Anti-war groups to stage simultaneous protests for Bush

Irish anti-war groups are to hold simultaneous protests in six cities to mark the visit of US President George Bush next month. Major protests are expected at Shannon Airport and Dromoland Castle, Co Clare.

Mr Bush will visit Ireland on June 25th and 26th for the EU-US summit, which is taking place at Dromoland Castle.

On Friday June 25th, the Stop Bush Campaignwill hold a demonstration at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin at 7 p.m. Simultaneous demonstrations are planned for Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick and Tralee. On Saturday June 26th protesters will march from Dromoland Castle to Shannon airport.

The Irish Anti-War Movement has organised a concert called When Bush comes to Shovein Dublin's Point Theatre, the weekend before Mr Bush arrives. The concert will feature the Irish artists such as Christy Moore, Damien Rice and Mary Black to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the protests.

Mr Richard Boyd-Barrett, Chairperson of the Irish Anti-War movement said: "We believe Ahern's government has actively supported Bush's criminal war and occupation while trying to hide their collaboration from the Irish public".

"If they want to prove us wrong we them now to join us in calling for the indictment of Bush and the US administration for war crimes," he added.

Meanwhile, the Dublin Grassroots Network said at at press conference today it too was setting up a campaign to protest against Mr Bush's visit, entitled amBush 2004."We're planning an ambush for the world's number one terrorist," Mr Terry Clancy the campaign's spokesman said.

At 7 p.m. on Friday 25th June the group is planning an anti-war demonstration in Shannon town centre before marching to the airport. Their intention is to be at the airport when Mr Bush arrives. Buses will ferry protesters from Dublin, Cork, Galway and other areas, the group said.

Dr Fintan Lane of another group, Anti-War Ireland, said: "We decided to protest at Shannon airport because we want Bush to be greeted with protests as he lands on Irish soil, and because we want to focus attention on the integration of Shannon airport into the US war machine."

On Saturday the group plans a parade for peace from Bunratty to Shannon starting at noon. This demonstration will feature musicians street performers and artists and places in cars and minibuses will be provided at the back of the procession for the old and very young. The group is also planning a critical mass cycle from Dublin to the Friday night protest in Shannon.

• The Stop Bush C ampaignis supported by the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, the NGO Peace Alliance, SIPTU, ATGWU, CPSU, USI, The Labour Party, The Green Party, Sinn Fein, The Socialist Party, The Socialist Workers Party, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others.

• The amBush 2004 campaignis made up of Grassroots Network groups from Cork, Galway and Dublin and Midwest Against Military Agression (MAMA). Anti-War Ireland is a broad-based national alliance of anti-war groups, including the Cork Anti-War Campaign, Fairview Against the War, the Dublin Anti-War Group, and other groups and individuals across the country.