By Dan Danaher The delivery of 300,000 extra passengers from eight new routes announced by Ryanair could generate up to €1.5 million in income for Shannon Airport. Michael Cawley, deputy chief executive and chief operating officer of Ryanair, told The Clare Champion that a typical airport like Shannon can earn between €9 and €10 on car parking and retail goods for each additional passenger departing the airport, with a net profit of about €5. Mr Cawley claimed that larger airports in London made far more than the net profit of €5 per passenger, while Pisa airport earns €9 net profit per passenger. “Shannon is where duty free started. Neil Pakey did a great job when he was in Liverpool Airport. He will get the last cent out of every passenger going through Shannon Airport by optimising this with good service, good product availability such as good coffee in the shops and efficient pricing to maximise the overall yield. “The airport …

By Dan Danaher Ryanair are remaining tight-lipped on the terms and conditions attached to its latest deal with Shannon Airport Asked about the terms and exact duration of the latest deal, Ryanair’s deputy chief executive and chief operating officer Michael Cawley declined to comment but joked “plenty of time, well past my retirement”. He said it would be “rude” to talk about confidential discussions with airport management. “Shannon has been competitive on this issue. Shannon would not be doing this if it wasn’t good for them. We wouldn’t have been doing it, if it wasn’t good for us and, happily, we have met in the middle. The abolition of the travel tax has been the critical ingredient in making it happen,” he said. The last deal between the low fares’ airline and Shannon ran from May 2005 until April 2010. Ryanair paid €3.5 million in January 2011 to the Dublin Airport Authority to settle a legal action relating to the …

FOUR Clare County Council planning projects have been shortlisted for awards in the 2013-2014 National Planning Awards. The Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary, a major strategic plan for the future development and management of marine-related industry and tourism along Ireland’s largest estuary, is one of the nominated projects. The land and marine-based plan, the first of its type to be developed in the country, was commissioned by a multi-agency steering group comprising Clare County Council as lead authority, Kerry County Council, Limerick City and County Councils, Shannon Development and Shannon Foynes Port Company. The plan has been shortlisted in the Economic Planning Award category. The Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2012-18 – the first stand alone town plan that has been produced for Shannon – has also been shortlisted for the Urban Design & Place Making Award. The Plan, which was the subject of a public consultation process during 2012, provides a framework for …

CLARE hurling manager, Davy Fitzgerald will be on home ground on Saturday when he strides out with participants in the inaugural ‘Walk of Life’ fundraiser for Milford Hospice. Both the Liam McCarthy Cup and the U-21 All-Ireland trophy will be on display and Fitzgerald will be joined by some members of both squads for the walk which sets off from St. Finnachta’s National School in Sixmilebridge at 12 noon. The aim of this fundraiser, according to local co-ordinator John Lynch is to raise as much money as possible to support Milford Hospice which opened in 1928 and since then has provided holistic care for terminally ill people from the region. “Since the very beginning Milford Hospice has provided the highest quality of care for these people and their families. Milford Hospice is a voluntary organisation so our support is needed to maintain this fantastic establishment,” he said. Organiser of the Walk of Life concept, RTE radio sports reporter Martin Kiely, …

A DECOMMISSIONED prefab in St Finnachta’s National School in Sixmilebridge has become a centre of learning once more but for a more mature body of students. The single-room structure is now the base for a Men’s Shed where each Tuesday night a group of men gather to work on projects or simply enjoy the craic and camaraderie. One of the founding members, Tom 0’Dea from Kilmurry explains, “The Men’s Shed, to borrow that overused tagline, ‘does exactly what is says on the tin’. It is a communal shed, a place where men can work together or individually on projects such as mechanics or woodwork, a place where men can enjoy the craic and a joke in a spirit of comradeship. “It’s a shed where you can ask for help if you need to, and it’s a place where you might have sound advice or a skill to teach others.” The Sixmilebridge Shed is a community-based organisation which is open to …

THE  public consultation stage for proposed amendments to the Draft Kilrush Town and Environs Development Plan 2014-2020 will end on Tuesday, October 29 next after which the elected members of Kilrush Town Council will meet to adopt the blueprint. Once adopted at the end of 2013, the Plan will determine the future land-use needs of the town and surrounding area in terms of economic development, recreational and community requirements, as well as residential, transport and infrastructural needs. “The coming fortnight represents the final opportunity for the people of Kilrush and Cappagh to have their say in the preparation of the Development Plan,” commented Mayor of Kilrush Paul Moroney. “Obtaining input from the local community during the public consultation stage of the plan-making process is important to the final outcome of the Kilrush Development Plan.  This is the only Plan that deals directly with the future development of Kilrush Town and therefore, it is important that the people of the town …

FORMER Clare hurling manager and RTE analyst, Ger Loughnane is to head state side again this year to act of Master of Ceremonies at the Clare Association’s 125th anniversary dinner. Since the County Clare P.B. & S. Association of New York City, Inc. was founded in 1888, the officers, members and friends have joined together each year to celebrate their Clare heritage and remind themselves of the purpose and goals of the association. This year’s ball, in celebration of the milestone in their history, will be held on Saturday, November 9 at Riverside Church in NYC. There will be a cocktail hour at 7pm followed by dinner and dancing to the music of the popular Cunningham Brothers Band. The function will also honour the 2013 ‘Claremen of the Year’, Kevin Grady and Tony Nolan. A native of Sixmilebridge, Kevin is a resident manager in Manhattan while Tony, a native of Kilkee, is president of Allcom Electric Inc. Association president Catherine …

WHEN it comes to in-house health and safety performance, Clare Local Authorities lead the way. This week, at a ceremony in Galway, Clare Local Authorities was named overall winner of the Local Authority Award in the 22nd annual national safety awards scheme. Organised by the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) and Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISG), the scheme recognises organisations which demonstrate a consistently good or continuously improving health and safety performance and an outstanding contribution to occupational safety, health and welfare during the previous year. Mayor of Clare, Councillor Joe Arkins lauded the success. “The fact that Clare Local Authorities were deemed the overall winner out all local authority areas on the island of Ireland is a recognition of the strong leadership and commitment demonstrated by management, influencing of stakeholders and particularly the engagement of staff at all levels of the organisation to continuously improve health and safety performance and comply with the law as a minimum standard of …