Shannonwatch

U.S. military traffic through Shannon was down significantly in April due to the spread of the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. The ongoing presence of this ash in and around Irish airspace has now resulted in the re-routing of all troop and military cargo flights through different bases worldwide. Since early May there have been no U.S. Air Force cargo or troop carriers at Shannon. Clearly the U.S.

Following on from a decision by the U.S. military and their main troop carrier to re-route their traffic through different military bases and airports, it has been reported that Shannon Airport-based companies are temporarily laying-off staff.

Shannonwatch member Edward Horgan will speak at a conference on rendition and torture in Duke University in North Carolina this week. In January of this year the U.S. revoked the ten year visa which he had been granted in 2009, but at the last minute he was granted a 3 month visa and will be attending the conference.

While most of the world was turning green for St Patrick's Day, Ireland was committing itself to an ongoing role in the unjustified war being waged in Afghanistan. President Barrack Obama thanked the Irish Government for allowing US troops to stop off at Shannon Airport on their way to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Valentine's Day was marked at Shannon Airport by a vigil calling for Love not War. Around 25 people gathered in the sunshine outside the airport entrance, displaying black hearts and calling for an end to the U.S. military use of Shannon. Demonstrators ended the hour long vigil by giving their black heart 'Valentine Cards' to the Gardai who stood behind the metal barriers which they had erected to block access to the airport.

Over 1,330 U.S. troop carriers and other military aircraft passed through Shannon Airport in 2009. This meant that around 5,000 troops plus their weapons transited through the airport every week, as did contracted cargo planes and other military aircraft on their way to and from war in Iraq and Afghanistan.