In one of the largest demonstrations in Irish history, over 100,000 people marched in Dublin today against the Bush administration's rush to war on Iraq. Protestors from every part of Ireland representing hundreds of groups came to Dublin to voice their opposition to war and to the continued use of Shannon Airport by the US military ( 2 ) ( 3 ). From opposition politicians to anarchists and Fianna-Fail-voting grannies, the crowds were diverse, cheerful, creative and peaceful as the sunshine encouraged an almost carnival atmosphere. Only one arrest was reported.

As usual, estimates of the numbers of protestors varied widely with Gardaí reporting 80,000 participants, mainstream media reporting 100,000 and the Irish Anti-War Movement and other organisers reporting 150,000. In any event, it was clearly one of the largest demonstrations in Irish history.

Smaller demonstrations were also held in cities and towns around the country, including Cork, Letterkenny, Sligo and Belfast where over 20,000 marched against the war. The Irish protests were part of a global day of action against war that saw over thirteen million people protest worldwide.

Meanwhile the anti-war movement continues ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) , with discussion on what to do next. A demonstration at Shannon Airport is planned for March 1st ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ).

Photos: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) ( 13 ) ( 14 ) ( 15 ) ( 16 ) ( 17 ) ( 18 ) ( 19 ) ( 20 ) ( 21 )
Video: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 10 )
Audio: ( 1 )
Global Coverage: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 )

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An unprecedented level of activity is taking place around the country as Ireland mobilises to take part in the worldwide anti-war day of action on the 15th Febuary. Reports are disappearing from the IMC Ireland newswire almost as soon as they are published due to the sheer volume of news stories being submitted.

Countrywide Roundup
Here you will find a long list of news, events, and plans for the various activities taking place this weekend, including transport details. Please use this page (and not the newswire) to add new details.

Countrywide Roundup of Anti-War activities on F15

Indymedia Ireland is now one year old after twelve eventful months in which coverage of Garda violence at a RTS demo brought national attention and a Gardaí internal inquiry, the Ansbacher Report was published online, and article 133 became an important part of the debate on the Nice referendum.

Among over 26,000 postings to the newswire were stories on the use of Shannon airport as a US military refueling depot, the threat to Carrickmines Castle and a variety of protests and direct actions. Many stories broken by Indymedia.ie have turned up in commercial publications.

Some of the first Indymedia stories sound familiar a year later. Stories on anti-war demonstrations at Shannon Airport and the arrest of anti-car protestors both appeared on the newswire in the first few days of Indymedia.ie.

Despite a successful first year providing an alternative, non-commercial source of news and information Indymedia.ie hasn't been without its critics ( 2 ) ( 3 ), which shows it must be doing something right.

Open Letter in response to criticisms of Indymedia by the Sunday Independent's Brendan O'Connor.

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In the early hours of Monday 3 February, five members of the pacifist Catholic Worker Movement ( 2 ) cut their way into Shannon Airport ( 2 ). The peace activists poured human blood on the runway that has been servicing U.S. military flights, troop and munition deployments to U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Qatar. They constructed a shrine on the runway to Iraqi children killed and threatened by U.S./British bombardment and sanctions. The shrine consisted of copies of the Bible and Quran, rosary and muslim prayer beads, flowers, photographs of Iraqi children and Brigid's crosses. They then began to take up the runway, working on its edge with a mallet.

Despite other media giving space to reports of a Garda being assaulted or overpowered, this was refuted by the protestors themselves.

Ciaron O'Reilly, one of the Catholic Worker activists arrested, said today that they had indeed met met a Garda who, rather than being overpowered, had had a kind of stress/panic reaction to their presence and had become upset. According to Ciaron the Garda was concerned with his job and with the reaction of his superiors. Ciaran made it clear that at no point had the Catholic Worker activists approached, attacked or restrained the Garda and that he was their arresting officer. Ciaran is further reported as saying that the five Catholic Worker protesters were themselves upset by the Garda's reaction and had attempted to comfort and reassure him.

Read More | Updates: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) | Picture of those arrested

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A local peace activist was arrested this morning after attempting to disarm a US military plane parked at Shannon Airport.

Mary Kelly entered the airport last night and succeeded in damaging the nose of the plane with a hatchet before she was apprehended. Mary said that she felt compelled to act after the statement last weekend from the Transport Minister that he was allowing the transport of munitions through Shannon and because the Gardai were not doing their job, investigating and preventing illegal military use of Shannon, properly. Her actions, while controversial, have been supported by the Shannon Peace Camp and by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent and again highlight the US military's use of Shannon airport in the buildup to war on Iraq.

A protest against US military use of shannon has been called for 6pm this evening, January 29th at the Dáil by the IAWM

Read More: ( 1 ) ( 2 )

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