The jailing of the Rossport Five in 2005 for refusing to obey a court order sought by Shell E&P (Ireland) Ltd. thrust the Corrib Gas dispute into the international spotlight, and led to a campaign of mass civil disobedience by the local community. This campaign, supported by Shell to Sea groups from all around Ireland, shut down all works in Rossport and on the refinery site for more than a year, while Shell and the other oil companies in the consortium refused to consider residents’ demands for a redesign of the project.

Much of the coverage of the Corrib Gas Protest in Mayo has focused on the contentious protest and policing. But what motivated the protest in the first place? Many of the local people at first welcomed the announcement that gas had been discovered, with the promises of jobs and investment locally. However, a few who looked more closely at the proposed project made alarming discoveries.

When news of the Corrib gas field first emerged, many Erris residents who are today critical of the project were excited by the prospect of local jobs. However, concerns about the location of the refinery and the safety of the raw gas pipeline soon emerged.¹

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The State and Shell have lost their bid to stop two Mayo citizens pursuing High Court claims as to whether a ministerial consent given eight years ago for the Shell gas pipeline is valid. The decision was welcomed by Cllr Harry Barrett. Judge Laffoy ruled last week that Brendan Philbin and Bríd McGarry were allowed to have that issue and other public law claims ruled on by the court.

SIR – It’s interesting to note that Mr Brendan Cafferty has finally summoned up the courage to peep over the parapet after the credibility of his beloved Corrib gas project was utterly and comprehensively destroyed by An Bord Pleanála’s decision of last October.

Rally, 12 noon, Sunday 28th February 2010
Porturlin Pier to Ballyglass Pier
Issued by Shell to Sea

Community of Erris to rally to the support of jailed fisherman Pat 'The Chief' O'Donnell

Tomorrow, Sunday 28th February, will see a rally in support of Pat O'Donnell, who is in Castlerea Prison for seven months, for opposing Shell's destruction of his traditional fishing grounds and the giveaway of Ireland's oil and gas resources.

 The Irish Times - Friday, February 26, 2010
LORNA SIGGINS Western Correspondent and ÁINE RYAN
THE DEPARTMENT of the Environment has received more than 130 submissions in response to a foreshore licence application by Shell EP Ireland for investigative work in north Mayo’s Sruwaddacon estuary.
The company aims to drill up to 80 boreholes in the estuary, which is a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as part of site investigation work for the Corrib gas onshore pipeline route.

Eoin O'Leidhin has joined fisherman Pat 'the Chief' O'Donnell at Castlerea prison today. Eoin was convicted of Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 for 'failure to comply with the directions of Garda' at a protest outside the Shell site Glengad on 30th August 2008.

Garda Sean Cunnane, who likes to ham it up as he whinges to the courts, convinced Judge David Anderson that Eoin's behaviour was a crime.

The shirt video below shows the true flavour of the occasion.