“Such events might be commonplace in the Shelbourne Hotel, but they are not in the Bush Hotel and never will be.” These were the words of Leitrim hotelier Joe Dolan as he halted the auction of a local farmer’s land and holdings after it had been put on the market against his will.

Dolan, whose Bush Hotel also sponsors the Leitrim men’s GAA team, was cheered on by the 100-strong group of local people, councillors and farmers.

To help the large group protest in Carrick-on-Shannon, local poultry and pig farmers laid on chicken sandwiches as well as sausages to keep the crowd fuelled.

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One farmer The Dealer spoke to said that it was great to see the farming community rallying around “one of our own in times of adversity”.

The farm itself is understood to belong to dairy farmers from Croghan in Co Roscommon.