Farmer fury puts Cowen road trip off course

IT was not so much road rage but farm fury that turned Brian Cowen’s opening of a dual carriageway into a political car crash yesterday.

Angry agricultural workers had a different kind of duel in mind as the Taoiseach turned up in Co Galway to open a new stretch of highway between Athlone and Ballinasloe.

About 400 farmers loudly let the Taoiseach know they hold him responsible for putting them on the road to nowhere, as Mr Cowen looked like he was stranded on the road to hell as the noisy protest at times drowned out the official ceremony.