The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A NEW wing featuring a permanent exhibition of Irish Air Corps memorabilia as been opened at the Shannon Aviation Museum.
Exhibits include an Air Corps Fouga Magister F216, which was formerly on display at Collins Barracks, along with a Reims Rocket Cessna 172, which was in the fleet for 47 years.
The installation of the permanent exhibition coincides with the Irish Air Corps centenary.
At the official opening, director of the Museum Jane Magill paid tribute to the late Eddie Ryan, who was also heavily involved in its foundation.
“Eddie would have been absolutely thrilled. We’d like to dedicate our efforts and this day to Eddie and his family.”
She paid tribute to the Air Corps, saying, “The display area here is intended to recognise the Irish Air Corps and their contribution to our nation. The men and women who serve us with pride and excellence, and I’ve come to know a lot of them over the last few years. We’re pleased also that the event co-incides with the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Irish Air Corps.”
Mayor of Clare Tony O’Brien said the museum has been a huge addition to the area.
“From an ambitious concept in 2008 to reality today, this museum has been and will continue to be a great offering here in Shannon town, providing an exciting and interactive experience to a wide range of visitors.
“As well as providing education and recreational opportunities to the wider community, I welcome the fact that the schools in the region will continue to benefit from the region’s facilities and that for example children living in Clare and Clare’s hinterland can learn about the aviation industry from a young age and get that knowledge and experience.”
He said he was pleased that Clare County Council had assisted the Museum’s success.
“Working with the museum in 2016, Clare County Council helped with the Towns and Villages grant application process which saw the museum awarded a total of €160,000.
“This was used for the development of the building in which the air corps display is housed in today. The project was a great success as can be seen and I’m told it was the catalyst of moving onto the next phase of the development.”
He said that the new items in the Museum will help it achieve further success. “It will lead to an increased overall profile for Shannon Town and the wider region, providing a new science based technological attraction.”
Clare TD Cathal Crowe paid tribute to the founders of the Museum, saying they had shown huge dedication to getting the project going.
“People come to us every week with dreams and ask can you fund it, but Eddie and Jane were willing to put everything behind this, lay everything on the line, and they’ve achieved it.”
He said it was very important that the Museum become more widely known as a top visitor attraction.
“People have to flock here, the whole world knows about the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle, but there’s a little spot here on the map of Ireland and by God is it well worth visiting, so please spread the word.”
Tuesday, August 30, was exactly 83 years on from the first Air Corps deployment at Shannon, and addressing the gathering, Mary Considine, CEO of Shannon Airport Group, said that the Air Corps had quickly become more active in the area.
“That was quickly followed by the establishment of a base in Shannon, five aircraft, a team of 92 people and they would have done the early coastal air patrols on the western seaboard. It’s a great history and something we’re very proud of.
“It’s great now that we have the two retired air corps aircraft here in Shannon, in this musuem. We’re very fortunate to have the museum here as many of the other speakers have said, it’s a really unique experience and fantastic to have on our doorstep and right beside Shannon Airport.”
The gathering was addressed by a number of speakers including Clare TD Joe Carey, Ministers of State Patrick O’Donovan and Niall Collins, Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District Michael Begley and Brgadier General Rory O’Connor, General Officer Commanding of the Irish Air Corps and Director of Military Aviation.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
