Four thousand people turned out in Limerick city centre on Saturday to attend the public rally aimed at forcing the Government to ensure a Shannon-London Heathrow service.
Last August, Aer Lingus confirmed its plans to withdraw from its profitable Shannon-Heathrow route. Since then, there has been a massive campaign to see the service retained for Shannon, amid claims that the loss of the vital air link would have catastrophic consequences for the region.
Saturday's event, which was organised by the mayors of Clare, Tipperary North and Limerick City and County, was attended by church leaders, local public representatives, TDs and Senators, and union, business and tourism leaders from across the midwest.
Several hundred Aer Lingus workers also joined the crowd, which regularly chanted "save our slots".
Mayor of Clare, Patricia McCarthy, told the rally: "The Government cannot get off the hook on this issue. The Government is a major shareholder in the airline and can intervene as the facts prove that the Aer Lingus move has been a poor one."
All the major political parties were invited to nominate someone to address the rally. However up to moments before the event began, Fianna Fáil had failed to notify the organisers whom they had selected.
Earlier in the week, Minister for Defence and Limerick TD Willie O'Dea declined an invitation to attend the protest, citing his wish not to politicise the event by his presence and that his decision came only after much soul searching.
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD John Cregan, who was the only Government member on the stage, addressed the event, but was jeered by sections of the crowd.
Mr Cregan said: "I will now go back to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport and will let them know that this issue will not go away and I will be encouraging them to find a solution to this issue." The meeting was also addressed by the Mayor of Limerick, city councillor Ger Fahy.
The rally concluded with a speech from former Munster and Ireland rugby player, Peter Clohessy, who said he was at the event as a Limerick man, a businessman and sportsman.
"Mr O'Dea didn't have the balls to turn up here today," he added. He then joined in a rendition of the Munster rugby anthem, Stand up and Fight.
Before the event, the bishops of the midwest issued a statement.
"We would again urge the Government, the other shareholders and the board of Aer Lingus to take the necessary steps to reverse this very damaging decision to abandon the Shannon-Heathrow flights," they said.
"While making this appeal we also recognise that the future development of the region depends largely on our own initiatives. Help from outside agencies is never a substitute for local endeavour. Can we respond to that challenge?"
The statement was issued on behalf of Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert the Right Rev Michael Mayes, Bishop of Limerick Dr Donal Murray, and Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh.