A brief history of the Shell to Sea campaign

The Corrib Gas Project has been opposed on health and safety grounds since members of the community in Erris first became aware of what it entailed at the end of 2000. Initially residents fought the project through the planning process. When planning permission was initially granted in August 2001 groups of people from the area got together and worked on objections to the planning permission, calling for an oral hearing. Permission was overturned by Kevin Moore (Senior Planning Inspector, An Bord Pleanála) but, on appeal, finally granted to the Corrib consortium in October 2004.

2005 saw the campaign shift towards the use of non-violent direct action as Shell engineers attempted to stake out the route of the pipeline first in January and again in June, with landowners and their families and neighbours refusing Shell access to the land. The subsequent arrest and indefinite imprisonment of five men from the community marked a high point in resistance to the project. The five men refused to abide by a court order making them promise to allow Shell to stake out their pipe, against threats from the judge that they stood to lose their homes and farms.

In June 2005 after the ‘Rossport 5’ had been sent to jail for an unknown duration community activists from the area organized pickets on all Shell’s worksites in the area. The proposed refinery site at Bellanaboy was picketed in addition to Shell’s compound in Rossport; the base from which the pipeline was to be laid. The refinery construction site was shut down with a picket and peat workers walked off the job in solidarity with the community. The pickets were maintained at Shell’s sites forcing them to suspend work. A horse box trailer was parked outside the gates of the refinery site becoming ‘campaign HQ’ and every day people from the community would take turns to watch the site gates preventing materials entering the worksite. Community pickets succeeded in halting work and in August 2005 Shell announced their intention to temporarily suspend work “to facilitate a period of calm, informed discussion on this nationally significant project''.

In June 2005 a collective of environmental and social justice activists formed the Rossport Solidarity Camp project, moving to the area with the aim of supporting the community struggle. The camp acted as a contact point for supporters of the campaign,seeking to facilitate supporters visiting the area and worked to network the campaign with other groups.

After the jailing of the Rossport 5 people from around Ireland began to organize in solidarity. Shell-to-Sea groups were formed in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Clare, Belfast and Dundalk. Groups picked Shell and Statoil garages, held information meetings, organized fundraisers and protests. Several demonstrations were held in Dublin culminating in a large rally on the 1st October 2005. The Rossport 5 wrere released one day before the planned date of the rally on the 30th September 2005.

After the five were released the community campaign continued to picket the Shell sites. Decisions were made at a weekly meeting at the local community hall where everyone was invited to contribute and make decisions. The campaign against the project combined direct action at the picket of the refinery site with media work, awareness raising and international networking. Links were made with other campaigns against Shell from all over the world especially Nigeria and Durban, South Africa.

With the collapse of mediation during the Summer of 2006 and the subsequent publication of the Cassells Report, Shell announced their intention to recommence work in September 2006. On October 3rd 2006 almost 2000 Gardaí were drafted into the area to allow Shell to resume work after more than a year of delay. The police dragged off protesters who had engaged in a sit down blockade of the site gates and allowed Shell trucks into work for the first time since June 2005. Large numbers of police remain in the area to provide security for Shell. In the months after October 3rd campaigners organised non-violent blockades of the site gates and material haulage route to the site.

In summer 2007 Willie Corduff one of the Rossport 5 was awarded the Goldman prize for grassroots environmentalism. Demonstrations continue at the site with daily early morning protest amid increasing police violence. Days of Action are organised with supporters from all over Ireland joining the community protests.

The campaign has continued to use a combination of tactics including direct action as in blockades, site invasions and occupations, pickets and protests as well as engaging in official channels such as attending 'consultation evenings', making complaints and participating in the planning process, writing letters and meeting both Ministers and local councillors. On a broader scale the national campaign has continued to support the community in Erris, participate and organize days of action and to raise awareness about the Corrib Project and the give-away of Irish natural resources.

Some examples of Direct Action against Shell:

Attempted to use a Bulldozer on Glengad bay. S2S halted work.
Shell laid a section of pipe without planning permission. S2S informed the authorities. It was later removed.
Had no traffic management plan for construction traffic in Rossport. S2S started a 24 hour vigil to block the trucks. The Rossport compound has now been removed.
Attempted to access private land without Ministerial consent. S2S refused them entry.
Constructed a septic tank without planning permission. S2S informed authorities. Nothing happened so they carried out their own site inspection. It was later removed.
Drilled on the SAC/SPA without permission. S2S informed authorities and when nothing was done, people carried out their own site inspection and climbed the drilling rig on two separate days to halt illegal work. Environment Minister John Gormley ordered RPS/Shell to restore the area.
9 Shell to Sea 'mass inspections' of the site
Numerous Days of Solidarity
3 different 'lock-ons' stopping work for between 5 hours and 7 hours each time.
The daily picket and blockades of Shell trucks/vehicles continue.