Tag Archives: London

This Tuesday morning’s Cabinet meeting could have a significant impact on the future of Shannon Airport. The Board of Aer Lingus has recommend shareholders accept a €1.3 billion takeover offer from IAG. The potential deal will be discussed by ministers at Cabinet this morning, and Transport Minister Paschal Donohue says maintaining employment and connectivity is of the utmost importance. There have been concerns in this region that any sale could damage the local economy, in the event that the new owners move London Heathrow landing slots away from Shannon. Trade unions maintain up to 1,200 jobs could be put at risk if any sale goes through, and are calling on the Government to seek guarantees this won’t occur. Also mentioned this morning, is the importance of retaining the Aer Lingus brand in any takeover scenario.

FAMILIES were reunited, tears were shed and hugs swapped as emigrants returning for Christmas arrived at Shannon this week. On Monday afternoon, the Heathrow-Shannon flight was packed with people arriving home from various corners of the world, with dozens waiting in the terminal to greet them.   Michelle Davitt of Galway was at Shannon to collect her brother, who manages a restaurant in Washington. “He hasn’t been home for Christmas in 12 years, so it’s a long time. He has been home during summers and stuff, but not for Christmas,” she said. She was the only member of her family who knew he was coming, as his arrival was being kept as a seasonal surprise. Deirdre O’Rourke was waiting for her brother, Sean. “He’s coming from England and it’s the first time in 21 years he’s been home for Christmas. We’re really looking forward to it and we’re going to make a show of him.” When he stepped through the …

Dromoland Castle was represented on a delegation of business tourism enterprises from around the country that took part in a Showcase Ireland promotion in Manchester. The event, organised by Tourism Ireland as part of its push to grow corporate meetings and association conference business, was attended by 40 influential business tourism buyers from Manchester and the north of England. Involving a B2B (business-to-business) workshop and networking opportunities, it proved to be a valuable platform for the Irish delegation to showcase and sell their product and to communicate what is unique about Clare and Ireland as a world-class destination for business tourism. David Boyce, Tourism Ireland’s deputy head of Great Britain, said,“Our new business tourism event provided another valuable platform for Tourism Ireland and our partners to showcase and sell Ireland and to build awareness of our world-class business and conference facilities. The superb meetings, incentive and transport infrastructure on offer, coupled with our distinctive cultural experience, means the island of …

Jaguar revealed their brand new XE sports saloon at a spectacular launch event at Earl’s Court, London, this evening. The scene was more akin to a West End Show than the usual exhibitions normally seen at the venue. The 90 minute spectacular was narrated by actor, John Hannah and featured performances from Emili Sandé, The Kaiser Chiefs, Eliza Doolittle and what appeared to be half the actors currently appearing on the West End. The story brought us through scenes from Jaguar’s illustrious history as a 16 year old boy, aided by a time traveller, attempted to create a new Jaguar for 2015, distilling the ethos of the brand in the process before the final, spectacular reveal. It was certainly an enjoyable, at times breath-taking performance and really brought home how important the success of the XE is to Jaguar. I’m sure there were many celebrities attending, but I don’t write for Hello and I didn’t recognise any faces, beyond Sir …

A SCARIFF man who was missing in London has been found and is in good health. John Dowdall was found by police staying in a hotel in the Paddington area of the city on Wednesday night. He is now staying with relatives in London and is said to be in good spirits. Mr Dowdall had left his home place without informing relatives living locally. He checked into a hotel in London on July 31 but left it on August 7, leaving his belongings after him. On  Tuesday of last week it was established that he was alive and efforts to find him bore fruit late yesterday evening.  

A LONDON pub, run by an Ogonnelloe publican, will bloom in front of millions of viewers in the United Kingdom this Friday. Gerry O’Brien, who was inspired by the picturesque surroundings on the banks of Lough Derg to adorn his London pub with hundreds of flowers, appears on Gardeners’ World this Friday at 8.30pm. His parents, Helen and Rita O’Brien, were very proud of their orchard and the surroundings of their house, which seemed to have rubbed off on Gerry, judging by the extraordinary efforts he has gone to to set his Kensington pub apart from others in London. Gerry will provide a brief history of his upbringing in South-East Clare, as part of the background about how he brought his love of flowers and horticulture to his award-winning pub. BBC2 cameramen spent a day filming in Gerry’s pub last year and it is expected that most of Friday night’s show will centre on The Churchill Arms. Gardeners’ World is …

By Peter O’Connell Clare 2-14 London 1-8 FIRST half goals from Enda Coughlan and Gary Brennan were pivotal in steering Clare to the top of the division 4 table in Ruislip on Sunday afternoon. Playing with a strong first half breeze the goals helped Clare into a 2-7 to 1-3 half time lead. Martin O’Leary kicked two first half points for the winners, with Podge Collins, Shane McGrath, Dean Ryan, David Tubridy and Gary Brennan also pointing. However Clare conceded a soft first half goal when a Lorcan Mulvey shot deceived Clare goalkeeper Pierce Deloughrey and full back Gordon Kelly. With a stiff breeze in their face Clare outscored London 0-7 to 0-5 in the second half. Martin O’Leary and Shane McGrath put over a brace apiece, while Podge Collins, Tubridy and Sean Collins added a point each. This was a decent display from Clare who introduced Alan Clohessy, Rory Donnelly and debutante Jack O’Dea to the 2014 league. Their …

DRIFTING in and out of consciousness, John Cahill couldn’t let go of his dream. His bicycle lay mangled in a Killaloe ditch, an increasing crowd surrounded the Cappa man and the pain seared through his body. Still his scrambled thoughts zoned in on London. “I was lying on the road for about 20 minutes waiting for the ambulance to come,” the An Post employee recalled on Wednesday more than a year after his accident at a triathlon in Killaloe. “The first thing I did was move my fingers and toes. Once I could do that I knew then that one day I’d get back on the bike. Even when I was lying there the first thing that went through my head was London and would I be able to make it.” John is just back from the World Triathlon Championships in London, so yes, he definitely made it. Along with David Brew, also from Cappa, John represented the West Clare …