Laois farmers to join marathon march to Dublin for rural Ireland

Young farmers from Laois are marching to Dublin fight for the future of rural communities.

They'll be part of a Macra-led group who are embarking on a 79km walk from Athy to Government Buildings on Merrion Square.

The group will leave Athy where Macra was founded in 1944 to carry a message from its roots to the capital. Macra President and Laois native John Keane spoke about the march

"Our message is clear, we want a future in Rural Ireland, we want our Rural Communities to survive and thrive into the future. We are walking for our future and for the future of our local communities," he said. 

Macra has written to all TD’s and Senator’s asking them to join with them on their walk and to meet them at 1pm on Wednesday at Government Buildings. 

Macra President Elect Elaine Houlihan said the future of families is at stake. 

"we are taking steps for our future, to ensure young people, families can live and prosper in Rural Ireland as the youth are the backbone of these communities," she said.

Macra outlined 8 key issues:

• 1. Accessing affordable housing and cumbersome housing planning guidelines 
• 2. Disjointed and sparse healthcare services for rural communities 
• 3. The Government's definition of a family farm as ‘average’ and ‘typical’  
• 4. No recognition or engagement by Government on a farming succession scheme  
• 5. Lack of planning for the future of our rural communities informed by rural people  
• 6. Imposition of Quotas on Young farmers availing of grant aid support  
• 7. Lack of public transport for rural Ireland  
• 8. Proposals to rewet large areas of rural Ireland 

Macra President John Keane concluded ‘Anyone who wants to join us is welcome at any stage from Athy to Merrion Square, or along our route through Kilcullen, Naas, Kill, Newcastle and into The Irish Farm Centre in Bluebell and from there to Merrion Square," said the Errill man. 

Macra says it will come up with solutions also and we will hand deliver these to the offices of The Taoiseach and The Tánaiste at 1pm on Wednesday April 26th.