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'We're not going away': Crowds brave awful weather to keep water charges issue live

Dublin’s O’Connell Street was the venue.

First published 9 am

0081 Right2Water Protest copy The scene today on Dublin's main thoroughfare. Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

LARGE CROWDS OF anti-water-charge campaigners braved some torrential rain in Dublin city to state that they are ‘not going away’.

At the peak of today’s demonstration, a densely packed crowd stretched from a stage at the Spire on O’Connell Street down to Abbey Street.

More protesters listened to the speeches from further away with Right2Water’s Brendan Ogle introducing various speakers.

It’s the fifth major protest day organised by Right2Water, the umbrella anti-charges group made up of community organisations, unions and left-wing political parties.

Marchers gathered at Heuston and Connolly Stations and proceeded to the Spire where speeches began after 3pm.

There was loud cheers as various speakers made reference to protests ‘not going away’.

Among the politicians who spoke were United Left TD Joan Collins and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald TD.

Sixteen-year-old activist Jamie Harrington also spoke to the crowd with Ogle saying that the teenager knows more about what’s going on in the the country than “an entire fucking cabinet”.

Heavy rain showers shortly before 4pm sent hundreds running for shelter and some some heading home. The heavy rain was followed by thunder as the rain worsened.

The Right2Water campaign say that the numbers at the march demonstrated that the campaign to abolish water charges was continuing.

“The Right2Water campaign will continue until that objective is achieved,” the campaign said this evening.

conn2 Marchers gathering at Connolly Station before the demonstration. Niall Kelly Niall Kelly

- With reporting by Rónán Duffy

In pics and videos: Huge turnout for latest ‘Right2Water’ rally

“Another U-turn?”: People aren’t too happy with the government’s latest mooted Irish Water plan 

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    Aug 17th 2015, 6:24 AM

    Good luck to everyone this morning! Nervewrecking & exciting at the same time.

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    Mute Shannon
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    Aug 17th 2015, 1:27 PM

    I got my first choice!!

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    Aug 17th 2015, 12:26 PM

    Jasus poor aul Leitrim is always getting picked on.

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    Aug 17th 2015, 10:23 AM

    Remembering this day over ten years ago fondly from abroad

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    Mute Yvonne
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    Aug 17th 2015, 1:48 PM

    The CAO offers should be given out before the Leaving Cert results. It would save our students and families 5 days of stressing out over something they have no control over.

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    Mute Stephen Fagan
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    Aug 17th 2015, 11:51 AM

    Best of luck to everyone today. I’m so sorry to the child in the photo but as I scroll on the homepage I keep thinking it’s Enda Kenny doing his ‘we’re in crisis’ pose.

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    Mute AVDesign
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    Aug 18th 2015, 11:38 PM

    Youe points is not your degree.

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