . Thrilled to see such a fantastic turn out . Take a bow . Now you have to bring that crowd to Dublin on Nov 24th . Meet up with like minded groups and take it to the gates of Leinster House.
Boycott The Property Tax / Anti Austerity March @ 1pm starting at the Garden of Remembrance Parnell Sq., on Nov 24th . Everybody is welcome to come along with your groups placards and anti austerity messages . Needless to say it will be a peaceful protest march . Organise lifts / buses from the area you live in . Get onto your local CAHWT committee , go to your local meetings. Hope to see you there Emmet :)
Looking forward to being part of this.
This should put the nails into their coffin.
I see kenny & co’s supporters are awake and trying to throw their wet blanket personality’s onto the fire started by the Waterford folk.
It’ll take more than a few trolls to stop this.
well done waterford!!! the rest of the country needs to follow suit. i love the ” waterford gives a shirt” idea. this could become a nation wide protest. finally a protest movement under no political/union banner. i wouldnt be the best person for organising a protest but this sounds like something i would like to be involved in. i hope that those who started it would be prepared to help other areas around the country to do the same. once again , well done waterford
Thank you. Our collection of shirts is out way of using a more personal petition. But because it is solely with the purpose that e will not stand for the downgrading of our city, he only other place we could see taking a similar route would be the people of limerick as a similar downgrade is happening there.
Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?
Maybe if the hospital wasn’t charging stupid prices for the car park, when these inspectors arrived, they might have had second thoughts on trying to down grade the place….
Seems some protesters are confused based on photos and banners I’ve seen today,
Which do they want more? wrh to remain with its services or do they want to stop Waterford city and county councils merging?
Seems many in Waterford are confused and actually paranoid about the councils merging, many claim its Waterford being attacked,……. What they often forget is Limerick is also having its councils merged for cost savings, as such its not just about Waterford like they want to claim or believe.
Last week it was announced that kilkenny was getting 5.5millon for tourism, many in Waterford claimed once again that Waterford was being ignored….. They however forgot about the 9.5million Waterford got in 2010 and the 1.5million is getting this year.
To put this whole paranoid nonsense into content to its best to remember that many (not all) Waterford people have a chip on their shoulders about kilkenny,
Shame really as they fail to see the much bigger picture of the viking Triangle in Waterford city and the upcoming tourist attraction of the medical mile in Kilkenny City as being two major draws to the south east as a whole. This is good for everyone!
No confusion really speaking as a Waterford person we do not want either the hospital downgraded nor out councils merged. At the moment the Hospital issue is taking priority as it is to do with health and well being of the entire region but we will fight another day on the council mergers. The Limerick situation it slightly different to ours, but no need for you to worry about this we can fight our own battles here. ;)
“Seems” like Barrys sole contribution is a comment on the journal website which “seems” to be primarily comprised of speculation about the motives of people with the balls to take action in the real world instead of on the journal website comments section. “Seems” like you really have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in Waterford Barry. Well done Barry. You’re a one man revolution waiting to happen.
Bit of whisht Barry – You worked here in Waterford for years, much like thousands of other people from Kilkenny. Keep that in mind next time you try to have a go. The march was a protest against cuts to services in WRH. Anything else was done in jest. Wise up.
Sean, not having a go… I’m merely stating facts. Many in Waterford have a very unhealthy mindset where they think the government and others are out to get them, they also have an awful chip in their shoulders when it comes to people outside Waterford .
As you’ve said I worked in Waterford for years so unlike your self I’ve experienced this odd chip people have against others from outside Waterford. It’s not productive and is frankly sad and even your posts has a level of it.
I’m not anti Waterford I’m merely pointing out a very negative attitude some have in the county, this attitude gets in the way of even stuff that will benefit them…. the tourism thing is a perfect example,
The march was solely to do with WRH.
We had a collection of shirts for the waterford gives a shirt campaign which is totally against the downgrading of waterfords city status. 2 different campaigns. Ours is moving to leinster house in about 2 weeks.
I hope his clears up any confusion you may have. Congratulations to Andrea and Gillian for organising the march today which we wholly support.
@waterford givesashirt, i’m sorry but i confused the 2 marches, while i am totally in support of saving the wrh i beleive that the “……. gives a shirt” could be a national movement. do ye have any plans to move this outside of the south east. i think its something we could all unite under
Send us an email. Contact details are on the website http://www.waterfordgivesashirt.com
(Hope it’s ok to give out the details journal)
The people who use children to push their agenda in such marches disgust me.
I have brought my son to all the protest marches I have ever been to . He has loved them . We have met people who genuinely want the best for our future ,it is teaching him a sense of belonging and a sense of fair play and gives him a knowledge civic duty.
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