1) 300+ at Shannnon protest

national | miscellaneous | news report

Sunday December 08, 2002 16:45

by Eoin Dubsky - Refueling Peace

[Reporting from location 5+ miles from Shannon Airport] Just been on the phone to some people at Shannon Airport. Coaches coming from all over the country (Cork, Galway, Limerick, Dublin, Belfast), others coming by Bus Eireann, car, bike or foot. Looks like around 300 at this stage.

The anti-war protest began in Shannon town where people gathered for a brief speak out, before walking together to the entrance of the airport where US military flights pass through on a daily basis. That's where the protesters are right now, at the airport.

From the person I spoke to on the phone I gather that there are three huge Volga-Dnepr antonov aircraft, which could be carrying masses of US military cargo for the impending invasion of Iraq. Volga-Dnepr have a contract to transport cargo for the United States Armed Forces, and like most of the military-related flights that pass through Shannon Airport, look just like ordinary planes from the outside.

There don't seem to be any overtly military aircraft at Shannon Airport right now. There are many diverse groups and individuals over for the protest, so we can expect theatre, speaking, marching, and other creative protest actions before the day is through.

Watch the newswire for more information, or call Tim Hourigan on the ground at (086) 3784780.