https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick Catch up on all the latest business news in Limerick and County Limerick Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism The Shannon Airport Group recorded a solid financial performance in 2024 with turnover from continuing operations increasing by 7.6% FOLLOWING a year where Shannon Airport exceeded its passenger growth target CEO of The Shannon Airport Group,  confirmed that an ambitious investment programme of over €30m is underway.  2024 saw a strong transatlantic performance at Shannon Airport and it now offers five transatlantic routes with Aer Lingus solidifying its position as an alternative transatlantic access point Ryanair expanded its capacity at Shannon in 2024, celebrating 20 million passengers through the airport since 1987, and announcing a new service to Madeira together with increased frequencies on eight routes Commenting following the publication of the 2024 annual report Mary Considine said: "We exceeded our 2024 passenger growth target at Shannon Airport the highest number of passengers in 15 years and a 7% increase on 2023 "This strong growth milestone reflects the airport's pivotal role in Ireland's aviation sector and success in 2024 was driven by a strong performance across our 33 routes to 11 countries with the addition of new routes and increased capacity." Ms Considine added that over 200,000 additional seats on European UK and US destinations in 2024 enhanced connectivity and boosted tourism and business travel to and from Shannon last year "Shannon Airport enjoyed increases in passenger traffic across all key markets," she said "Continental European traffic rose by 16% to 870,000; transatlantic passenger numbers grew by 12% to 332,000; and UK traffic increased marginally to 839,000.  "Shannon Airport's passenger growth soared by 44% from 2022 to 2024 making it Ireland's fastest-growing airport We will continue to work on growing strategic connectivity for Ireland." READ ALSO: New Shannon Airport cross-party group off to a positive start Shannon Airport maintained its status as Ireland's favourite airport ranking first in the travel category for customer experience in the Ireland Customer Experience Insights (CXi) Report It also won the Best CX Team award in the transport category at the national Customer Experience Awards for the second consecutive year The airport also received accolades including the RED C Brand Reaction Index (BRII) Ireland 2024 the Aviation Customer Focus Achievement award and the Placemaking Initiative of the Year award for its initiatives across the Shannon Airport Business Park The Group recorded a solid financial performance in 2024 with turnover from continuing operations increasing by 7.6% on the 2023 figure to €73.1 million while the Group reported an EBITDA of €18.3 million This strong operational performance is reflected in the Group's annual profit from continuing operations of €25.7 million Commenting Ms Considine said: “This level of profitability in conjunction with a growing balance sheet of €309 million at the end of 2024 is very encouraging and creates a solid foundation for our future plans With this performance we are on a firm financial footing to embark on the next phase of our development strategy.” The Group invested over €8 million in 2024 with a further investment of over €30 million in infrastructure planned to support the achievement of its ambitious sustainability goals enhance customer experience and drive regional economic growth Key projects underway include a €3 million the first of its kind on an airfield in Ireland which will provide up to 20% of the airport’s electricity requirements once completed this year Also planned is a €2.5 million thermal wrap facelift of the terminal building which will assist the Group in achieving its goal of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reaching Net Zero by 2050 Vital customer facing infrastructure will also see substantial investment including a significant upgrade to the immigration and baggage hall areas; the extension of Boarding Gates 1-5 optimising passenger areas; and 1,000 new carpark spaces.  Other investments are planned for the Shannon Airport Business Park home to over 300 companies employing more than 10,000 people which continued to thrive as a hub for FDI and indigenous businesses in 2024 Work will commence there on two new multi-purpose manufacturing units totalling 103,000 sq ft a new 40,000 sq ft research and development facility both of which will be available to lease in 2026 “We were delighted to recently welcome a new client to the Shannon Airport Business Park a major US-based logistics company has taken up residence in Block S This temperature-controlled storage and pharmaceutical distribution company from North Carolina joins our growing family of companies at the Business Park,” said Ms Considine READ NEXT: Shannon firms to benefit as aviation apprenticeships set to double During 2024 the Shannon Airport Group marked the tenth anniversary of its establishment and reflected on a decade of significant economic contributions "Among these is an investment of over €180 million across the airport and commercial property business as part of the Group’s development strategy The Shannon Airport Group generates almost €4 billion annually for the national economy and supports over 20,000 jobs These results reaffirm our commitment to being a catalyst for positive change and development," commented Ms Considine While there is significant global volatility and uncertainty at present Ms Considine says the Shannon Airport Group is committed to driving innovation and resilience to navigate these challenges together.  "As a Group we are pleased with our achievements in 2024 but with the right policies and support we believe we can achieve much more This is why we are pleased the National Programme for Government includes a commitment to a review of National Aviation Policy to maximise the use of regional airports.  "We call on Government to support us to continue to grow by expanding the scope for the 2026-2030 Regional Airports Programme Optimising the State’s airport network is crucial to achieve the vision and ambitions of Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework ensuring a balanced distribution of economic growth in Ireland," said Ms Considine "The year ahead promises to be positive and full of opportunities as we remain dedicated to enhancing the passenger experience and continuing our investments in airport transformation and sustainability initiatives "Customer care will continue to be at the core of everything we do across the Group in 2025 Our strong growth is the result of the hard work of our dedicated team the support of our customers and stakeholders our strategic partnerships and government support and we sincerely thank our passengers and our people for their unwavering support and dedication," Ms Considine concluded " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news The former Desmond Arms complex in Catherine Street is being marketed as The Printworks reflecting a time when this newspaper was printed in the area | PICTURE: Adrian Butler Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie The new President of Shannon Chamber claims the institution has been “Shannoncentric” and “elitist” in the past Former Managing Director of Dromoland Castle Hotel has been appointed the new President of Shannon Chamber succeeding Eoin Gavin of Eoin Gavin Transport who held the office for three years Nolan has been a director of the chamber of commerce since 2009 and is also the founder of Hallmark Management Limited which undertakes small design and fit-out projects for five-star hotels He says areas like Newmarket-on-Fergus deserve the chamber’s full attention You can listen to the full interview here: Make sure to keep up to date and follow us on all platforms Gardaí make three arrests of pro Palestine at Shannon Airport, County Clare as they attempted to halt the use of Shannon Airport by "US military" aircrafts The incident happened on Thursday May 1st shortly before 6:30 pm Palestine Action Éire posted about the incident on their X account writing: "Press release for the May Day 3 who courageously went airside to halt the use of Shannon Airport by US military in support of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people The US military use of