Activists demonstrate at Shannon

Dozens of peace campaigners gathered at Shannon Airport tonight for a vigil to mark the third anniversary of the founding of a peace camp in protest against the use of the airport by US troops.

The campaigners set up an overnight peace camp on the approach road to the airport to commemorate the founding of the original camp in 2003.

Mary Hughes, one of the organisers, said music and entertainment would take place at the camp rather than an active protest.

“We felt it was important to hold the vigil as it was three years ago the original peace camp was formed. The same thing is still happening. There are still US military and their weapons and cargo going through Shannon Airport,” she said, adding there were very serious materials being brought through the airport. “It is quite important these things are brought to light again.”

The organisers planted a cherry tree in memory of a campaigner, Emma Carroll, who took part in the original protests but died after a long battle with cancer last December.

The documentary by Margaretta D’Arcy ’Big Plane, Small Axe’ about activist Mary Kelly was also being shown at the make-shift camp.