Significant disruption is being reported on the M18 motorway and N85 relief road in Co Clare as a nationwide fuel price protest continues.
A convoy of vehicles departed from the Banner Plaza at Junction 12 on the motorway at around 8.00am. Dozens of trucks, vans and tractors proceeded to block the southbound lanes of the motorway travelling slowly to junction 12.
Another large number of vehicles rejoined the motorway at Dromoland and travelled northbound along the route, also blocking traffic behind.
The southbound blockade took almost an hour to travel from one motorway junction to the next. It took almost two hours for the convoy to reach junction 10 at Newmarket on Fergus.
The vehicles set out in groups leaving large gaps of empty road and up to 15 minutes between them. This caused some frustration amongst motorists.
Some drivers who attempted to pass the blockade by using the hard shoulder were prevented from doing so by some vehicles involved in the protest. Other drivers managed to get past while at least one minor collision was reported between Killoo and Dromoland.
An ambulance travelling from Ennis towards Limerick struggle to get past the blocked with the hard shoulder blocked by vehicles.
On reaching junction 10 at Carrigoran, the protestors rejoined the motorway and travelled northbound also holding up traffic.
On the N85, western relief road, between junction 12 and the Clare Abbey roundabout, traffic was also badly disrupted.
The protests are expected to continue for most of the day.