Some of the people protesting in Belleek this week at the proposed closure of the Bank of Ireland branch
DAILY protests are underway in Belleek this week over plans by Bank of Ireland to close their branch there. The move comes after over 200 people from Belleek and the surrounding areas attended a public meeting in the town on Thursday night to discuss the closure.
Organised by Belleek’s Chamber of Commerce and Community Association, the meeting heard that protests would take place every day this week as locals step up their campaign urging Bank of Ireland to reverse their decision.
DUP councillor Raymond Farrell who attended the public meeting said: “Customers, business owners and the local community in Belleek will not accept this absurd decision taken by the Bank of Ireland.”
The bank, with hundreds of customers on both sides of the border, is one of eight across the North set to shut its doors later this autumn. Hundreds of customers with accounts in Belleek are facing a 50 mile return trip to Enniskillen to visit their nearest bank.
The protests outside the bank on Main Street began on Monday and are running from 10am to 4pm each day. They are expected to be supported by local MLAs and councillors from both Fermanagh and nearby Donegal.
Bridie Gormley from Belleek Chamber of Commerce is urging people to show their support by joining in the protest where there will also be a petition for people opposed to the closure to sign.
“Everyone is very vocal in their support for retaining the bank and angry that it is even a proposal considering the distance from the next nearest bank. There is huge community support for this petition and protest, with all the signatures due to be handed directly to Bank of Ireland.
“We really need good numbers of people out to support the protests so if you’re in town any day this week please join the protest for any length of time that you can.”
The First Minister Arlene Foster has lent her support to the protest and was first to sign the petition. She has also paid tribute to the Belleek Chamber of Commerce for “their commitment to ensure that this vital asset is secured”.
“The removal of the Bank of Ireland would be a strike to the very heart of the village, a village that has so much to offer our local economy. I have spoken to representatives of the Chamber of Commerce in recent days when I recommended the action of a petition and protest in the village. I welcome the plan to go ahead with this strategy and I pledge my full commitment behind the campaign. Right across the globe we have witnessed the positive impact that people power can have, and I trust that a similar result can be achieved in Belleek,” she said.
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