'Major' national demonstration planned against US military use of Shannon Airport

A 'major national demonstration' is planned at Shannon Airport to protest its use by the US military during the Israeli-Gaza conflict.

It will call for an immediate end to the use of the airport by the US military, particularly in the context of the ongoing military support by the US for Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The gathering, which will take place this Sunday, April 14, is supported by all the major anti-war organisations in the country, and by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Speaking ahead of the demonstration, Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch said “We welcome the Irish government’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and their intervention in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

"However, this means nothing if they don’t do everything in their power to cut off the supply of weapons and other support to Israel. One of the immediate actions Ireland must take is to end the movement of US military planes through Shannon Airport and Irish airspace. If they don’t do this, they are supporting genocide.”

US military contracted aircraft with munitions on board typically land at regional bases in Eastern Europe for Ukrainian supplies, or at bases in the Middle East.

However, tracking where the munitions eventually end up is difficult, and the Irish government makes no effort to do so.

Shannonwatch have also documented US Air Force planes that have been in Israel within days of landing at Shannon or flying through Irish airspace.

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The organisation’s calls over many years for these planes to be inspected at Shannon have been ignored by the government who say they rely on US “assurances” that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, are not engaged in military exercises or operations.

Shannonwatch, who have long mobilised against the use of Shannon Airport by the US military, have also organised regular protests at the airport since the beginning of the Israeli-Gaza conflict in October 2023.

Zoë Lawlor, Chairperson of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign said “We cannot be silent while Israel commits genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We demand action from our government to sanction that state, enact the legislation on its illegal settlements and to stop the US military use of Shannon Airport."

"The majority of people in Ireland support sanctions on Israel and have come out onto the streets in their thousands for 6 months to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and total rejection of these endless atrocities.

"Ireland cannot have one iota of complicity with this genocide and must stop enabling the US military to participate in it. We commend the activists who have highlighted this grievous misuse of Shannon," she continued.