Protesters outside beef factories in Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Kilkenny and Mayo have left the picket in the last few hours.
Farmers at ABP Cahir, Co Tipperary, stood down at 8pm on Friday evening after a day of intense discussion among themselves and with fellow protesters in Munster.
Alison De Vere Hunt, who was among the protesters at Cahir before being selected to represent them as part of the Independent Farmers of Ireland group, read a statement at the gates of ABP.
In it, she thanked members of the public and the farming community for their support.
“We acknowledge and graciously thank all our fellow farmers who respectfully declined to pass our picket line, even though we are all acutely aware of the financial effect it may have had on them,” she said.
You can be assured we will not settle for empty promises
“Although an end to the dispute has not been reached, we are hopeful that a process has started to bring about reform. We do not know what the future will hold but you can be assured we will not settle for empty promises and have no reservations in again highlighting our plight if necessary,” she added.
Votes at Dawn Grannagh, Co Kilkenny, and ABP Ferrybank, Waterford, also finished in favour of ending pickets at the factory gates on Friday night.
Pickets at Dawn Charleville and Kepak Watergrasshill have also ended in the last few hours.
It is understood farmers have left the factory gates at Meadow Meats in Rathdowney on Friday night too.
Farmers ended their protest at Slaney Foods in Wexford on Wednesday and at ABP Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on Thursday night.
West
In the west, farmers outside Dawn Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo voted to end their action. It had been the scene of some of the largest protests over the course of the past seven weeks.
It is understood that farmers are still debating their course of action at Liffey Meats in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, Kepak in Athleague, Co Roscommon, Kepak in Ballymahon, Co Longford, and Kepak in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of senior Beef Plan Movement members have spoken to the leaders at each of those factories tonight. Their decision on whether to end protests is awaited.
Protesters have come under increasing pressure in recent days from farmers who are looking to get cattle and sheep slaughtered after a seven-week break in normal slaughtering at each of the plants.
A number of other locations remain blocked, with protests continuing outside Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, after talks failed during the week.
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Protesters outside beef factories in Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Clare, Kilkenny and Mayo have left the picket in the last few hours.
Farmers at ABP Cahir, Co Tipperary, stood down at 8pm on Friday evening after a day of intense discussion among themselves and with fellow protesters in Munster.
Alison De Vere Hunt, who was among the protesters at Cahir before being selected to represent them as part of the Independent Farmers of Ireland group, read a statement at the gates of ABP.
In it, she thanked members of the public and the farming community for their support.
“We acknowledge and graciously thank all our fellow farmers who respectfully declined to pass our picket line, even though we are all acutely aware of the financial effect it may have had on them,” she said.
You can be assured we will not settle for empty promises
“Although an end to the dispute has not been reached, we are hopeful that a process has started to bring about reform. We do not know what the future will hold but you can be assured we will not settle for empty promises and have no reservations in again highlighting our plight if necessary,” she added.
Votes at Dawn Grannagh, Co Kilkenny, and ABP Ferrybank, Waterford, also finished in favour of ending pickets at the factory gates on Friday night.
Pickets at Dawn Charleville and Kepak Watergrasshill have also ended in the last few hours.
It is understood farmers have left the factory gates at Meadow Meats in Rathdowney on Friday night too.
Farmers ended their protest at Slaney Foods in Wexford on Wednesday and at ABP Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on Thursday night.
West
In the west, farmers outside Dawn Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo voted to end their action. It had been the scene of some of the largest protests over the course of the past seven weeks.
It is understood that farmers are still debating their course of action at Liffey Meats in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, Kepak in Athleague, Co Roscommon, Kepak in Ballymahon, Co Longford, and Kepak in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of senior Beef Plan Movement members have spoken to the leaders at each of those factories tonight. Their decision on whether to end protests is awaited.
Protesters have come under increasing pressure in recent days from farmers who are looking to get cattle and sheep slaughtered after a seven-week break in normal slaughtering at each of the plants.
A number of other locations remain blocked, with protests continuing outside Liffey Meats, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, after talks failed during the week.
Read more
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Protest suspended at ABP Nenagh
Listen: Taoiseach ‘would hate’ to return unspent BEAM money
€120m cattle backlog hits farmers
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