Shannon Airport is also in breach of Irish Neutrality" Read Next: RIP: Gardai stand down search for missing man (44) following tragic update The Gardaí has responded to the event that was posted on X: Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport Clare that occurred shortly before 6:30pm on Thursday 1st May 2025 Three individuals were subsequently arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act All three have since been charged and appeared before Limerick district Court at 4pmon Saturday attorney Lanny Davis has launched an aggressive defense of Hall of Fame tight end and media personality Shannon Sharpe Davis has confirmed that Sharpe has made a very significant financial offer to the plaintiff Davis repeatedly said that Sharpe offered “tens of millions of dollars” to settle the case before the lawsuit was filed Davis (after repeating that it was tens of millions) revised his position to say it was “at least $10 million.” Whether $10 million or some multiple of $10 million Davis was asked to clarify whether Sharpe offered $10 million or in the “tens of millions.” The offer was made in a formal mediation session It’s hard to reconcile the aggressive claim that the allegations are fabricated with the admission that Sharpe offered at least $10 million to settle the case While settlement offers are almost always inadmissible in court Davis and Sharpe have launched a robust defense in the court of public opinion And the jury in the court of public opinion (i.e. anyone paying attention to the case) will have a hard time squaring an insistence of falsification and blackmail with a willingness to pay at least $10 million It also could be a red flag for ESPN and anyone else doing business with Sharpe they’ll want to know why he was willing to pay that much money if A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem The lawsuit was filed by a woman who says she met the 56-year-old Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 20 A two-year consensual relationship ensued during which Sharpe, who has previously denied the allegations, said on Thursday that the relationship was “100% consensual” and that he was “electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.” Read moreIn the statement, he added: “I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.” Sharpe has fashioned a successful media career on television and podcasts since he retired from the NFL and had recently signed a contract extension with ESPN and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away,” the network said In the lawsuit the woman also claims Sharpe once threatened to kill her after she arrived at his house Additionally she alleges he filmed some of their sexual encounters and shared the footage with others Sharpe’s lawyer also said the audio recording was “heavily edited and taken entirely out of context.” Sharpe temporarily stepped away from his role at CBS Sports in 2010 after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Sharpe never faced criminal charges over those allegations, and he later returned to his job. Sharpe played 14 seasons in the NFL, won three Super Bowls and was an eight-time Pro Bowler. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after multiple alleged non-consensual sexual encounters in her Las Vegas apartment between October and January The lawsuit was filed Sunday night in Clark County “This is a shakedown,” Sharpe said in a video posted Tuesday on his Instagram account, adding that he will sue his accuser and her attorney, Tony Buzbee “for defamation and trying to take me down.” Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis, told reporters Tuesday that Sharpe had offered his accuser “at least $10 million” to settle the case in mediation, but the offer was declined. Buzbee said on Instagram that his client “was in fact offered $10 million to settle but rejected that offer, choosing instead to proceed with litigation.” “The lawsuit filed under the pseudonym ‘Jane Doe’ lays out a pattern of intimidation, manipulation, and abuse, including allegations that Sharpe repeatedly threatened to choke and slap Jane Doe,” Buzbee said in a statement emailed to The Times on Monday. Sports discuss a hairstylist’s lawsuit against Skip Bayless Sharpe responded to the accusations Monday by posting a statement from Davis on X Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail,” the statement reads “He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.” According to the lawsuit, Sharpe and his accuser met while working out at a Los Angeles gym in 2023, when he was 54 and she was 20, after which he “incessantly pursued” her for a couple weeks before they started “a rocky consensual relationship that lasted nearly two years.” During their relationship, the lawsuit alleges, Sharpe was controlling and manipulative, with his accuser allegedly discovering over time “that Sharpe was extremely emotional and possessed an uncontrollable temper.” “Sharpe’s behavior demonstrates that he believed Plaintiff to be his personal property, possessed and owned by him,” the lawsuit states. “He also believed that the laws did not apply to him, that he could take what he wanted, and that no one could or would stop him. He was and is wrong.” According to Davis’ statement, the consensual sex between Sharpe and his accuser continued until Jan. 2. It also includes several examples of sexually explicit text messages allegedly sent by the accuser to Sharpe. “The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by [the accuser,]” Davis stated. Noushin Faraji has accused ex-Fox Sports host Skip Bayless of making unwanted sexual advances toward her including offering the hairstylist $1.5 million to have sex with him Sharpe has found massive success as a podcaster, hosting such shows as “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap.” On Friday, Front Office Sports reported that Sharpe’s media deal with The Volume podcast network has expired and that sources say Sharpe “has received multiple offers and is expected to sign a deal that would exceed $100 million.” Sharpe played 14 NFL seasons and won three Super Bowls two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens He currently works for ESPN and makes regular appearances on “First Take.” ESPN declined to comment for this story Chuck Schilken is a sports reporter on the Fast Break team. He spent more than 18 years with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports Department in a variety of roles. Before joining The Times, he worked for more than a decade as a sports reporter and editor at newspapers in Virginia and Maryland. World & Nation California Dodgers Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Gardaí and airport police survey the scene after a van crashed through the security fence at Shannon Airport. Photo: Press 22 A group of pro-Palestinian activists have said three of its members were arrested after Shannon Airport’s perimeter was breached. The group Palestine Action Eire said three of its activists “entered the airport runway” at Shannon in an attempt to inspect a US military plane. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Shannon Airport was closed for a time this evening following a security breach where a van attempted to entered the airport. Three people have been detained after they left the van stuck in a ditch and they ran onto a taxiway. The incident is understood to have occurred at around 6.20pm. The breach is understood to have been part of a protest by pro-Palestinian activists. It’s believed that a white van crossed a grass area on the main road into the airport and crashed through the perimeter fence. It is understood that a number of people wearing orange jump suits, hard hats and scarves over their faces then entered the airport’s “airside” area. They ran in the direction of a taxiway before were detected and quickly apprehended. Airport police officers responded to the scene from both airside and landside directions while gardaí were also alerted and requested to attend. While the front of the van managed to breach the security fence by several feet, it was prevented from making it any further by a trench that runs inside the barrier. Three persons are believed to have the climbed out of the van and run towards a taxiway. Once the breach was detected, flight operations were suspended. This resulted in a few inbound flights being placed in holding patterns