Sligo anti-government protests

sligo | anti-capitalism | news report Thursday September 11, 2003 20:35 by Ruairi - Donegal Peace Group muscailt at yahoo dot com

Peace protests......

On the morning of Wednesday September 10th peace activists from Donegal, Cavan and Sligo gathered for a silent peace vigil. The vigil involved candles, banners and creative art and was designed to reflect on the ongoing bloodshed in occupied Iraq and the Irish government's complicity by allowing U.S military forces to use Irish airspace, landing and refueling facilities.

At about 1pm government ministers and miscellaneous Fianna Fail TDs started arriving for the 2-day 'think tank' session. Whilst dozens of paranoid Gardai blocked the entrance to the Sligo Park Hotel, protesters greeted Bertie and co. with banners reading 'End Shannon Warport' and 'Peace Now! Ireland and Iraq!'.

A discussion between one protester and Tony Dempsey TD revealed that apparently most government members are not supportive of the Iraq war and the use of Shannon but feel compelled to 'fence sit' because of economic reasons. Upon debate, Dempsey agreed that he Ireland hasn't achieved full independence and is now dependant on Mother Washington's colonial embrace. Agreeing that Fianna Fail must invest in Irish industry, the revolutionary Dempsey stated that he was an ardent supporter of Organic agriculture and using rapeseed oil and an alternative to Iraqi oil.

About 12 members of the popular North West Radio station joined the protest demanding that the decision to grant their licence to a more 'youth friendly' radio station (from 2004) be revoked.

As the radio station and Peace Protesters were leaving about 50 Aer Rianta workers showed up from Dublin with anti-Privatisation signs and banners noting the great Fianna Fail/PD sell out of the Irish people.

Overall, the protest was fairly low key with a disappointing turnout (where's the Anti-war movement?) but the government was well aware of its presence and the motivations behind it. There was plenty of subverted billboards on the Dublin - Sligo road to greet them, passers by on the busy route were overwhelmingly supportive and the local newspapers and radio stations printed and voiced interviews, press releases and pictures.

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- We urge the country to get organising for the Fianna Fail(ure) Ard Fheis at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on October 11th. This is a prime opportunity for ordinary Irish citizens and activist groups to voice their opposition to this band of rogues.