Farmers stage mass protest in Midlands over EU Mercosur trade deal

IFA president Francie Gorman talking to farmers at the the Irish Farm Centre in Bluebell during a protest in December. The IFA chief said yesterday that Irish MEPs should lobby against the deal in the European Parliament. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Thousands of farmers from all over Ireland will converge on the Midlands today, Saturday, for a mass protest over the EU's approval of the controversial Mercosur trade deal.

Gardaí have already warned the public to be braced for potential traffic chaos as farmers drive tractors across the country to the rally at TUS Athlone.