A small group of anti-war campaigners protested outside Shannon Airport today as an aircraft carrying US President George Bush made a refuelling stop.
Several hundred gardai, Defence Forces personnel and airport workers were in place at the Co Clare airport as Mr Bush's aircraft stopped en route to the US from his trip to India and Pakistan.
A small group of anti-war campaigners protested outside the perimeter of the airport.
The Irish Anti-War Movement has already branded the president's stop-over as further evidence of the Government's collusion with the US administration.
Richard Boyd-Barrett, from the Irish Anti-War Movement, said: "It is in line with the policy of this Government in assisting the US war machine, as they are allowing thousands of US troops to pass through Shannon Airport and they are refusing to search CIA planes which could be possibly used in rendition flights."
Amid tight security, Mr Bush remained on the jet, while it spent an hour and 20 minutes refuelling after landing just after 2.30am.
On his trip out to India and Pakistan, Mr Bush had his photo taken with around 200 US troops at Shannon Airport who were on their way to Kuwait.
Earlier in the week, Green Party chairman John Gormley said: "There can be no doubt also that the appearance of President Bush in Shannon along with American troops, who use the airport as if it is a military complex, increases the likelihood of an attack on this country from terrorists."
About 20,000 US troops each month are believed to pass through the airport en route to the war in Iraq.