until operations could resume. The airport has periodically seen protests against use of the airport by United States armed forces over the course of decades. Campaigners have again highlighted the practice in the wake of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which has been conducted with material and financial support from the United States. A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group has confirmed: “Shannon Airport has resumed normal operations following an incident which required Garda assistance. “The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result. “The situation was promptly addressed by Gardai and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm.” A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare that occurred shortly before 6:30pm this evening, Thursday May 1st 2025. “Three individuals were subsequently arrested and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Co Clare. Jack White is a reporter for The Irish Times Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Kilkenny players wear shorts before the Leinster semi-final meeting with Kilkenny. Pic: Paul Lundy but when you look at it the Camogie Association is actually contravening its own official guide On the very first page outlining its objectives and values the association states that its raison d’etre is to “promote and develop” as well as manage the sport in Ireland and internationally This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Introductory offers for new customers. Annual billed once for first year. Renews at €120. Monthly initial discount (first 4 months) billed monthly, then €10 a month. Ts&Cs apply as happened in the 2010 Leinster SFC final between Louth and Meath Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. SHANNON AIRPORT CLOSED for a time this evening following a security breach where a van attempted to enter the airport Three people have been detained after they left the van stuck in a ditch and they ran onto a taxiway The incident is understood to have occurred at around 6.20pm The incident resulted in some inbound flights being placed in holding patterns until operations could resume It is believed that a white van crossed a grass area on the main road into the airport and crashed through the perimeter fence A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group said that it had “suspended operations for about an hour and that a number of flights were delayed as a result of the incident “Shannon Airport has resumed normal operations following an incident which required gardaí assistance,” the airport group’s spokesperson said “The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result The situation was promptly addressed by gardaí and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm.” It is understood that a number of people wearing orange jump suits hard hats and scarves over their faces then entered the airport’s ‘air side’ area They ran in the direction of a taxiway before were detected and quickly apprehended Airport police officers responded to the scene from both airside and landside directions while Gardaí were also alerted and requested to attend While the front of the van managed to breach the security fence by several feet it was prevented from making it any further by a trench that runs inside the barrier It’s thought that three persons then climbed out of the van and ran towards a taxiway A security source said overtime has been cut at the airport and that gardaí are likely to respond to the incident by increasing numbers at the location This would be similar to levels seen in the mid 2000s amid protests against the US over its war in Iraq A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office said: “Gardaí are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Shannon Airport in Co No further details are available at this time.” With reporting by Niall O’Connor and Eoghan Dalton Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user Create an email alert based on the current article Shannon Airport was closed for a time this evening following a security breach where a van attempted to entered the airport It’s believed that a white van crossed a grass area on the main road into the airport and crashed through the perimeter fence It’s understood that a number of people wearing orange jump suits Airport Police officers responded to the scene from both airside and landside directions while Gardaí were also alerted and requested to attend It’s thought that three persons then climbed out of the van and ran towards a taxiway This resulted in just a few inbound flights being placed in holding patterns until operations could resume A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group has confirmed: “Shannon Airport has resumed normal operations following an incident which required Gardai assistance The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result The situation was promptly addressed by Gardai and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm.” A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport Clare that occurred shortly before 6:30pm this evening Three individuals were subsequently arrested and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act Dolans Traditional Irish Pub is made up of a restaurant and five music venues It is the home of all types of live music in the heart of Limerick city Following the overwhelming success of the Shane MacGowan tribute The Sharon Shannon Big Band returns with another powerful and heartfelt production Sharon Shannon and her extraordinary ensemble of musicians and singers—including the legendary Steve Earle Mundy and Camille O’Sullivan—bring you a celebration of Ireland’s world-famous musical tradition and its far-reaching influence Drawing from the rich anthology of Irish music and the traditions it has inspired this show is a vibrant journey through the songs that define us—songs of love and heartache and the timeless beauty of Ireland’s landscapes The ensemble breathes new life into cherished old ballads while giving fresh traditional treatments to beloved classics A special highlight of the evening will see Sharon and Steve Earle come together on stage to perform the world-famous “Galway Girl”—a rare moment uniting the artists who each helped make the song a global sensation Joining Sharon on stage is an exceptional line-up of musicians and Gerry O’Connor—each bringing their own artistry to create a performance that is both intimate and unforgettable they blend the spirit of traditional Irish music with contemporary creativity honouring the legacy of our song tradition with power and grace This is more than a concert—it’s a celebration of who we are as a people and an invitation to experience the deep emotional resonance of Ireland’s music From the poignant strains of our ballads to the raucous joy of our reels and jigs Join us for an unforgettable evening that bridges past and present capturing the very heart of Irish life and culture Please note all gigs are over 18’s unless specified It is your responsibility to check your e-ticket prior to the Event No refunds will be offered unless the Event is cancelled Please note all ticket prices include a booking charge All the latest breaking local news from Clare County Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Clare Catch up on all the latest business news in Clare Read about the latest properties available in Clare Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Clare Recent death notices and obituaries from Clare Latest environmental and climate change news in County Clare Gardaí make three arrests of pro Palestine at Shannon Airport, County Clare as they attempted to halt the use of Shannon Airport by "US military" aircrafts Read Next: Clare students offered final chance to walk around much-loved school ahead of demolition BOOK NOW to secure your spot and start 2025 on a strong PICTURES: Seven Clare people graduate as Ireland's newest air traffic controllers THREE people continue to be questioned by gardai this Friday after a van was driven at a security fence in Shannon Airport Three people were arrested following the security breach at the airport Shannon Airport was closed for a time after the incident A garda spokesperson said officers responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport County Clare that occurred shortly before 6.30pm on Thursday “Three individuals were subsequently arrested and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in County Clare,” said a garda spokesperson READ MORE: Gardaí in TV appeal for information following an arson attack outside a residence in Limerick The front of the van managed to breach the security fence, however,  the vehicle was stopped by a trench inside the barrier. It is understood a number of people wearing orange jump suits, hard hats and scarves over their faces jumped out of the van. Airport police immediately responded and the three individuals were quickly arrested. A statement issued on behalf of Shannon Airport said that Shannon Airport has resumed normal operations following the incident. The statement confirmed the attendance of gardai. "The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result. The situation was promptly addressed by gardai and operations fully resumed at 7.30pm," outlined the statement. " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles. To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in. Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news! The former Desmond Arms complex in Catherine Street is being marketed as The Printworks, reflecting a time when this newspaper was printed in the area | PICTURE: Adrian Butler Michael Sweeney, managing director at Select Forest Ltd Join Slimming World Ireland and donate your clothes to charity when you lose the weight! Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles. Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. A new US Pharmaceutical firm has taken up residence in the Shannon Airport Business Park. North Carolina company, Frontier Scientific Solutions has chosen Shannon as its gateway to Europe, where it will avail of temperature-controlled storage for the distribution of life-science goods. Shannon Airport Group also recorded revenues of €73m last year and pre-tax profits of €18m according to its 2024 report. CEO Mary Considine says they’re expecting further success. Cathal Crowe recently called for legislation demanding that flights stop at Shannon in line with a “stopover” rule that Government axed in 2008 according to trade publication Travelextra Mr Jacobs, whose company runs Dublin Airport said at the weekend that the suggestion that airlines stop at Shannon before travelling on to their final destination was “bizarre” He added that compelling airlines to take up regional routes if they want slots at Dublin Airport was similarly misguided and it goes against EU law and regulation and what it means to be an open economy [ Shannon Airport capacity touted as alternative amid airline concerns over Dublin capOpens in new window ] Mr Crowe chairs the Oireachtas Shannon Airport group, a cross-party body established to lobby Government for the midwest gateway. The group aims to advance policies that support Shannon and the development of new routes there, and to seek continued State aid for it through the Regional Airports Programme. The Shannon stopover was part of an Irish-US air travel agreement and required a certain number of transatlantic flights to stop at the Co Clare airport. Government ended the rule in 2008 as EU law liberalised air travel, and the bloc struck new deals with the US opening both jurisdictions’ skies to each other’s airlines. Shannon has direct services to the US, including Boston, Chicago and New York. Local politicians and business groups see these routes as key to luring tourists and investment to the midwest. Mr Jacobs noted that all transatlantic carriers opposed a Shannon stopover. He said Cork Airport, also part of the State-owned DAA, was the Republic’s fastest growing airport because it “has a good growth plan, not because it is calling for airlines wanting to fly to Dublin to be compelled to stop over at Cork”. Political calls to resurrect the stopover follow concerns that transatlantic air travel could face pressure this year. Recent US federal government figures showed sharp falls in passengers flying there from European countries, including Ireland. The March report from its International Trade Administration showed 38,852 Irish people flew there last month, against 53,158 during the same period in 2024. Visitors from Germany and Norway were also down significantly. Listen | 44:56Media reports blamed turmoil sparked by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and his administration’s criticism of Europe for the falls in traffic. However, Irish industry sources suggested that the controversial 32 million a year limit imposed on Dublin Airport played a role in the dip. Tom Randles, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association and managing director of well-known travel agency Barters TravelNet, said Aer Lingus services to Nashville and Las Vegas were selling well. He noted there had been a “small drop” in holidaymakers travelling to Orlando in Florida, and the US west coast. “We do expect the US leisure market to pick up again at the end of the month,” said Mr Randles. DAA has sought planning permission to increase Dublin Airport’s passenger limit. Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill laid the first brick of the new Carrick on Shannon Community Hospital with John Fitzmaurice, HSE IHA Manager Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan, South Donegal, Tony Canavan, REO HSE West and North West and Frank Morrison, Head of Service, Older Persons, HSE West and North West. The first brick of the new 90 bedded Community Hospital in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim was laid by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on Friday. Representing a major investment in health and social care for older people across country Leitrim, the construction of a new Community Hospital located at Ballynamony Road, Carrick on Shannon has commenced and is expected to be completed in Q1 2027. The new unit, with a contract construction value in excess of €38m, will contain 90 beds facilitating long stay, short stay and dementia wards. The building will also accommodate a designated rehabilitation facility on Level 2. The design of the Community Hospital aims to create a person-centred approach which supports the opportunity for older people to continue to direct their own lives in accordance with their cognitive and physical abilities, and in an environment which reflects the comforts of home. This will be done by the creation of households within the overall centre. The intention is the normalisation of care within the new Community Hospital assisting residents with everyday tasks. Each long stay household will have 23 en-suite single bedrooms and 1 en-suite twin bedroom, a total of 25 residents. The short stay household will accommodate 20 residents in 20 en-suite single bedrooms. Each household will have their own dayroom, dining room and kitchen area at the centre of the home. In each of the 25 bed households, there will be one dayroom/ sun room and one shared dining room that can be compartmentalized, and which can open out to the gardens. There will also be a quiet room for reading, reflection or meeting with visitors which can also open out to the outdoor space. There will be 20 dementia-specific assessment beds, to be accommodated on the ground floor in two 10 bedded households. The design of each household will support the continued engagement of residents living with dementia in meaningful person centred activities, and residents will be afforded access to a secure, therapeutic, landscaped courtyard. Minister Carroll MacNeill also visited Drumshanbo Primary Care Centre where she met with staff including Dr Alan Loftus and toured the centre. Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I am delighted to have been invited to lay the first brick of the new Community Hospital today. This project reflects our commitment to enhancing the delivery of healthcare across all life stages and enabling the provision of care closer to home. “Our population is living longer than ever before, so it’s vital that we continue to invest in health infrastructure that enables older people to live well, with dignity in a peaceful and nurturing environment.” John Fitzmaurice, HSE IHA Manager for Sligo Leitrim said: “The new Community Hospital represents a major enhancement in patient care in our region and will ensure that older people in our communities can receive specialist, person-centred care closer to their home.” Frank Morrison, Head of Service Older Persons, Community Services Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said: “We are pleased to see the progression of this project. This purpose-built facility will provide the most modern care and comforts for the older population of Leitrim.” NewsPictures show style and glamour in brilliant sunshine at Sligo RacesIt was a Peaky Blinders theme at the first race meeting of the year at Sligo Racecourse on Sunday. Photographer Carl Brennan was on hand to capture all the style. Sorry, this product is unavailable. Please choose a different combination. Shannon Airport handled 2.1 million passengers last year, the first time in 15 years that it broke the two-million mark. State-owned Shannon Airport Group said on Wednesday that profit fell to €25.7 million in 2024 from the €28.4 million it reported for 2023. Passenger numbers grew by more than 140,000, or 7 per cent, to 2.1 million last year from 1.96 million in 2023, according to the company. Last year was the first since 2009 that Shannon Airport handled more than two million travellers. Turnover at the State company increased 7.6 per cent to €73.1 million, while earnings before interest, tax and write-offs, a measure of the cash a business generates, were €18.3 million. Mary Considine, Shannon Airport Group chief executive, noted that the mid-western gateway had beaten the target it set last year o luring two million passengers. More than 200,000 extra seats on European, British and US destinations boosted tourism and business travel, she added. Continental Europe accounted for 870,000 passengers, Britain 839,000 and the US 332,000. Aer Lingus and US carriers Delta and United offer five transatlantic routes from Shannon. Business on those services increased 12 per cent, the company’s figures show. “Shannon Airport enjoyed increases in passenger traffic across all key markets,” said Ms Considine. A balance sheet of €309 million gives the company a foundation for future plans, she pointed out. The group said it invested more than €8 million in 2024 and would spend €30 million on infrastructure. Future projects include a €3 million solar farm that will provide up to one fifth of the airport’s electricity. The airport also intends upgrading its immigration area and baggage hall, extending boarding gates and adding 1,000 new car parking spaces. Ms Considine called on Government to give Shannon more cash aid through the State’s regional airports’ programme. A group of pro-Palestinian activists have said three of its members were detained after they breached the perimeter of Shannon Airport. The group Palestine Action Éire said three of its activists “entered the airport runway” at Shannon in an attempt to inspect a US military plane. The airport suspended operations for an hour until 7.30pm. The three individuals are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Co Clare. It is believed that a white van crossed a grass area on the main road into the airport and crashed through the perimeter fence. It is understood that a number of people wearing orange jump suits, hard hats and scarves over their faces then entered the airport’s ‘air side’ area. They ran in the direction of a taxiway before were detected and quickly apprehended. Palestine Action Éire allege that the Omni Air Boeing 767-300 CRAF that landed at Shannon Airport on Thursday was aiding wars in the Middle East, including Israel and Yemen. The group said its claims are “contextualised by The Ditch’s investigative reporting”, which it said “confirms that US weapons and military personnel are regularly travelling to the Middle East”, including Israel, via Shannon Airport. It is prohibited to transport munitions of war on civil aircraft across Irish airspace without an exemption from the Minister for Transport. News website The Ditch has reported that several flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Israel have transited Irish airspace since October 2023. However, Ministers have suggested there is ambiguity on whether certain airlines require permission for their cargo. Palestine Action Éire is demanding that the Government stop allowing flights carrying weapons and military equipment through Irish airspace. A statement from Palestine Action Éire said the Government was “literally fuelling genocide”. “The government continues to allow troops and weapons through Shannon against the democratic will of the people,” it said. A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group said normal operations had resumed following an incident which required Garda assistance. “The airport suspended operations at 6.30pm and a number of flights were delayed as a result,” it said. A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office said: “Gardaí are currently at the scene of an ongoing incident at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare. No further details are available at this time.” On March 27th, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said it was “expressly prohibited” for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish territory without being granted an exemption. “In 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel,” he told the Dáil. “Since October 2023, diplomatic clearance has been granted on a small number of occasions for US military aircraft to land in Shannon for the specific purpose of transporting senior officials travelling from the United States to the Middle East. “Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.” Western news delivered directly to your inbox This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Shannon Airport saw increases in passenger traffic across all key markets, with continental European traffic rising by 16% to 870,000. reaching a 15-year high of 2.1m in 2024.  In what it called a "solid" financial performance the airport's turnover from continuing operations rose by almost 8% compared to 2023 depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) totalled €18.3m while its annual profit before tax and exceptional items came in at €25.7m in conjunction with a growing balance sheet of €309m at the end of 2024 is very encouraging and creates a solid foundation for our future plans," said Mary Considine we are on a firm financial footing to embark on the next phase of our development strategy.” Last year saw a strong transatlantic performance at Shannon Airport which now offers five transatlantic routes with Aer Lingus Ryanair also expanded its capacity at Shannon in 2024 celebrating 20m passengers through the airport since 1987 “Over 200,000 additional seats on European enhanced connectivity and boosted tourism and business travel," Ms Considine continued Shannon Airport saw increases in passenger traffic across all key markets with continental European traffic rising by 16% to 870,000 Transatlantic passenger numbers grew by 12% to 332,000 while UK traffic increased marginally to 839,000 with a further investment of over €30m in infrastructure planned to support the achievement of its ambitious sustainability goals which will provide up to 20% of the airport’s electricity requirements once completed this year.  