yesterday at RathowCecily outside the Covert near Mullingar yesterday (Wednesday) evening, with Noel Barton son of Kevin and Mary Barton, whose house Cecily stayed at last night, and Olivia Mitchell with her two sons, who travelled to Westmeath to support Cecily on her way to Dublin.

Fracking protester walks this way

Published: Thu 1 Nov 2012, 3:45 PM

Manorhamilton teacher Cecily Gilligan set out from her hometown on Saturday October 27 on a 215km walk to the Dáil in a protest at plans to start fracking in her locality.Mrs Gilligan is a member of Love Leitrim, a group of individuals who protest against shale gas extraction, and she has travelled through numerous midland towns on her journey to Dublin.Last night (Wednesday October 31), she stayed with a farming family in Crookedwood.She told the Westmeath Examiner of how she got in touch with them: "I made contact with them through another farming family who are members of Love Leitrim."They came out walking with me for a short part of my journey and they kindly took leaflets from me and helped me distribute them throughout the area."I really appreciated their hospitality. I also talked to quite a few people in the Mullingar area and they all have been supportive of my protest."Cecily highlighted the "many dangers of fracking."She spoke of the her concerns "which could arise for the farmers in the Westmeath area. This could affect animals and tourism in the Mullingar vicinity," she added.www.frackingfreeireland.orgwww.twitter.com/LoveLeitrim