Dublin: One of the biggest street demonstrations in recent decades is expected today when thousands of anti-war protesters march in Dublin.The Irish Anti-War Movement expects a turnout of 20,000 for the event, which is part of an international day of action in protest against the threat of US military action in Iraq.
The march is supported by most opposition parties, including Labour, the Greens and Sinn Féin, and leading churchmen will be among the speakers.
Gardaí are preparing for an attendance of between 10,000 to 15,000, but extra personnel will be drafted in as necessary. A Garda spokesman said that there were no plans to close streets, but motorists are warned to expect major traffic disruption along the route.
The event begins at 2 p.m. with a rally at Parnell Square. Protesters will then march via O'Connell Street, College Green and Kildare Street to the Department of Foreign Affairs on St Stephen's Green.
Here, there will be a second rally, with further speeches, poetry recitals and songs. Then the participants will march around St Stephen's Green, via Dawson Street and Suffolk Street, for a final rally at the Central Bank Plaza in Dame Street. The protest will finish at 5.30 p.m.
The chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement predicted that a turnout of "anything in excess of 10,000" would be "something for the Government to be worried about". Speaking at an event to publicise the march yesterday, Mr Richard Boyd Barrett added that the Government was "rattled already" by the level of opposition to war.
He called on Irish people "who might never have come out before" to join today's protest in the interests of the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi people who who were "going to die" if war began.
Green Party TD Mr John Gormley said that today's event - part of a global protest - was "unprecedented". He added: "I don't think even in the heady days of Vietnam will there have been as big a demonstration."
The Government was already in a "very uncomfortable position" on Iraq, he added, and today would add to that discomfort.
The Labour Party said that it would be running buses to Dublin from Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Tipperary and Wexford, and marchers would include all the party's Dáil deputies as well as the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Dermot Lacey.
One of those speaking today, Ms Mary Van Lieshout, of US Citizens in Ireland for Alternatives to War, said it was important to recognise that the peace movement was not an anti-American phenomenon.
The US itself was "profoundly divided" on Iraq, she added. Even before a war had started, there was an unprecedented level of scepticism, "and the reason is that people are not convinced George Bush is telling the truth".
The Labour Party declined to comment yesterday on its likely attitude in the event of a second UN resolution backing military action. Justice spokesman Mr Joe Costello said "nobody in politics wants to cross a bridge unless it's there". He added that if the UN was "bullied" into a second resolution, Labour "would have to look at that".
Mr Gormley ruled out Green Party support for a second resolution supporting war: "There's no provision in the charter for a pre-emptive strike, so a second resolution for war would be in breach of the UN's own rules."
Speakers at today's event will include a former UN official in Iraq, Mr Denis Halliday; the chairman of Trócaire, Bishop John Kirby; Green MEP Ms Patricia McKenna; Labour TD Mr Michael D. Higgins; the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, the Very Rev Robert McCarthy; and Dr Fahmy Akkari, of the Islamic Cultural Centre. Music will be provided by Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, Hazel O'Connor, Kila and Mary Coughlan, and there will be readings by Peter Sheridan, Paula Meehan and Ruth McCabe.
