How fuel protests exposed Ireland’s fragile energy system and lack of domestic supply resilience

Fuel protests exposed deep structural weaknesses in Ireland’s import-dependent energy system, raising urgent questions about resilience, infrastructure, and security

Blockades at key depots and at Whitegate rapidly constricted flows across the country. Within days, forecourts ran dry, supply chains faltered, and emergency services faced disruption. Picture: Chani Anderson

If the recent fuel protests taught the country anything, it is that Ireland does not have an energy system. It has a supply chain — and it is far more fragile than we like to admit.

Before examining how our fuel system faltered so dramatically under duress, it is worth asking a more basic question: where does Ireland’s energy actually come from?