Macra’s 79km walk to government buildings to raise 8 key issues

Macra is leading a group who are embarking on a 79km walk from Athy in Co. Kildare to government buildings on Merrion Square.

The group left Athy, where Macra was founded in 1944, yesterday evening (Tuesday), carrying a message from its roots to the “gates of power”.

Macra has written to all TDs and senators asking them to join them on their walk and to meet them at 1 pm on Wednesday at government buildings.

Macra has 8 key issues:

1. Accessing affordable housing and cumbersome housing planning guidelines;
2. Disjointed 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.

A future in rural Ireland

Macra will be coming with solutions also and will hand-deliver these to the office of The Taoiseach and The Tánaiste at 1 pm on Wednesday, April 26th.

Macra president, John Keane said,

“We want our rural communities to survive and thrive into the future and are walking for our future and for the future of our local communities,”

“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.”

“Our message is clear; we want a future in rural Ireland.”

President-elect, Elaine Houlihan, said: “We are taking steps for our future, to ensure young people, and families can live and prosper in rural Ireland as the youth are the backbone of these.”

“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,”

Steps for Our Future

The organisation is asking all members to attend its ‘Steps for Our Future’ march, which kicked off at 6 pm yesterday evening, April 25^th.

The walking group left Athy at 19:15 and headed for government buildings, before resting from 2 am-5 am.

They recommenced walking at 5 am and aim to arrive atthe Irish Farm Centre at 11 am this morning (Wednesday, April 26^th).

The walking group will leave the Irish Farm Centre at 11:30 to arrive at government buildings for 1 pm this afternoon.