Also planned is a €2.5m thermal wrap facelift of the terminal building which “While there is significant global volatility and uncertainty during 2025 and beyond we are committed to driving innovation and resilience to navigate these challenges together," Ms Considine continued From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in In 2024, Deliveroo and DoorDash had orders worth about a combined €80bn, the companies said, with roughly 7m and 42m monthly active users, respectively. © Examiner Echo Group Limited, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 523712. The Government is pushing Shannon Airport capacity as a viable alternative for American visitors amid growing airline concern over Dublin’s passenger cap In a recent meeting with executives from Delta Air Lines Department of Transport officials sought to promote Shannon as planning efforts continued to extend the capital’s annual limit past 32 million passengers They told Delta that Shannon had available capacity and was of strategic importance to Ireland proximity to the Wild Atlantic Way and US and other FDI [foreign direct investment] companies located in the midwest region and also its proximity to Dublin which can be easily reached by motorway in circa 2.5 hours” according to a note on the meeting obtained under Freedom of Information Delta returned services to Shannon Airport last year but mostly uses Dublin The meeting was held last month to discuss the passenger cap at the request of Delta’s head of government affairs in Europe vice-president for international government affairs Department officials noted during the meeting that given a partial stay imposed by the High Court on the Irish Aviation Authority’s summer slot allocations there was “no effective cap at Dublin Airport this summer” The meeting was the latest sign of pressure from American carriers frustrated at the cap which remains the subject of planning consideration has sought an increase to 40 million annual passengers a 25 per cent lift that would do much to alleviate concerns about capacity Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien recently met Airlines for America the lobby group representing multiple North American carriers He has acknowledged the representative group could formally complain to the US department of transportation a move that could spark retaliatory restrictions Department officials had previously met Andrew Stone Delta Air Lines’ international regulatory counsel last summer as part of the Airlines for America delegation to discuss the winter 2024 flight cap and transatlantic connectivity At last month’s meeting Delta also raised the proposed flight reduction at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam a contentious move awaiting a ruling from the European Commission “The department advised that it was aware of this and that the Dutch position was different in that the government policy in Ireland is not to reduce the number of flights at Dublin Airport and that the passenger cap was a technical planning matter,” the summary document said “The department advised that the new government was committed to working with stakeholders to lift the passenger cap as soon as possible while also acknowledging that it would ensure relevant agencies engage effectively with all communities impacted by noise.” US operators increased direct services to Dublin from 70 to 98 last year, with 13 routes between Dublin and the US, and three from Shannon. Delta reinstated its New York JFK-to-Shannon service last May. This summer it will operate six services to Ireland. Atlanta, Boston, New York JFK and Minneapolis will operate daily to Dublin, while a Detroit-to-Dublin service will operate four times a week. Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times Reposing at McDonagh’s Funeral Home Castlerea, on Sunday evening from 4 o’clock until 6 o’clock with removal at 6:15pm to Ballinaheglish Church (arriving approx 7pm). Funeral Mass on Monday at 11.30am with burial afterwards in Ballintubber Cemetery. Patricia's funeral Mass will be live-streamed and can be viewed on the link below or at www.mcdonaghfuneraldirectors.ie/live-stream Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of Patsy will repose in Mc Mahons Funeral Home Shannon this Thursday (24th April) from 6pm to 7:30pm Arriving for funeral Mass on Friday (25th April) at 10am in Mary Immaculate Church followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium at 12noon Funeral Mass can be viewed live Here Messages of sympathy can be sent to Mc Mahon Funeral Directors. If you would like to write a condolence please do so on the link below. We use cookies to collect and analyse information on site performance and usage to improve and customise your experience, where applicable. View our Cookies Policy Click Accept and continue to use our website or Manage to review and update your preferences The following cookies are necessary to allow you to access the website including login move between pages and to receive services which you have requested They include cookies to store analytics and track user interactions so we can personalise content to best suit your interests and needs These cookies allow the Website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced and more personal features Performance cookies monitor site performance and user actions These cookies do not collect identifiable information we may use cookies to display advertisements that we believe are relevant to you or work with advertisers to display our own adverts on third party websites based on cookies set on your visit to the Website Judge Geoffrey Shannon is to receive one of eight alumni awards to be presented by the University of Galway next month Previously the Government’s special rapporteur on child protection from 2006 to 2019, he was appointed as a Circuit Court judge in 2023 Judge Shannon was educated at what was then NUI Galway and University College Dublin and qualified as a solicitor in 1996 He was previously director of policy at the Law Society A leading authority on child law and family law in Ireland, he has carried out several major inquiries and reviews in the family and child-law area on behalf of Government and international bodies and has written or co-authored 30 books He will be presented with the alumni award for law The awards celebrate outstanding individuals among the University of Galway’s 133,000 alumni.  Pension and health costs will go down – official report Ugandan Lydia Mugambe jailed for six years District Court’s MPV finding marks shift – RDJ Conveyancing solicitors asked to take part Division wins two prizes at 2025 Accountancy Awards Shane Dwyer on the Law Society’s regulatory and disciplinary functions Praise for ‘unwavering commitment to justice’ Tickets now available for London legal social Sligo-based solicitor is Law Society past-president A transatlantic passenger flight has diverted to Shannon Airport after crew declared a medical emergency Royal Jordanian flight RJA-283 was travelling from Washington in the United States to Amman in Jordan this morning when crew made contact with air traffic controllers in Ireland reporting they had an ill passenger on board The crew was cleared to reroute to Shannon while the National Ambulance Service was advised of the diverting aircraft The Boeing 787-800 jet landed at Shannon just after 8 o’clock this morning and the patient was assessed at the airport before being transported to University Hospital Limerick for treatment The flight continued its journey to the Jordanian capital just after half past ten A flight travelling from the United States to Jordan was diverted to Shannon Airport on Wednesday after a medical emergency was declared on board Royal Jordanian flight RJA-283 took off from Washington in the US before making contact with air traffic controllers in Ireland The crew informed Irish ground staff of an unwell passenger on board The plane was cleared to reroute to Shannon Airport and the National Ambulance Service was advised of the incoming aircraft The transatlantic flight landed at Shannon Airport shortly after 8am where the patient onboard was assessed before they were transported to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment The flight took off again just after 10.30am continuing its journey to the Jordanian capital city A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group said: “We can confirm that a Royal Jordanian flight from Washington to Amman diverted to Shannon Airport at 7:10 this morning due to a medical emergency A passenger was transferred to UHL by ambulance and the aircraft departed Shannon again at 10:38.” a spokesperson for the HSE said: “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information in relation to identifiable individuals breaching the ethical requirement on us to observe our duty of confidentiality.” Gaelic FootballLive | David Clifford inspires Kerry to Munster final win over Clare: As it happened Kerry take on Clare in the Munster Senior Football Championship final at Fitzgerald Stadium in … This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Shannon and her husband have a teenage sonWith Mother’s Day this coming Sunday (this could be the first of multiple reminders) Farms.com is connecting with multiple farm moms to participate in a Q&A about motherhood and to share a piece of advice for new moms The first mom Farms.com is highlighting this year is Shannon Douglass (SD) the current president of the California Farm Bureau together with her husband Kelly raising walnuts “My son is an active and busy teen,” she told Farms.com “His time is divided