A group of protestors were locked out of Athlone Town Council, during the council’s April meeting.

The council meeting continued in progress while around 20 members of the ‘People’s Voice’ group remained outside the chamber.   Nobody, only politicians, council officials and press were allowed to attend the meeting.

Many issues were discussed inside, including the Gathering, and one of the special guest speakers on the night was Henry Healy – President Barack Obama’s Irish cousin.  However the public gallery remained empty while the protestors were kept outside.

At the March meeting, around two dozen protestors were in the public gallery, and a dramatic night of verbally challenging the politicians took place, from the gallery.

As reported last month on irishsmokefill.com, none of the politicians were spared attack from the protestors and they equally levelled their vocal anger at Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Independent members of the council.

However this protest was much different, and much quieter.

irishsmokefill left the April meeting around 8pm, two hours after it began, and the silence of the protest was deafening.  A quiet night was had by all, and the public gallery remained closed.