The members of Castlebar Town Council gave their backing to an emergency motion introduced by Labour councillor Harry Barrett for the holding of an anti bank bailout rally to be held on The Mall in the town. Cllr Barrett’s motion called on Castlebar Town Council to “facilitate the holding of a public rally on the Mall at a date to be decided to allow the citizens of this town to express their outrage at the disgraceful fallout from the banking crisis that has involved the doubling of the national debt and the wasting of tax payers’ money on Anglo Irish Bank and the Irish Nationwide”.
Cllr Barrett’s motion was seconded by Cllr Therese Ruane who commended Cllr Barrett for bringing the motion. “The effect of this bailout will be felt by generations to come in the country and the money would have been better spent on improving our health and education systems in the country,” she said.
Independent councillor Frank Durcan told the meeting, “This bailout is a national disaster and will be felt for a long time to come.” Cllr Durcan also told the meeting that it was important that the rally was properly planned so there would be the maximum turnout from the people in the town to express their anger. It was agreed that the council would discuss the plans for the rally at the May monthly meeting. The members also agreed to hold the council’s AGM on Monday May 26 at 7pm.
