Thousands protest in Cork at cut in over 70s medical cards

All ages unite against petty cutbacks

Several thousand people took part in a protest on St. Patrick's Bridge in Cork this afternoon to demonstrate against the Fianna Fáil / Green / PD parties budget decision to axe automatic entitlement to medical cards for over 70 year olds.

Rain cleared in time for the start of the protest at Patrick's Bridge where hundreds of people began to gather shortly after 2.30pm. By 3.00pm that figure had risen to well over 1,000 and began to block Patrick's bridge. It continued to gather in size as it proceed down Patrick Street in a circuit that brought it back to Emmet Place, beside Cork Opera House.

Crowds begin to gather on Patrick's Bridge

Cllr. Mick Barry encourages the protesters

Ready for the off - led by piper and two drummers

A few hundred more wait to join the march at Mangan's Clock