91 year old lady walking to Dáíl welcomes Laois supporters

Film director and peace activist Lelia Doolan has set out on a two week trek, from Shannon Airport, crossing Ireland to arrive at the Dáil in mid April.

She will be walking from Roscrea to Mountrath on Tuesday, April 7, Mountrath to Portlaoise on April 8, and Portlaoise to Monasterevin on April 9, via the Old Dublin Road.

She has a message for Laois people asking to show support to her group as it crosses through the county.

“I know well that the people of Laois value our neutrality. All you have to do is come out for a day, give us a wave, walk with us for a step.

"Sing us a song, clap us on the road, beep your horn in solidarity, just remind the Taoiseach and the Government, we are people who want a peaceful world, a kind world, a world of fun, enjoyment, kindness, decency, that’s why,” Lelia told the Leinster Express / Laois Live. 

Lelia Doolan at her Galway home. Photo: Karen Cox

Asked how difficult she is finding the walk, Leila is positive.

“We are in the middle of the second day, so far so good. I walk every morning as far as I may. There’s a support car that looks after needs that people might have on the way. Water, a bandage, a painkiller or just a little rest. Sometimes I take that car for a few miles then I join up again.

"I haven’t found it that troublesome. I have found it enjoyable, because one of the great things about walking is you can talk to people. You’re not going at such a terrible rate, this is an ambling pace that enables people to convey ideas, tell their history, have a song. It is a moment for enjoyment, for saying the world is better than war. 99% of all the people in the world are great people. And half of them are on this walk is all I can say," she said.

She explained why she took on her protest walk.

“I’m taking this action because I think walking is a very unthreatening thing to do. I think we are being badly threatened by what is going on in Shannon Airport. I felt a good long walk to draw attention to the people who I know blooming well agree, that our neutrality is sacred.

Lelia Doolan with her friend and fellow social justice activist Margaretta D’Arcy when they were honoured with doctoracts from Galway University. They later both returned them in protest at Israeli links to the university. 

“American military planes are landing daily in Shannon, over the last 30 years, and more and more recently since Trump decided to invade Iran. The Israelis have for the last several years, been interfering with the people and killing them in Gaza and the West Bank, doing what is done to them long ago by the Nazis.

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"I cannot understand how our Government is enabling US warplanes to use Shannon to fly god knows what to the Middle East. They do not inspect the planes as far as I know. They can come and tell us that they do, in which case that would be interesting news.​​​​​​​​​​​,” the activist said.

She is also walking in memory of her late friend and comrade Margaretta D’Arcy.

Follow the walk on socials @walkwithlelia and see www.shannonwatch.org for updates Contact walkwithlelia@proton.me to get involved and offer support.