An estimated 4,000 people attended a rally in Limerick city centre to protest over the withdrawal by Aer Lingus of its Shannon-Heathrow route.
The rally was organised by the mayors of the local authorities in the Mid-West, including Limerick city and county, Clare and North Tipperary.
Several TDs and senators from the region as well as people from the business, tourism and sporting sectors also spoke at the rally.
The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Ger Fahy, said the rally was a demonstration to the Government that the people of the region are determined to fight any decision that will lead to the downgrading of the region.
Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West, John Cregan, was the only Government member on the podium.
He has heckled by the crowd when he spoke, but he said he would be bringing the strong message from the rally regarding the saving of the Shannon-Heathrow slots back to his Government colleagues.
In a joint statement issued befroe the rally, the groups asked why the Government has deemed it necessary in recent weeks to protect the Aer Lingus slots for Cork and Dublin and not take any decisive action with the company in relation to Shannon.
They urged the Government, the other shareholders and the Board of Aer Lingus to take steps to reverse the very damaging decision to abandon the Shannon-Heathrow flights.
