Then........
From a PBS piece:
MARGARET WARNER: Today in Dublin, a huge crowd, estimated at 100,000 people, roared its approval for Mr. Clinton's peace efforts in Northern Ireland. The President responded by calling on them to help their prime minister support the cause of peace.
From RTE:
Earlier Mr Clinton addressed a 60,000 strong crowd in Dundalk town centre, saying "It's a new day in Dundalk and a new day in Ireland", as he paid tribute to all the people he has met during his involvement in the peace process.
And a breif history from the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1065913.stm
Now...........
Protesters to greet Bush on first visit to Ireland
By Thomas Harding, Ireland Correspondent
(Filed: 25/06/2004)
The traditional Irish greeting of Cead Mile Failte (100,000 welcomes) is unlikely to be reserved for President George W Bush when he arrives at Shannon airport today on his first visit to the Republic.
Instead an army of protesters lies in wait. Nearly 200 Dublin lawyers have called for his arrest for war crimes and the Irish TUC has denounced him as "a menace to world peace".
But the protests will make little difference to Mr Bush who will be whisked in an armoured convoy for the eight-mile drive from the airport, along a sealed road to the £900-a-night presidential suite at Dromoland Castle.
Unlike the previous presidential visitors, he will not be making any walkabouts during his 19-hour visit for the EU-US summit where he will discuss the Middle East and the fight against HIV/Aids.
also....
Irish batten down hatches for Bush
US president's visit expected to provoke big demonstrations
Angelique Chrisafis, Ireland correspondent
Friday June 25, 2004
The Guardian
Every summer since the invention of the jet, Ireland has been invaded by Americans. The country of "a hundred thousand welcomes" regularly opens its arms to its transatlantic cousins, whose investment has fuelled its economic boom.
But this weekend's visit by George Bush, the US president, has turned tradition on its head. Irish lawyers have signed a petition against Mr Bush and suggested he should be arrested as soon as he arrives. Clerics have questioned the president's morals and the leader of the Irish senate has boycotted a US embassy dinner to mark his visit. Anti-war protesters say they are being censored by a government desperate to keep a lid on demonstrations. The terrorism risk has resulted in the biggest security operation in the country's history.
REMEMBER, MOST OF THE WORLD IN NOT ANTI-AMERICAN. MOST OF THE WORLD IS ANTI-BUSH!