Video: 'Ronaldo would be proud' as water protester takes a tumble

A video clip from a Co Cavan water meter protest is going viral, branded a "beautiful dive" Ronaldo would be proud of.

The clip, from Bailieborough, shows a young man arguing with gardaí over water meter installation before tumbling to the ground and calling for an ambulance.

The moment in question takes place at 1:21 in the video, as a garda attempts to encourage the young man away from a truck's path. He then tumbles to the ground, arms spread, claiming to be injured.

"Has anyone called an ambulance!? We need to get an ambulance here!" one spectator can be heard saying.

Eventually, despite his protestations, the young man is led away by gardaí. Some of the remaining protesters then make a number of negative remarks to the contractors, calling the workers "traitors".

"Your own kids are going to suffer for it," the workers are told. "You're leaving no future for your own kids, you're a disgrace," said one. "That shows you the mentality of the brains they have - none," adds another.

YouTube users commenting on the video had, in general, an unsympathetic view.

"Are the Abbey looking for actors, I think they've found one here! By the way appalling verbal abuse of the workers, is that what counts as peaceful protest?" said one.

"Beautiful dive! Bravo!" and "Ronaldo would be proud" said others, while one simply declares: "This. Is. Hilarious."

The video has already been the subject of a parody remix on Facebook, mixed with footage from The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

The clip's original uploader, leathuru, added a video description of "appalling violence used on the young lad", but in the comments clarified his tone, saying the protesters were "going a step too far".

"If people don't want to pay for water, then don't. That's up to them and Irish Water. But the network needs to have meters installed at/near discrete points of intersection to detect leaks. The people in the video won't even let the workers do that. That's why what the protesters are doing is a step too far."