A 91-year-old woman has completed a 220km walk from Shannon Airport to the Dáil in protest against the use of the airport by the US military.
Lelia Doolan, a film producer and activist, who previously worked at RTÉ, began her long walk on 31 March.
She is also walking in memory of her friend and fellow campaigner Margaretta D'Arcy who died last year.
Ms Doolan said she was "trying to think of a peaceful way to draw attention to the scandal that is Shannon Airport at the moment where US military planes are landing without anybody ever agreeing in Government to search them or see what's in them".
"Shannon is a civilian airport. It's not a military airport. We object to our neutrality being absolutely endangered by this."
She said people are being "fooled into thinking that this has to continue", saying "it doesn't have to continue".
She said doing the walk was easier than "trying to get over the fence" at Leinster House "because that's a bit high".
She paid tribute to Margaretta D'Arcy who she described as "one hell of a peace activist".
Ms Doolan said her walk was "great" but admitted she was glad she does not "have to do it again".
The long-term activist said she has met the "funniest and the weirdest people" on her journey.
"Weird people make up the world and I am one of them."
Ms Doolan said it does not take a lot for a woman to be regarded as "troublesome" and "that's why there is so many of us".
'Decide to do something'
The 91-year-old encouraged people who want to make a difference to "just get up in the morning and decide to do something".
"It's very simple. Just do it."
Ms Doolan was greeted by hugs and cheers by supporters waving Palestinian flags as she walked up Molesworth Street towards her finish line.
Members of the Opposition also met Ms Doolan outside the gates of Leinster House.
During a speech, Ms Doolan said her walk was about "equality" and "kindness" and she paid tribute to the people who helped her on her way.
"If you only knew how wonderful the people of Ireland are. If only you knew how engaging they are, decent and intelligent they are."
Ms Doolan read the crowd a poem called 'Kindness' by a Palestinian American poet Naomi Shihab Nye before she joined fellow protesters to sing "give peace a chance".
In the Dáíl chamber this afternoon, Labour leader Ivana Bacik commended Ms Doolan on her "mammoth" walk.
She asked the Taoiseach if he would meet Ms Doolan this afternoon and stop "allowing the military use of Shannon Airport in the face of the war mongering that we have seen".
"Can you guarantee that the US military and indeed Israeli forces are not benefitting from the use of Shannon Airport," Ms Bacik said.
In response, Mr Martin said he will see what he can do, in regard to meeting Ms Doolan.
'Shannon Airport is not a US military base' - Taoiseach
"I have the greatest of respect given her views, her commitment and her perseverance. It's an extraordinary journey to take in terms of her views of Shannon Airport," he said.
Mr Martin added: "However, I think we need to be clear. Shannon Airport is not a US military base.
"We need to be very careful that we don't miscategorise Shannon Airport. I think that will damage Shannon Airport and I have concerns about that."
Mr Martin said Shannon Airport had no role "good, bad or indifferent" on the war in Gaza, or the war between the US and Iran.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland earlier, Ms Doolan said her 'Walk With Lelia' campaign is the most peaceful way she can to raise the issue of Irish neutrality.
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Along the way, Ms Doolan was joined by hundreds of people from communities across counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois and Kildare.
She was warmly welcomed and joined for each leg of the journey by supporters.
Ms Doolan, who completed a skydive for her 90th birthday, has now completed another milestone by walking the 220km from Shannon Airport to the Dáil.
