Up to 500 people attended a rally in Ballaghaderreen this afternoon, to protest against the town's public realm enhancement plan.
The state intends spending €4.5 million on improving the west Roscommon town's streetscape.
But residents are fuming over the loss of 47 car-parking spaces, the widening of footpaths and the narrowing of roads.
Several councillors attended today's rally, along with all three Roscommon-Galway TDs - Sinn Fein's Claire Kerrane, Independent Michael Fitzmaurice and Fianna Fáil's Martin Daly - and Midlands Northwest MEP Ciaran Mullooly.
Hundreds of local people turned out to show their support on The Square, along with groups from Strokestown and Boyle.
The biggest applause was reserved for Deputy Kerrane, who lives just outside Ballaghaderreen.
In a proposal that was backed by other politicians, she insisted the plan can be changed, as she told our reporter Eoghan Murphy.
Brian Mulligan was one of the organisers:
Former councillor Michael Mulligan, who runs a shop on The Square, also expressed his strong opposition:
Pat Towey runs a filling station in the town - he's strongly against the project:
Local auctioneer James Kilcoyne also said the plan would be detrimental to the town:
Ruth McManus, from nearby Gurteen, outlined why she opposes the plan:
Kevin Cahill is an accountant in Ballaghaderreen:
Christine Whitehouse lives in nearby Fairymount:
MEP Ciaran Mullooly insists the plan can be changed:
