Sounds like Newtownmountkennedy has a decent local election candidate in John Larkin.

Larkin told Newstalk today that the axe found at the site was there for cutting up wood for the fire barrel to keep protesters warm at night. He said a spark from the fire barrel had obviously caused the pallets to go up accidentally.

He believes the gardaí totally overreacted and that an appropriate reaction would have been a blue flu.

Asked what should be done with all the asylum seekers, he replied that Ireland sends a lot of aid to Africa so we should use that money to help construct safe zones for them back in Africa instead.

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*URGENT APPEAL*

In #Newtownmountkennedy right now Gardaí are assembling water cannon, roadblocks, helicopter, and horse-mounted units

Locals are making a heartfelt appeal for all support to mobilise in the town 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝗮𝘁 𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝗽𝗺

Literally the RIC

We have received word from the local protestors in Newtownmountkennedy that today is the pivotal day regarding the very survival of the town.

Protest march will take place 1 pm from Rossmore roundabout to Riverlodge.

They are asking everyone who possibly can to support them today in the town at 1pm, and that they need a big turnout or they fear the worst.

We'll be reporting from the scene.

Philp Dwyer live in Newtownmountkennedy.

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Great banners leading the march today.

'Ireland is our homeland.'

'We will not be replaced.'

'No plantation. Send them back.'

'Riot police against Irish men and women to impose foreign men on Newtownmountkennedy'

'Our town today. Your town tomorrow'

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Philip Dwyer Vs Virgin Media

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Theresa Murphy, a 66-year-old grandmother in Newtownmountkennedy whose daughter was peppersprayed on Thursday evening, says she will never watch RTÉ again and her faith in the gardaí has gone.

"I never in my lifetime thought that my daughter would be chased across fields like the Black and Tans chased my father. These are supposed to be the people that protect us. My faith in the gardaí has sadly gone."

Murphy told Philip Dwyer that she's out protesting today for the future of her seven grandchildren.

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Newtown going again tomorrow.

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Drone footage from Newtownmountkennedy today

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Helen McEntee's Dept of Justice described as a walking disaster, a car crash and a basket case by her party colleagues.

"The Taoiseach is spending a lot of political credit on protecting Helen. She is into the Taoiseach’s office to deal with disasters more than the rest of the Cabinet combined. The party is aghast. There is no confidence in her or the Commissioner."

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Workers and shoppers stopping to applause the protesters as they march down the main street in Newtownmountkennedy.

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A nice, clean shot of the protesters marching past. People from every generation showing their support.

Newtown Says No!

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Kippure Manor Estate in Blessington.

>The owner of the estate is a Dublin-based company called Tondo Limited, whose directors are listed as Eoghan Coughlan, 39, and 63-year-old Joe ­Christle.

>Both men are also involved in an investment firm called Quanta ­Capital, which has €1bn in assets.

>The property has been leased to another company called Seefin Events Unlimited with directors Carol Dwyer, 56, and Sinéad Fennelly.

>Seefin Events was paid €10,444,565 by the Department of Integration to provide accommodation for asylum seekers last year.

>However, she and Ms Dwyer are directors of several other ­companies that received more than a combined €33m from State accommodation contracts last year.

>Almost half the companies earning the most from lucrative State contracts to provide accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers are fully or majority-owned by entities based abroad.

The new plantation of Ireland is a very profitable industry, and you're paying.

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The Stoopers removed two councillors from the competition to be Mayor of Derry City so that they could get an African woman in to be the 6 counties first black mayor


https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sdlp-councillors-express-disappointment-and-frustration-over-mayoral-selection/a462799753.html