Dublin is bracing itself for traffic chaos as the infamous farmers’ tractor blockade threatens to roll into town again this afternoon.
Streets are closed and gardai are out in force, while a ring of steel surrounds Leinster House and the roads around it.
Special vehicle barriers have been installed at key access points to try and stop the tractors.
Beef price protesting farmers have warned that they will up the ante in their row with the Department of Agriculture, the beef barons and retailers.
Their last protest brought the city to a standstill in November when up to a hundred tractors and about three hundred farmers flooded city centre streets around Leinster House.
And they warned when they were leaving that next time it would be worse.
Although the streets were empty this morning, gardai were leaving nothing to chance and their top level riot infrastructure was installed before any tractors arrived.
Major traffic disruption is expected as it is one of the busiest days of the year for shopping with retailers hoping for a spending splurge.
But it could be a disaster for retailers based in the heart of the city near the protests as people will not be able to access some of the key city centre areas because of the traffic closures.
Road closures include Molesworth Street, Merrion Row, two sides of St Stephen’s Green and Kildare Street - where Leinster House is.
The protestors are not affiliated with any of the mainstream farming unions, like IFA or ICMSA, and the first farmers arriving described themselves as independent.