between show cattle He’s an old soul who is self-motivated and independent but also empathetic to others He gave a girl a cow once because she was sad about selling hers at the fair.” Farms.com: Describe where you were when you found out you were pregnant for the first time Farms.com: Describe the feeling of holding a newborn for the first time SD: I can’t really remember this but there is tremendous weight to being a parent and suddenly being responsible for a small human Farms.com: What’s the best part about being a farm mom SD: I think being able to work with your child and have your family with you so much of the time is pretty awesome – albeit challenging Heath went to farmers markets with me starting as an infant and he’s been working with us since he safely could I think that family time together is a tremendous blessing and not all parents get the same opportunity Farms.com: What’s the hardest part about motherhood SD: I think just trying to do the best you can for your child can be a challenge And there are so many choices to be made – are you picking the best school And working with them as they work through complex problems – watching them navigate something hard can be tough to watch But we must remember that they grow in the learning to navigate that Farms.com: What part of parenthood makes you feel the most vulnerable SD: I think this teenage stage where you are letting them be so much more independent My son will fly by himself now and having your child traveling across the country alone is certainly something that makes me nervous I’m proud of his independence and confidence but I’m still nervous Farms.com: Who is your favorite fictional parent But I would also argue that most of the entertaining TV/streaming these days doesn’t focus on great parents Farms.com: What’s a misconception people have about motherhood SD: I think that much like farming it looks much easier when you are on the outside looking in What are some special memories you have with her SD: My mom is Linda and some of my best memories of my mom are her as a Grandma now and the close bond that she and my son have They have traveled with me for work since my son was an infant They both took their first trip to Washington DC together as part of a trip with me Farms.com: What’s one lesson you learned from your parents you try to teach your kids SD: Responsibility and hard work are some of the key lessons I learned as a kid that I want my son to understand My Dad was always signing me up to do things I didn’t want to do but those uncomfortable situations and the ability to adapt has served me well in life I’m sure my son would argue I do the same to him already SD: Parenthood changes your priorities and in the case of our family But once your child has activities and such you have to slow work down a bit to accommodate but its more than just work keeping us busy Farms.com: What’s one thing all parents have in common no matter where they are in the world SD: All the parents I know share a desire for our kids to have it better than we did and to watch your child achieve their goals Its frankly a very big part of my drive with the work we do at Farm Bureau to preserve farming and ranching in California I very deeply believe that our advocacy work is essential to my son having the chance to farm in this state in the decades to come Farms.com: What’s one piece of advice you have for new moms SD: I tell people to be as present as you can with your kids And know that most of us are figuring out this parenting thing as we go I don’ t regret a single photography session the time truly passes so quickly and the evidence of those amazing stages of development will be worth so much to you Be sure to check Farms.com often this week for more Q&As with moms in the ag community Actor and musician Michael Shannon and guitarist Jason Narducy will bring their live performance of R.E.M.'s album Fables of The Reconstruction to Dublin this summer who has received Oscar nominations for his roles in Revolutionary Road and Nocturnal Animals have been collaborating for the last eleven years We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Having toured R.E.M.’s classic debut album Murmur they will now play the band’s third album Fables of The Reconstruction in its entirety songs at The Button Factory in Dublin on 27 August Tickets for the show go on sale this Thursday 6 March at 10am here The 1985 album is seen as a transitionary record for R.E.M. who would go on to be one of the biggest acts in the world within a few years Recorded in London and produced by Pink Floyd and Nick Drake producer Joe Boyd it features hits Can’t Get There From Here and Driver 8 tracks such as Wendell Gee and Maps and Legends and has a harsher rock edge compared to the folk-rock jangle of their first two albums Shannon’s band also features Jon Wurster (drums) and Vijay Tellis-Nayak (piano) and over the years they have played entire albums by some of their favourite artists such as Neil Young played on stage together for the first time in 17 years last week when they joined Shannon and Naeducy on stage in the band’s adopted hometown of Athens We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Shannon and co first played Murmur in its entirety In July 2023 to a full house in Chicago Initially planned as a one-off performance to celebrate the record’s 40th anniversary the show’s success inspired Shannon and Narducy to take the project on tour Jason nudged me after the Murmur set in Chicago This music is beyond comprehension and I cherish every chance I get to deliver it And this band led by Jason is stone cold ridiculous Narducy adds: "After Michael and I took the band on the road playing Murmur we discussed possibly trying something again in 2025 "It will be the 40th anniversary of Fables Of The Reconstruction so we will open with that album We love celebrating the music of this great band." More music news, reviews and interviews here RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Feeling gravity\u0027s pull \u002D Left to right: Jason Narducy and Michael Shannon THE IRISH public has thanked the gardaí for their swift response to a troubling incident at Shannon Airport after reports circulated that a foreign military actively participating in a genocide was operating within the confines of the airport you wouldn’t think these things were happening under our noses but fair play to the guards you can’t be doing that on soil of sovereign country like Ireland,” aware of the potential for the gardaí to fined themselves outnumbered against an armed-to-the-teeth foreign military three people in a van broke into the airport to come to their aid “Some locals are even saying that years ago the same military transported prisoners through the airport on their way to being tortured in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention the staying silent,” said one resident of something the Irish government denied at the time but were proven wrong about the Irish public after demanding answers on how such a thing could happen “We can confirm there has been a major security breach at Shannon Airport how we let the US military do this under our noses will be investigated thoroughly,” a joint statement from the Departments of Justice and Defence confirmed Check out our shop. 