Hundreds of protesters turn out at Shannon Airport over US military use

Hundreds of demonstrators from around the country gathered at Shannon Airport on Sunday to protest its use by the US military.

The protest was supported by Irish anti-war organisations, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and activist group Shannonwatch, who have called on the Irish government to "take action to end US military use of Shannon airport immediately".

Protestors blockaded the airport on Sunday afternoon, April 14, carrying signs and Palestinian flags demonstrating their opposition to the US military use of the airport and their support for the people of Gaza in the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict.

We're grateful to everyone who came to join us, @ipsc48 & @PANAIreland at Shannon today to demand #USMilitaryOutOfShannon. Biggest demo in years at the airport; so many people responding to the urgent need to stop Ireland's support for military aggression and genocide. pic.twitter.com/0N68R5rQI4

— Shannonwatch (@shannonwatch) April 14, 2024

People Before Profit representative Ruairi Fahy stated that “by allowing the United States to use Shannon Airport for the transfer of weapons to Israel, refusing to do inspections of planes and just accepting Biden at his word, Ireland is complicit in the genocide of Palestinians."

"It's time the government get military planes out of our civilian airport and end this stain on our neutrality," he continued.

The protest blocked the N19 approach road to the airport for almost two hours on Sunday, with reports of passengers travelling through the airport forced to walk in to the terminal. 

PICTURE: Shannonwatch

In a statement that was read to protestors, Shannonwatch called on the Irish government to "comply with international laws on neutrality".

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"These obligations are being seriously breached by US military use of Shannon Airport while the US has been waging wars of aggression in the Middle East and elsewhere," the statement read.

"Until such time as the use of Shannon Airport by the US military is ended, the least that the Gardai and Irish authorities should do is to ensure weapons or other military support is not being provided via Shannon to the state of Israel in breach of international laws."

The group also called on all workers at Shannon Airport to "refuse to facilitate the transit of all aircraft associated with the US military".