Tag Archives: shannon

MORE than 71,000 US troops passed through Shannon Airport during 2020. While the US military use of Shannon has been hugely controversial for many years now, it has also provided Shannon with a significant amount of business. The US military traffic was particularly significant last year, as the figure of 71,000 means that more than 20% of passengers at Shannon in 2020. Late last year independent figures provided in the Oireachtas showed that in the first ten months of the year there had been 65,965 troops at the airport. This month Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told the Dáil that there had been another 3,414 troops passing through Shannon in November and a further 1,884 in December. Combined, the figures show that 71,263 troops passed through Shannon over the 12 months. Interestingly the number of US troops who passed through Shannon in December was actually higher than the number of people who arrived for a stay in Ireland through Shannon in …

REMOTE teaching and learning is still a challenge for everyone involved, but St Patrick’s Comprehensive principal Mary Costello said that a lot of lessons were learned in 2020, which are making things that bit easier right now. She says that there was much more notice this time, compared to when a sudden decision came from Government last March. “Literally we found out at lunchtime on the 12th that we were closing and moving to remote learning. We had done a little bit of preparatory work in terms of resources being printed out, but we thought we were going to close for two weeks. This time, when we came back in September, we had an eye the whole time on the potential for local or national closures.” Classes are longer nowadays, because the turnarounds were proving difficult for everyone. “We have 40 minute classes but it was very difficult for students and staff to be changing classes every 40 minutes online. …

A MERE 1,461 passengers arrived into Ireland through Shannon Airport between November 30 and January 3, according to figures presented to the Dáil by Minister Eamon Ryan. The number doesn’t include passengers who were on flights that stopped over at Shannon, before going on to other destinations. The majority of the passengers, 1032, came from the UK. Another 213 came from Poland, 78 from Italy, 45 from France, and the remainder from a large number of countries. December would traditionally be a rather busy month at Shannon, but even before the recent Covid wave, traffic had almost completely ceased. Speaking in the Dáil after presenting the figures, Minister Ryan said, “The extent to which the public, including arriving passengers, are advised to either restrict movement, adhere to other public health measures or undertake Covid-19 testing is based on the advice of the public health authorities. My Department assists with the implementation of public health measures in relation to international travel, …

TWO Clare students have been selected to receive prestigious scholarships. Annie Reeves from Mountshannon, who is studying mobile communication and internet security at the University of Limerick, has been named among the recipients of Intel’s Women in Technology scholarship programme. Also Intel Shannon has presented a Paul Whelan Memorial Scholarship to Tim Hannon, a computer science student from Ennis. 15 years ago Intel in Ireland launched its Women in Technology scholarship program for the first time. The scholarship program aims to encourage a new generation of high-achieving women to take up the challenge of a career in science and technology and to empower them by fostering educational opportunities. The scholarship program offers a monetary grant, valued at €3,000 per annum, as well as opportunities for work placements at the Intel Leixlip and Shannon campus’. Each scholar is also assigned a mentor who is an Intel employee to assist and provide advice on managing their academic career. Since the Intel Women …

SHANNON Gardai are investigating an incident in which it appears a shot was fired in the Illaunmanagh area of the town on Wednesday morning. A video clip has been in circulation in which a dark car is seen following a white van, before the sound of a gunshot is heard. Gardai are anxious to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious or who may have relevant dashcam footage. They can be contacted at 061 365900. The Gardai are also investigating damage that was done to caravans parked at Illaunmanagh on Sunday.

REVENUE officers seized 1.1kg of herbal cannabis at Shannon Airport on Wednesday. The smuggled drugs had an estimated value of €22,000 and were discovered concealed in large packets of sharing crisps, that were contained in a parcel that had originated in Spain and were destined for an address in Limerick City. This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

TULLYVARRAGA’S Denis Bates, a retired teacher, has received an award for volunteering work with Ireland’s largest aid agency, Concern Worldwide. Denis received a silver medal for his involvement with its national debating competition, Concern Debates, which he has been involved with since 1985. Hundreds of schools take part in the nationwide contest each year with students going head-to-head in debates about world and development issues – with volunteer judges like Denis deciding who wins each one. Denis was also a mentor for student teams at CBS Sexton Street in Limerick city when he worked there over many years. He has also adjudicated at many debating contests involving Clare schools like St. Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon and Coláiste Muire in Ennis. He became involved after having returned to Ireland after spending six years in East Africa. “When I came home I still had an interest in the developing world. There wasn’t much opportunity in Ireland in those days to express that …

A TREE of Hope planted in Shannon Town Park in October was vandalised last weekend. The tree was planted by the local Darkness Into Light group and its chairperson Brenda Leahy was very upset by the vandalism. “Devastated, absolutely devastated. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to say it had been damaged and there were kids seen around the park. It’s terrible.” Each year Shannon, like many other towns and villages, hosts a Darkness Into Light Walk in aid of Pieta House, but with that being cancelled, the Tree of Hope was planted instead. “Some people were concerned that it might be damaged but we said we’d go ahead with it, and hopefully it wouldn’t be. It was just to give a symbol of hope, it was some place for people to go and remember their loved ones or to reflect.” Having lost her husband to suicide, Brenda said the tree had a special personal meaning to …