Some 51 Irish writers opposed to the war on Iraq have contributed works to an anthology that will help fund the Irish Anti-War Movement, reports Nuala Haughey.
The publishers of the book of poetry and prose estimate the proceeds from its sale will raise at least €10,000 for the anti-war group, which is continuing to organise public protests. Contributors to the collection, Irish Writers Against War, include Seamus Heaney, Roddy Doyle and Brian Friel.
At the book's launch yesterday, the playwright and theatre director, Mr Peter Sheridan, described the volume as a publication where artists could raise their voices against an unnecessary war.
Mr Roddy Doyle, who attended the launch, said the longer the war continued, the moral issue became more and more pressing.
"How do you balance things out? Is X amount of jobs worth one Iraqi life? The 40,000 American soldiers going through Shannon aren't going on their holidays. Some of them will kill people."