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Check it out here www.waterfordwhispers.shop Shannon Airport's expecting May Bank Holiday passenger numbers to jump by a fifth in a year About 53,000 people are due to pass through this weekend Some of the most popular destinations include Madeira Shannon Airport management is urging travellers to book car parking in advance ahead of a very busy weekend Sign up now to keep up to date with the latest news please check your email to confirm your subscription Jobs for engineers are among the hardest to fill roles in Ireland according to recent data from hiring platform Indeed So an event called Explore Engineering that showcases careers in engineering to secondary school students in the Mid West is a welcome boost It has been such a success that the showcase is now held in the Departures Hall of Shannon Airport We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Engineers from 60 companies across Limerick Clare and Tipperary engaged with more than 2,000 students about the variety of educational options and career opportunies available in the region they are trying to solve a problem; the shortage of engineers in Ireland and they are doing so by inspiring the next generation "We are trying to demystify the career," said Jean McAdam "and to show the students and their parents who are big decision makers in this as well but also the employment opportunities that are there when they graduate." The students show a real interest in the displays and exhibits at the event "Engineering is such a broad topic," Ms McCabe explains if I go onto do biomedical engineering or electronic engineering "This is just showing them that engineering is for everybody It's a career that can end you up working with the tiniest medical devices to massive cranes that are building bridges and everything in between." Modulacc is a portable building solutions company in Limerick Colin McNamara said the reason his company has a presence at the showcase is to engage with future engineers who might end up working in the industry "We need people across the engineering spectrum; designers so really this is the future talent pool." Tadhg Hassett from Kilnamona met with engineers from industrial diamond specialist Element Six and learned about their work with rocketships He was also interested in the fact that you can get to engineering through both the further education and training routes "I'm after learning there that you don't have to just go to university to study engineering you can do it in apprenticeships as well," the teenager said Isabel Wiseman studies technology subjects that give her a good foundation if she decides to pursure a career in engineering She visited the University of Limerick stand and learned about the courses on offer at the Castletroy campus According to figures from the Higher Education Authority there has been a 70% increase in the number of engineering graduates from the University of Limerick and Technological University of the Shannon in the past 7 years Organisers believe the Exploring Engineering Showcase has been instrumental in this success "We've seen growth in the figures in those taking up engineering," said Eimear Brophy "Tthe figures over the last few years have gone from 1,200 to over 2000 That is showing us that there is an increase It's small steps but it's going in the right direction." Ms Brophy said 16% of jobs in the Mid West are in engineering "It's a real treat for us to be able to show a pipeline of students from the next generation the careers and pathways that are available to them "It is hugely important to have visibility on women in engineering the higher education route into engineering and to promote all of those We think we are making a difference and the research is bearing that out." A private Pan Am jet will touch down in Shannon this summer ONE of the most iconic airliners of the 20th Century In what is being described as “a private air journey for the ages” 50 well-heeled travellers will travel transatlantic on a custom-designed Pan Am jet The trip is retracing the golden era of travel when the experience of enjoying air travel was as exciting as the destination itself It’s being put together by US group travel specialist Criterion Travel for the owner of the Pan Am brand Craig Carter READ MORE: War of words between Limerick soccer club's fan group and its CEO The experience is limited to just 50 people who will travel on board a private Boeing 757-200 charter aircraft. The aim of the trip is to honour the legacy of Pan Am. High-end service, stays in top hotels, fascinating destinations, and memories of the glory days of Pan Am come as standard. Not surprisingly, the experience comes with a premium price tag - €55,040 based on two people sharing, or 10% more for solo travellers. Limerick is keeping up its side of the bargain in terms of the high-class luxury. After landing in Shannon, the guests will transfer to the five-star Adare Manor hotel - the final resort they will stay in on their 12-day journey. There is a trip to the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum. This attraction re-opened last year after a €5m upgrade, with a revamped aviation museum, a flying boat replica, cinema, and flight simulators. It also houses an exhibition marking actress Maureen O’Hara’s life and times, and connection to Foynes. The journey kicks off on June 16 next from New York, returning to the same destination on June 28. Once a major force in global travel, Pan Am had ceased all operations by 1991. A decision in a judicial review case can only be appealed to the Court of Appeal if so permitted by the High Court The board’s withdrawal came after Mr Justice Richard Humphreys said he would make certain amendments to his September 2024 judgment overturning the planning refusal said that all parties were consenting to proposed orders relating to the judgment Mr Justice Humphreys said he suspected his “respite” from dealing with litigation arising from the Shannon LNG project would not last long Last week, Shannon LNG was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála for a proposed power plant with a capacity of 600 megawatts which will be located on a 630-acre site between Tarbert and Ballylongford on the Shannon Estuary will include an emergency storage facility for natural gas in the event of supplies to Ireland being cut off the board refused Shannon LNG’s application for the development of a terminal pending completion of the Government’s review of the security of energy supply to 2030 It found the proposal was “contrary to Government policy and therefore contrary to the proper planning and development of the area” Listen | 38:28The 2020 programme for government stated the government did not believe it “makes sense to develop LNG gas import terminals importing fracked gas” [ The debate: Should the State develop a terminal for liquefied natural gas?Opens in new window ] In September 2024, Mr Justice Humphreys overturned the refusal, and proposed to order the board to reconsider the planning application in line with his findings. Earlier this month, the Government approved a plan to develop a floating State-led LNG terminal. The cost and location of the facility has yet to be determined. Fiachra Gallagher is an Irish Times journalist Creative Places Shannon is bringing a vibrant pop-up creative event to Shannon Town Centre on Saturday led by the Arts Office of Clare County Council and supported by the Arts Council of Ireland through a Research and Development Award aims to engage the local community in shaping future arts and cultural programmes for Shannon The event will feature live music from David Hope and the Shannon Singers Group facilitated by Kathleen Malone creating a lovely atmosphere for all present Asha Murray will lead a community engaged arts project encouraging participation and creative expression from people of all ages Over the past year Creative Places Shannon has organised a variety of cultural activities to enrich the town’s artistic life and a short film documenting the residents of Shannon A documentary by Cuppa Tea TV featuring all these projects will be showing at the pop-up event on February 15 These efforts reflect a growing commitment to building a local thriving arts scene that resonates with the community Taking place opposite Dunnes Stores in the Shannon Town Centre this pop-up event offers a unique opportunity for the local community to share ideas and aspirations for the arts in Shannon We hope to engage as many people as possible to help shape a thriving and inclusive arts scene that reflects the town’s identity and creativity “We want to hear from the people of Shannon – what kind of arts and cultural events would you like to see happen in your community and collaboration and we encourage everyone to drop by and get involved” Content managed by: Corporate Services Department Áras Contae an ChláirNew Road EnnisCo Email: customerservices@clarecoco.ie Opening hours RULES: In basketball if a player is fouled out, or is ejected from the game, his team can still replace him and play with a full complement of players - should the GAA look to do similar? Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile there was already no hope or way back for the visitors there might still have been the prospect of a contest victory even for the side reduced to 14 men more irish examiner instagram sport articles Kilkenny players wear shorts before the Leinster semi-final meeting with Kilkenny