Garda authorities have refused to allow Saturday's main protest against the visit of US President George W. Bush to march along part of its proposed route, although they will allow it to within half-a-mile of Dromoland Castle, the venue for the EU-US summit in Co Clare.
Organisers of the Stop Bush march have been told that protesters will not be allowed to walk the 10 kms from the castle to Shannon Airport.
The protest was initially planned to begin at Clarecastle at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, and move on to nearby Dromoland Castle, where Mr Bush and members of his administration are to meet a delegation of senior figures from the EU, headed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
After Dromoland Castle, the march was due to continue to Shannon Airport where Mr Bush is scheduled to leave shortly before 3 p.m.
At a meeting in Portlaoise yesterday, gardaí informed organisers that the march would be allowed to proceed from Clarecastle to Latoon Bridge, half-a-mile from the castle.
However, they would not be allowed to proceed from the castle to Shannon. This is the route which President Bush's motorcade is expected to travel.
The protesters, however, would be allowed march from Shannon town centre to just short of the perimeter of Shannon Airport.
Organisers have asked that the decision be reviewed by the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy. If it remains in place, it is expected that the main protest will focus on a march from Shannon town to the airport, with a token protest at Dromoland Castle.
Yesterday, Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, one of the organisers who met the gardaí, said the Stop Bush campaign was not accepting the restrictions, although he welcomed the fact that the march was being allowed close to both the airport and Dromoland Castle.
"We're calling on the guards and the Government and we're making a very reasonable request," he said. "This is going to be a very peaceful march."
Mr Boyd Barrett also claimed there had been a "scare campaign" by the Government to discourage people from attending the protests.
Meanwhile, the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, and the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Michael Conaghan of Labour, are expected to be among politicians taking part on Friday in a protest in Dublin against the visit.
The protest begins at Parnell Square on Friday evening and is to march to Government Buildings.
Other TDs expected to attend include Independent TDs Mr Finian McGrath and Mr Tony Gregory, Mr Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party and the former leader of the Labour party, Mr Ruairí Quinn.
Gordon Deegan adds: The newly-elected mayor of Shannon is to join demonstrators this weekend.
Labour councillor Mr Greg Duff confirmed yesterday that he would be joining the Shannon protest.
Mr Duff indicated his support for the protest as Aer Rianta confirmed yesterday that over 55,000 US troops have passed through Shannon on almost 1,000 flights this year, although the numbers show a steep decrease in the past two months.
On the Bush visit, Mr Duff said yesterday: "As far as I'm concerned, President Bush is not welcome in Shannon. He has created a very unstable world and should not be allowed into Shannon."