An anti-war group yesterday released doves to protest at the presence of US and British military jets at the Salthill air show to be held at the weekend.
The symbolic gesture was organised by the Galway Alliance Against War, which had billed the event as "Not the Salthill War Show".
The alliance's spokesman, Niall Farrell, said the show organisers were "wittingly or not, glorifying and sanitising war" by displaying war planes as part of the programme. His group has called for a boycott in protest.
A spokesman for the Salthill Air Show said that he and his colleagues were as "anti-war as anyone", but military aircraft also had a positive dimension in terms of their protective role.
"Every aircraft booked in our programme since 1994 is used for display only, and they participate in 500 to 600 air shows throughout Europe, including several in Ireland. None of these planes are actually involved in any military activity."
Highlight of the programme, which also includes the Garda and Irish Coast Guard helicopters and the Utterly Butterly wing walkers, will be the RAF Red Arrow display team. The free event takes place from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday.
The organisers have confirmed that an RAF Jaguar, Tornado and a US Black Hawk helicopter will participate in the event, along with aircraft from the Dutch Air Force.
