Thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin yesterday to protest against war, genocide and the erosion of Irish neutrality as the Irish Government rolled out the red carpet for some of the world's leading warmongers and genocide enablers.
Throughout the day, thousands gathered in protest, with thousands more taking to the streets in the evening to oppose the gathering of European political leaders, NATO representatives and those complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza.
It was heartening to see numbers on the streets despite the enormous, repressive Garda presence across the City Centre and after the Garda Commissioner warned of a "zero tolerance" approach to protest during the EPC event.
These protests should give real hope and confidence to the growing movement to defend and strengthen Irish neutrality as the Government attempt to ram through legislation that would destroy the Triple Lock.
Their push against the Triple Lock has to be understood in the wider context - of sabre rattling by EU leaders and of rapid militarisation as the €800bn ReArm Europe plan advances.
The protests also took place on the very day that hundreds of thousands of public sector workers had been due to strike over pay. The Government's unwillingness to deliver the pay increases workers need in the face of soaring living costs stood in stark contrast to the commitments made by Irish and EU leaders to increase financial support for Ukraine's military effort and ramp up defence spending even further. This glaring contradiction was called out on the streets of Dublin yesterday, but it is also helping to drive militant strikes and protests across Europe, where workers are increasingly raising the demand for welfare, not warfare.
We cannot allow Ireland to be dragged further into the military structures and imperial ambitions of the US and EU. Our neutrality should be strengthened, not dismantled, and Ireland should be a voice for peace, international solidarity and opposition to imperialism.
Yesterday's protests showed that there are thousands of people willing to stand up against this agenda. Now we need to build on that momentum.
On Saturday 21 November, the Irish Anti-War Movement and Irish Neutrality League are organising a major national demonstration in defence of the Triple Lock.
The march will assemble at the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm.
We need to build for this demonstration in every community, workplace and college, and ensure that huge numbers are back on the streets to send a clear message to the Government - Hands off Irish neutrality. No to war and militarisation. Keep the Triple Lock.