Between 40 and 50 people attended this afternoon’s protest in Ballymote over banking services in the South Sligo town.
Organised by Sinn Fein, speakers included Sligo/Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny, Sinn Fein Councillor Chris MacMamus, Fianna Fail Councillor Jerry Lundy, Independent Cllr Margaret Gormley, and Vincent Roddy of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association.
Also present were Independent Cllr Michael Clarke, Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey and Fianna Fail Cllr Keith Henry.
Protesters carried placards stating ‘People Not Machines’ and ‘Save our Services.’
At the end of the protest, local politic ians handed in about 600 signatures to the Bank of Ireland branch calling for retention of services.
At the protest, speaker Seamus Maye, from Sligo, a campaigner for banking reform, told those present the European Central Bank wanted to ‘federalise’ the banking system.
But he says there was a need for a new system of public and community banks involving post offices and credit unions.
Vincent Roddy of the Irish Natura and Hillfarmers Association spoke to the protestors:
These people on the streets of Ballymote spoke to our reporter Harry Keaney earlier in the day:
