Small numbers demonstrate as US Vice President George Bush visits Ireland.
United States (US) Vice President George Bush, accompanied by his wife Barbara pay a 22 hour visit to Ireland as part of his European tour.
The only real opposition to the visit is at the US Embassy in Ballsbridge, where a crowd of about 1,000 people gather to protest over American foreign policy, especially in Latin America, and the nuclear arms build up.
Organisers are disappointed with the turn out. However among those groups present are women from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) movement who are concerned with US plans to place Pershing and Cruise missile sites in Europe.
On 5 July, Vice President Bush’s arrival at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin for a wreath laying ceremony is met by a small group of protesters,
Chanting 'Bush Out!’ and calling his visit to the Garden an insult to the Irish people.
This protest includes a group from Provisional Sinn Féin demanding an end to extradition.
As Vice President Bush leaves the Garden of Remembrance he is continually jeered by the small group of demonstrators outside,
But that didn’t discourage the Vice President from a friendly wave.
On arrival at Dublin Castle to meet with An Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, the Vice President’s motorcade is yet again jeered by protesters. Following the three hour meeting, George Bush departs for Dublin Airport.
From a security point of view the whole operation had gone off without the slightest hitch.
An Garda Síochána and the US Secret Service are pleased to find that all their planning paid off, and the big demonstrations threatened never materialised.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 July 1983. The reporter is Charlie Bird.
