These are excerpts from an article on "Irishabroad.com":
Opposition to Bush Visit Growing
By Mairead Carey in Dublin
THERE is growing pressure on the Government to withdraw its invitation to President Bush, who is due to visit Ireland at the end of June.
. . . Now the leader of the main political opposition party has questioned the wisdom of holding the US-EU summit in Ireland, given the demonstrations it is likely to provoke.
The Greens, Labor and Sinn Fein are already opposed to the visit. Members of all three parties are urging people to protest at Dromoland Castle, the most likely venue for the President's stay.
The story details the views of the opposition parties in Ireland, and the views of the outspoken Bishop of Killaloe who believes that allowing Bush's visit will harm Ireland, since,"In the Islamic world it identifies us with what they regard as brutal oppression".
There's also the little matter of the Gardai (Irish Police) calling people's homes in Shannon and asking for personal information, as well as rumors that some companies are compiling information for the Gardai on their employees.
Ivana Bacik (described as a "Labor Euro hopeful") is calling on protestors "to seize the opportunity to take to the streets again and let their voices be heard against this bloody, senseless war." And she urges protestors not to be "put off by the security measures."
And this should sound familiar: "People should not be intimidated by over-zealous behaviour such as this. Democratic, peaceful protest is our right and we should exercise it during Bush's visit," she said.
I can remember the Irish being very welcoming to many previous presidents - it's quite an accomplishment to get them to put out the "not welcome" mat!