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Shannon

Call for fencing to deter anti-social behaviour in Shannon

A SHANNON councillor has requested the installation of fencing at a site in the town to combat anti-social behaviour, writes Owen Ryan. Councillor Gerry Flynn put forward a motion asking that the County Council “clean up the area surrounding the pump house in Drumgeely, located adjacent to the river walk and Drumgeely housing”. He also request fencing be put in place around the pump house “to deter further illegal dumping of waste and anti-social activity”. His motion also stated, “The restoration of the local footpath that links on to the river walk would be helpful in the rerouting of pedestrians away from the pump house.” During the debate he acknowledged a lot of the clean-up work has been done, but that a few bits are left and there is still some vegetation. He also said that fencing at the pump house is needed to deal with “illegal activity and anti social behaviour there”. In a written reply, Senior Executive Engineer …

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Paddy cuts butcher career short to make time for life

THE end of this week will also mark the end of an era, with Cassley Meats in Cronan Gardens closing its doors for the last time. Speaking this week Paddy Cassley said that it is time for him to move on from the business which he has put a huge amount of his time into for decades. “Of course I’ll miss it, but I won’t miss the late nights, all the late hours, I won’t miss that bit of it. You’d miss the customers, the bit of craic and the chat. You’d miss the different characters and things like that.” He was still a boy himself when he got involved in the family business. “I started butchering when I was 11 or 12, I was breaking beef, boning and doing roasts and making sausages and all of that. “I left school then, when I was 14. I’ve been working long hours all my life, and it’s time to take a …

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Fewer than 380,000 passengers at Shannon in 2021

SHANNON Airport had just under 380,000 passengers in 2021, with Covid-19 measures having a huge impact. It was only after the rollout of vaccinations and the introduction of the EU Digital Covid Cert that restrictions on non essential air travel were lifted in mid July. The numbers that travelled in 2021 were actually an increase on the 352,000 figure in 2020, but they were down by 78% on 2019, the last full year of operation prior to the pandemic. Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine said that while it had been a challenging year, the relaxation of restrictions gives grounds for optimism. “Our team at Shannon Group have been unwavering in our focus on recovery and rebuilding to ensure a successful future for our employees, the people and businesses in our region who rely on our Shannon Airport services for their livelihoods. Although it has been another challenging year, having come through the worst of the Pandemic, we are confident that …

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Zimmer staff raise over €20k for BUMBLEance

THE Zimmer Biomet team in Shannon and Galway rowed and cycled the equivalent distance of Ireland to Beijing to raise over €20,000 to support sick children, writes Owen Ryan. The company’s contribution will benefit BUMBLEance, an Irish charity devoted to transporting extremely ill children or children with life limiting illnesses to their hospital appointments. This latest fundraiser forms part of an ongoing partnership with BUMBLEance and the Zimmer Biomet team. Prior to the pandemic, the team traditionally completed an annual fundraising cycle from its plant in Shannon to its sister site in Galway. However, this year, in response to COVID restrictions, the team decided to cycle or row approximately 15,000kms, equating to the average distance travelled by the BUMBLEance fleet in Ireland each week. Observing social distancing, the cycling and rowing activities were safely completed either at the employees’ homes or within the company’s plants in Shannon and Galway with all funds raised matched by the company. Brian Conlan, CEO …

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Councillors give backing to Shannon masterplan

LOCAL Councillors gave their backing to the Shannon Town Masterplan at a meeting this week. The masterplan has provoked a lot of local discussion in recent months, and was the subject of many submissions from the public after the initial draft became public. At Tuesday’s meeting director of services Liam Conneally said that there are two aspects to delivering the plan, one being statutory and one related to funding. He said that the plan will yet have to be incorporated into a review of the County Development Plan. Regarding funding, he said that Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage ahd rejected an application for URDF funding for the Venue development, due to concerns about the location and with making a significant State investment without the masterplan being completed. “The Masterplan is now nearing completion and a new funding application will be made to the Department in 2022,” he added. He said that the Department are anxious that an application …

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Clare link to world-famous Coca-Cola ad revealed

AN iconic Coca Cola advert was inspired by events at Shannon Airport 51 years ago this month, writes Owen Ryan. The advert, which features a song with the famed lyrics ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’ came about after Bill Backer, creative director on the Coca Cola account for the McCann Erickson advertising agency was flying to England to meet with Billy Davis, a music director, to write radio commercials with British songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenway in January 1971. On Coca Cola’s website, it states that Bill’s flight to the UK was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Clare. “The heavy fog in London forced the plane to land in Shannon, Ireland. Passengers had to remain near the airport in case the fog lifted. Some of them were furious about their accommodations. By the next day, Backer saw some of the most irate passengers in the airport cafe. Brought together by a common experience, many …

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Online vigil for Ashling from Shannon this Thursday

AN online vigil in memory of Ashling Murphy will take place from Shannon on this Thursday evening. While it is being held in a church, it is not a religious event, said Ann McMahon, who has been involved in its organisation. “It’s a vigil event, that will be non-religious in memory of Ashling Murphy. It’ll be largely an online event, but it’ll take place in Ss John & Paul Church at 8pm on Thursday. “There will be some invited guests, but with Covid restrictions and erring on the side of caution. It’ll be on the Shannon parish website and also the Shannon parish Facebook page, it’ll be livestreamed there.” There will be speakers and traditional music on the night, and Ann feels last week’s tragedy may provoke change in society. “This very sad and tragic event has evoked very strong feelings in a lot of people. It is perhaps a pinch point in our reflections as a community about violence …

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Frustration at inaction on Shannon anti-social behaviour

THE last couple of years have seen many complaints of anti-social behaviour around Shannon, and this week two men have spoken about their homes repeatedly having been attacked by local teenagers. The two houses are in a relatively prominent part of the town, and the occupants say that they, and two other neighbouring properties have been targeted again and again. One of the men said that he is utterly sick of his home being damaged, and with Gardai saying they can do little due to the age of those involved, he says he will protect his own home in future. “I’ve been to the Guards a number of times, they do nothing about it, they don’t care, they’re not interested, so I’m taking it into my own hands. I’m sick of it, I went to three houses and the parents didn’t give a f**k.” He said that videos of the offenders have been shown to Gardai, but there is no …

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