Group will press to have B ray declared a nuclear-freezone

December 1983

The nuclear controversy has arrived in Bray where a newly formed branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is planning a public demonstration.

It will happen at an upcoming meeting of Bray Urban Council where member Dr John McManus is planning to table a motion calling for the town to be declared a nuclear free zone.

Members of Bray CND are planning to demonstrate at the Town Hall and lobby councillors as they arrive for the meeting.

They also intend to send a deputation into the council chamber to outline their views.

Bray CND is in its infancy having only held its inaugural meeting last Monday night, but already it is laying plans for a comprehensive campaign which will include a series of workshops.

Public relations officer Elaine de Chenu explained their aim is to encourage people in Bray to take an active part in CND and to make information readily available about the issue.

The workshops will allow members and guests to hear talks and presentations, carry out research and discuss the issues.

‘ In declaring itself a nuclear free zone, Bray would be making a statement of intent which would have considerable moral weight and would be seen as supportive of policies leading to disarmament and world peace,’ she said.

The idea of a nuclear free zone was first put forward in 1959 by Ireland’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank Aiken and since then many local authorities both at home and abroad have declared their areas nuclear free zones.

Mrs de Chenu added, ‘ the Bray branch as part of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament seeks the abolition of nuclear weapons through the initial steps of unilateral disarmament leading to multilateral disarmament, the strengthening of Irish neutrality, and the prevention of Irish involvement in the production of nuclear weapons.’

She felt that the people of Bray could play a key role in the fight for disarmament.