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Donegal peace gathering calls on Minster Coughlan to take action. national |
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news report
 Saturday March 01, 2003 22:20 by Ruairi - Donegal Anti War Alliance muscailt at yahoo dot com
 Thinking Global, Acting local They came from all ends of county to Donegal town square on Saturday to express their fear of war and hope for peace. As the nation’s attention focused on the protests and actions against the U.S army presence at Shannon airport, the Donegal Anti-War Alliance put their energies into bringing the spirit of peace to the streets. Donegal peace gathering calls on Minster Coughlan to take action. They came from all ends of county to Donegal town square on Saturday to express their fear of war and hope for peace. As the nation’s attention focused on the protests and actions against the U.S army presence at Shannon airport, the Donegal Anti-War Alliance put their energies into bringing the spirit of peace to the streets. Banners, paintings and balloons added colour to the vibrant sound of flutes, drums and a fiddle. The Falcarragh contingent brought songs galore while local man Keith Corcoran read his chilling poem From darkness be light. The gathering was circled by up to 50 people at any one time and amongst them were plenty of children who seemed to embody the spirit of the day with their musical shakers and innocent smiles. The Donegal Anti-War Alliance has had meetings throughout the county for the last month and has sent representatives to the national demonstrations in Shannon and Dublin. The Alliance is growing at a rapid pace as Donegal people take up the growing people’s movement opposed to Bush, Blair - and Hussein. One Alliance member stated ‘the world knows that this war is economic in nature. It is about oil. It is about a new style colonialism, not human rights. I cannot stand by and listen to the lies of my leaders any longer. I needed to come out here today to express my concerns. This is serious. It affects all of us and it’s time our Texan Taoiseach listened’. Differing political spectrums were represented as a Labour party banner read ‘Not in my name’ while a Green Party poster stated ‘People and planet before oil and profit’. Kathy Dillon from Ballyshannon said ‘I am not normally interested in politics but how can I choose not to be now? Fianna Fail are following Bush’s mad path to world war three and I cannot allow my children to enter a world like that. I am here today to show my children the positive aspects of life. The sharing, the music and the good craic’. One Englishman agreed ‘I don’t support Blair. Nobody in Britain does. The English government are at it again – invading other countries just like they did here in Ireland. It makes me sad but events like today give me hope. In fact, today is the firest time in weeks I’ve relaxed and laughed’. The event seemed to have a global flavour as accents from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Ghana joined the chorus of voices for peace. Nancy Vario, a tourist from New York, when asked about the allegations that peace supporters were anti-American replied ‘that is ridiculous. I don’t support Bush. Most Americans don’t. The guy wasn’t even properly elected. So does that make me anti-American too?’. The focal point of the afternoon was a petition requesting that local T.D and Cabinet Minister Mary Coughlan ask her Government colleagues to support a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and to withdraw support for the U.S military at Shannon. The petition was more popular than expected as people queued in the spring sun to put their name to it. By the time the gathering finished the petition had over 200 signatures and it is continuing to do the rounds. Copies are available at the health food shops in Ballyshannon and Donegal Town. A follow-up event is being planned for next Saturday from 2-4pm and the Alliance is inviting all concerned people to come along, rain or shine, and bring their friends and families and their music, literature, prayers, poems, songs and stories. Women are especially welcome as the event will mark international women’s day and events will be taking place internationally. Those interested in helping organise should call 087 9672549 or check out www.irishantiwar.org and www.indymedia.ie.
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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 4 3 2 1by Donegal on tour - Donegal Anti War
Knowing a large amount of those opposing the war would not be able to make it to Shannon, some of us who had no excuse but aversion to a ten hour drive headed with our drums and spirits to the protest at Shannon yesterday.
Knowing a large amount of those opposing the war would not be able to make it to Shannon, some of us who had no excuse but aversion to a ten hour drive headed with our drums and spirits to the protest at Shannon yesterday. Being part of no particular organisation the so called split between members of the Grassroots Org. and the IAWM made absolutely no difference on the day. Everyone to their own we say, and in the end it meant that we could alternate between providing tunes for the fence people and for the front door people. There was, as ever a great atmosphere, plenty of cookies, scones and sandwiches from the "food not Bombs" trolley and a whole lot of spontaneity and creativity that can never be planned, including our impromptu band, trumpet player and all!! We managed to get the riot police to laugh and bang their shields in time with our music as well as the odd smile from some fresh faced graduates not long out of Templemore. Of course this was balanced out by those unflinching, sour faced garda types who resented missing whatever sports fixture they had been forced to miss. We were also blatantly videoed and photographed by an eager Guard, bravely amongst us, ten feet up on the roof! From the way they posed on the roof top I wondered had they missed their calling and appealed for them to throw down their weapons and succumb to their secret fantasy of pursuing a career in the fashion industry.A big cheer to all those who took part in the protest in Donegal town. March 8th Donegal Town again??
by Donegal on tour - Donegal Anti War
Knowing a large amount of those opposing the war would not be able to make it to Shannon, some of us who had no excuse but aversion to a ten hour drive headed with our drums and spirits to the protest at Shannon yesterday.
Knowing a large amount of those opposing the war would not be able to make it to Shannon, some of us who had no excuse but aversion to a ten hour drive headed with our drums and spirits to the protest at Shannon yesterday. Being part of no particular organisation the so called split between members of the Grassroots Org. and the IAWM made absolutely no difference on the day. Everyone to their own we say, and in the end it meant that we could alternate between providing tunes for the fence people and for the front door people. There was, as ever a great atmosphere, plenty of cookies, scones and sandwiches from the "food not Bombs" trolley and a whole lot of spontaneity and creativity that can never be planned, including our impromptu band, trumpet player and all!! We managed to get the riot police to laugh and bang their shields in time with our music as well as the odd smile from some fresh faced graduates not long out of Templemore. Of course this was balanced out by those unflinching, sour faced garda types who resented missing whatever sports fixture they had been forced to miss. We were also blatantly videoed and photographed by an eager Guard, bravely amongst us, ten feet up on the roof! From the way they posed on the roof top I wondered had they missed their calling and appealed for them to throw down their weapons and succumb to their secret fantasy of pursuing a career in the fashion industry.A big cheer to all those who took part in the protest in Donegal town. March 8th Donegal Town again??
For photos of Donegal event check out
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=55629&group=webcast
While there was a wide range of political beliefs represented and plenty of debate about the shananigans at Shannon, the Donegal mob generally supported and were in solidarity with both Shannon actions.
Personally, a massive thank you and 'more power to ya' to all involved in the Direct Action. Marching up and down the square is great but the goverment doesn't seem to be listening. They seem more interested in their lovely fence than in the Iraqi people that they are so willing to help murder. Shannon is part of the death machine and 'pulling down a fence', whilst not achieved, was a symbolic show of seriousness and digust. Onwards and Upwards.