Michael Clifford: We owe Ballyhea a debt of gratitude

Tomorrow, Ballyhea says no for the last time. The final protest march through the North Cork village is scheduled to begin around 10am, leaving time for its completion before second mass in the parish church. Nine years ago nearly to the day — March 6, 2011 — the first silent march took place to protest at the bondholder bailout by the Government, and thus the Irish taxpayers. It has been continued ever since.

Initially, it was a weekly affair. For a short while there was a second march on a Friday, when the village was relatively busy with traffic on the N20 Cork-Limerick road. For a while, the march alternated between Ballyhea and neighbouring Charleville, which had come out in solidarity. Then about three years ago, the march went from weekly to monthly. Tomorrow, it ends.