Shannon

ENDA Kenny is to face protests when he comes to Clare on Monday, with the revised water charges still the subject of much public anger. Gardaí met earlier this week to make plans for Monday, when the Taoiseach is set to visit TTM Healthcare at Ballymaley, speak at the Shannon Chamber president’s lunch in Dromoland and open Genworth’s new business centre in Shannon. There is speculation that jobs will be announced at TTM Healthcare and while there were reports that new jobs would also be announced at Genworth, a company spokesman told The Clare Champion this is not the case. It is understood that another Shannon company, which is due to take on new staff in 2015, are also hopeful that the Taoiseach will visit them. At a so-called street meeting in Shannon on Tuesday night, representatives of the We Won’t Pay anti-water charges campaign said they have plans to protest when the Taoiseach is in Clare. They also said …

Shannon Airport’s strong momentum across 2014 has continued into the final month of the autumn, with passenger numbers for October showing a 28% increase on the same period twelve months ago. The biggest gains in passengers through the terminal were again on European services, which were up by 63% on the same period 12 months ago thanks to a range of nine attractive new routes that were launched for the summer season (April through to end of October). Eight of those were on the European market, which resulted in a 111% increase (from 20,347 to 42,950) in passengers to and from the continent last month compared to October 2013. Transatlantic passengers were up by 15% (from 23,511 to 27,108) thanks to the increased frequency across New York and Boston services this year, with Shannon’s biggest market, the UK, up by 6% (from 61,681 to 65,243). Welcoming the growth, Airport CEO Neil Pakey said, “It’s been a really great summer season …

RehabCare in Shannon recently  highly commended in the Rehab Group Innovation Awards 2014 at an award ceremony in Dublin for its ‘What’s Good For Your Head?’ project. This project won the award in the ‘Health and Social Care Innovation’ category and was selected as a highly commended out of 64 innovative projects, which had been submitted from across the organisation. ‘What’s Good For Your Head?’ was set up to promote positive mental health in the community. Eight people with experience of mental health difficulties worked with a quality and planning co-ordinator in RehabCare to develop a project and booklet on positive mental health and wellbeing. The project examined what mental health is, looked at ways to recognise mental health difficulty and also provided some self-management practices. The booklet contains all of this information as well providing information on local support services. Jessica Curtis, Community Services Manager from RehabCare said, “The Rehab Group Innovation Awards reward examples of best practice, improvement …

Essential maintenance works will result in the disruption of the water supply to the Westpark Development and to a number of businesses within the Shannon Free Zone West industrial estate in Shannon, for approximately six hours on Saturday next, November 1. Clare County Council, as agents of Irish Water, has outlined that the work will impact on quite a number of major industries from around  8.30am to 2.30pm.

John Crane Ireland this week marked a milestone anniversary, as it celebrates 40 years since it planted roots in Shannon. The long-established company, which produces industrial sealing applications, currently employs over 90 workers, with an average length of service exceeding 20 years. To mark its 40 years, Shannon Group PLC made a presentation of County Clare bog oak to the company. Plant manager, Chris Milici said the company has had a very positive experience in Shannon. “The levels of expertise, commitment and dedication are second to none and we look forward to building on our heritage as we grow the business to new heights.” Congratulating the company on its 40th anniversary, Ray O’Driscoll, managing director of Shannon Commercial Properties (which is part of Shannon Group) said, “By any standards, 40 years is a very considerable commitment by a company to a location. It speaks volumes not just about the standards delivered week in, week out by the company but also its …

Shannon author and broadcaster, Rachael English’s second novel, Each and Every One, has just hit the bookshops. Rachael’s voice is among the most well-known in the country, as she presents Morning Ireland, and has more than 20 years’ experience on RTÉ Radio, after starting out on Clare FM, when Irish local radio was launched in 1989. Her first novel, Going Back, was quite well received on its release last year, but her nerves were still jangling last week, as she prepares to see how readers and critics react to the latest novel. Even presenting a radio show to hundreds of thousands of listeners isn’t adequate preparation, she said. “I’d love to be one of those people who doesn’t get nervous about these things but I do get far more nervous about book things than I have ever done about anything to do with broadcasting. It’s mad.” She said she feels like people will almost be passing judgement on a part …

SHANNON girl, Susan Williams has won the Normoyle Hillery Scholarship. Susan won the much sought-after €5,000 science scholarship from a shortlist of 16 of the highest calibre students in Clare. She attended St Caimin’s Community School and has just begun her studies in physiotherapy at the University of Limerick. “This award is way beyond my wildest dreams,” said the Ballycasey girl. “It just hasn’t sunk in. I met the other shortlisted candidates at an interview preparation session prior to our final interview and the standard of achievement was so high. I was so happy to be among them but receiving the award is just an unbelievable start to my course of studies and my career,” she added. Susan was a participant in the BT Young Scientist Competition last year, with a project based on the use of crutches during injury and the effect their use has on other body parts, particularly the hands and arms. She was also an award-winner …

CATHAOIRLEACH of Clare County Council, John Crowe says Shannon Airport and the surrounding Free Zone have “never been better placed than now to generate new business.” Councuillor John Crowe was speaking following the formal establishment by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe of Shannon Group plc, which brings together Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited, Shannon Heritage and The International Aviation Services Centre (IASC). The Cathaoirleach commented: “Ever since autonomy was granted to Shannon Airport there has been a sizeable growth in passenger numbers and new services. Likewise, the fortunes of the Shannon Free Zone and businesses based there have improved considerably during the past 18 months. Furthermore, tourism figures throughout the Mid West Region are also on the rise which is no small part down to the strong leadership that has been shown by those behind the positive developments that have taken place in Shannon.” He continued: “The Minister’s formal establishment of the new entity will also …