Approximately 150,000 (though figures vary, with the mainstream media cutting this number by half) people from dozens of different organisations and most from none gathered at the Garden of Remembrance to demonstrate their outrage at the upcoming war with Iraq. The use of the Garden of Remembrance as a meeting point was not unusual, though the sheer mass of numbers gathered all around Parnell Square and spilling out onto O’Connell Street was evidence of the massive popular disapproval in Ireland at the incipient escalation of hostilities against Iraq and in particular, of the use of Shannon airport as a refuelling depot for the U.S. military in transit.

At a meeting of the Grassroots Gathering anti-war network hours beforehand, it was agreed that direct action at Shannon, which has proven so successful in isolation over recent months, must now mobilise vastly greater numbers if it is to have an real impact on stopping the military build up at the airport. Thousands of protestors, participating in a mass direct action at Shannon, is the only way that we can achieve our ultimate goals. Unless the Gardai (Irish police)) are prepared for a bloodbath of epic proportions, our collective strength should protect us from physical assault, and hopefully from mass arrest.
(As for the latter, it is essential that a support network be created for those activists who will end up under lock and key at the end of the day. Groups like the Dublin-based Anarchist Support  anarsuppdublin@hotmail.com should be contacted if the finances to bail arrested comrades is to be raised. Nationwide, delegates from different anti-war groups must coordinate some sort of financial provision for arrestees.)

At the meeting it was largely felt that there should be widespread publicity for the actions to be undertaken on March 1st. Proposals for action are being taken back to the different groups around the country which form the grassroots network.

Seventy per cent of people in this country are against the use of Shannon as a warport. A small fraction of these numbers at Shannon in two weeks time will go a long way to outstrip the myth that our place is at the polling booth every four years. Our voice can be heard whenever we want it to be heard.

What is important is that the libertarian movement in Ireland is able to impact on those who do not see direct action as an option. Our numbers need to be large enough to weigh against the expectant storm troopers of the state that will be on parade on March 1st.
We need a propaganda machine to be put in action over the next few weeks which will draw the kind of support that was obvious for all to see on Saturday in Dublin and Belfast.
We need to persuade, for example, workers at Shannon of their manipulation as pawns in an endgame which is allowing Ireland to be used as an airstrip for foreign troops.
We need the growth of local anti-war groups engaging in direct action against companies like Top Oil  http://www.top.ie who provide the aviation fuel at Shannon. Why? Because actions can be mounted for those unable to make Shannon for geographic reasons, and because the concept of direct action can be localised. A Top Oil boycott meanwhile would really help to forge the link between the militarisation of Shannon and one of the main reasons for this war in the first place: oil.
Most importantly, we must build on the tidal wave of protest that flowed through our towns and cities last weekend. Otherwise, we will still be walking in (albeit bigger, noisier and more colourful) circles.