Reports have emerged of fuel shortages across North Cork amid ongoing protests. Mallow, Kanturk, and Charleville are all experiencing diesel shortages, with long queues forming as motorists scramble to fill up.
Organisers insist the demonstrations will remain peaceful, but the scale of the protests is causing widespread congestion.
The nationwide protests, now in their third day, are in response to rising fuel costs linked to the ongoing war in Iran. Major delays were reported on key Cork routes, including convoys and a blockade outside the Whitegate refinery in East Cork.
The blockaded sites are highly significant for Ireland’s fuel supply. Whitegate refinery produces around a third of the country’s diesel and petrol, while the terminals in Foynes and Galway store imported fuel. With protests at all three locations, roughly half of Ireland’s fuel supply is effectively locked up, including part of the State’s strategic emergency reserves.
Despite the supply issues, forecourts are not expected to raise prices, as fuel is already purchased at fixed rates. Diesel currently costs around €2.17 per litre, with petrol at approximately €1.95, following the Government’s excise cuts last month.