Salthill War Show cancelled

by A Galwegian Aviation Enthusiast Sat Dec 15, 2007 14:03

Thought I'd pop in to act as devil's advocate (Not literally! just giving the views of someone who enjoyed the airshow)

At the last airshow, rumours had been that there wasn't the funding to do it in 2008. Well, it has come to pass, and many of us in the aviation community are saddened. We do not, and never will, differenciate between aircraft used for rescue, aircraft used for transport, and aircraft used to fire weapons, which you, in the anti-war activist community, do. We also did not differenciate between nations. A Russian aircraft would be just as welcome as an American or French or Dutch or Irish machine (However, great pride would be held in the Irish ones, our contribution to the aviation world!). No, we would come to see, compare with memory, different types of aircraft we would never get the chance to see demonstrate what they could do at any other time. We would see, and marvel at the skill of the men and women in control, and wish we could do something which was impossible to humans only four generations ago.

Politics was left out of it.

Now, with their commendable morals, the GAAW saw fit to make their presence felt, and their views known. I was pleased when I saw that they had put together a show of their own at the Spanish Arch, which those who didn't like warplanes could attend. Instead of trying to disrupt the enjoyment of those of a different viewpoint, they took the bigger, more just, option: The providing of a different focal point, and allowing those who were undecided to decide to attend one or the other. Two good events for Galway, providing, between them, for all of the spectrum of people.

Now there will be nothing.

The Sunday will pass like any other. No facepainting, no speeches, no music. The banners will be put away, the Arch thronged with the same amount of tourists that were there the Sunday before, and will be there after. The aviatiors will stand at the edge of runways, looking and taking photographs of aircraft they have seen a thousand times before, hoping that something unusual passes their way, to be commented on in an Irish aviation magazine.

I prefer the old way. But then again that's just me.

by jamie - sligo Fri Dec 07, 2007 21:30

well done to all in GAAW and everyone who has supported them , a great victory!

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Ploughshares Thu Dec 06, 2007 06:43

Congratulations Galway Against All War for the steadfast organising against theis militarised air show and all those who turned up to oppose it over the years.

The "air show" was an event where the rubber really hit the road in terms of the apparatus of the presence of the U.S. war machine in Ireland.Good to see it gone......

by wageslave Wed Dec 05, 2007 17:54

I for one am glad to see the end of this.

Thanks for the efforts of all who opposed this for the last few years. However somehow I doubt they were listened to or that their activities contributed much to the cancellation of the show. Alas the forces of capitalism matter far more in these matters than the ethical peaceful protests of good people.

Despite all the efforts such decent folk put in, at the end of the day all it took was a little greed on the part of the insurance industry to end it in one fell swoop.

It's pretty depressing to realise that the only thing that seems to matter these days is the bottom line. Human life, ethical objections....none of those matter any more. How did we get to this dark place?

by paul o toole Tue Dec 04, 2007 20:36

Some welcome news for once, it is always to long between victories, big or small.
Why anyone could watch this filth in admiration with their kids is beyond comprehension unless of course they are FF members