Tag Archives: Shannon Group

THIS week has seen calls for Shannon Group to purchase the long-closed Shannon Shamrock hotel and to develop a historic theme park, boosting Clare tourism. The hotel has been for sale for some time and it is understood that a bid in the region of €1.5 million has been made on it. Savills, the company working on the sale, are hoping to achieve a price of closer to €1.8m. At the moment, various rumours are swirling about the potential future of the property. Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday, Niall O’Callaghan, managing director of Shannon Heritage, would not be drawn on whether purchasing the hotel is being considered. However, Mr O’Callaghan said that there are plans for major development in the Bunratty area. “We’re working on a masterplan at the moment in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland that we hope will come to fruition in the next 12 to 18 months. It’s part of the Fáilte Ireland Capital Grants Scheme …

SHANNON Group, which operates Shannon Airport, is calling on Government to support it in safeguarding EU connectivity for the Mid-West and Western regions in a post Brexit environment. Shannon Airport currently has UK hub connectivity through London Heathrow, which will continue to be hugely important connectivity going forward. But in a Brexit situation, as the UK exits the European Union, the airport will then be without connectivity into an EU hub. Commenting on the issue, Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group said: “European hub connectivity is vital for our tourism and business customers in the Mid-West, and Western regions. It provides the air access needed to grow tourism numbers, to conduct business and attract FDI investment from Europe and is now more important than ever in the context of Brexit. “While European connectivity is currently serviced through the London Heathrow hub, the reality is that in a post Brexit situation, the West of Ireland will be without this critical EU connectivity. …

Aer Lingus has announced that its Shannon / New York JFK service will operate year-round in 2019. Shannon is set to operate it largest Transatlantic service in 17 years with eight transatlantic services operated by six different carriers across seven destinations from Shannon in 2018. Matthew Thomas, Shannon Group CEO said, “We are delighted that Aer Lingus will be operating a New York / Shannon service year-round in 2019. With 40% of US foreign direct investment in Ireland within Shannon’s catchment area, this is great news for our business community, and makes our region much more attractive for future US FDI.” Andrew Murphy, managing director, Shannon Airport said, “We welcome the decision by Aer Lingus to restore it year-round New York service, which will benefit the business community and leisure travellers who will have more options to avail of onward connections to over 90 destinations at the JFK airport, JetBlue’s largest hub airport.” Describing the Shannon / New York JFK …

Dail deputies, Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have said  they are looking forward to testing out the new intruder radar detection tracking system being put in place to protect the 12.5km perimeter fence at Shannon Airport. The two made their comments with confirmation that Shannon Airport is set to splurge a maximum of €150,000 on the first phase of the new intruder detection tracking system at the airport perimeter fence. The perimeter fence, erected around the 968 acre airfield, has been scaled a number of times this century by anti-war activists angry over the use of Shannon by the US military. The fence was most famously scaled by Deputy Wallace and Deputy Daly in July, 2014 when the two used a rope ladder to make their incursion into the airfield. They were fined a total of €4,000 after being convicted of breaching airport regulations when entering a restricted area of Shannon airfield. However, the two did not pay the fines …

SHANNON Airport Authority is looking for a retail operator to take on two units. One of the units is landside and 187.3 m2 in size. It is situated in a pivotal location in the main terminal building, between the check-in area and the arrivals area. According to the tender documents, the unit “is visible and accessible to all arriving and departing passengers, ‘meeters and greeters’, airport staff and the general public”. The other unit is 136 m2 in size and is in the departure lounge, adjacent to the main duty free shop. According to the documentation, the items to be sold would include books, magazines and similar publications, as well as convenience items (soft drinks, pre-packed sandwiches, mobile phone top ups etc). It also states, “SAA is currently working on a ‘Sense of Place’ masterplan, which is focusing on the essential touch points in the passenger journey from the approach road to the boarding gate and all key areas in …

Short of Christmas Eve itself, Santa’s busiest day in the run up to December 25 is set again for Shannon Airport as the big man jets in for his fifth successive annual Santa Flights on December 2 and 3. Over 2,000 children and their parents or guardians will be carried into the skies to meet Santa 15,000ft above sea level in what has now become the most anticipated event for children across the region aside from the big day itself. The excitement will be palpable and noise deafening as the delight fills the Shannon terminal and skies above for a very special two day treat for children from across the country. To raise even more funds for the Shannon Group charities this year, the airport is putting a new lottery system in place, to replace the €9.99 charge per seat last year. A €1 per seat application fee will apply to enter this year’s lottery and if you win the …

The Chairman, CEO and management of Shannon Group plc have welcomed the appointment of Tom Kelly, CEO, AerCap Ireland, to the board of Shannon Group plc. Mr Kelly has been appointed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, TD, to serve on the board for a five year term. Welcoming the appointment Rose Hynes, Chairman, Shannon Group said: “Tom is a respected business leader in the aviation sector and is a very welcome addition to our board. He provides us with the type of expertise and experience that is required to deliver our strategic vision for the Group. I look forward to working with him at this exciting and challenging time for Shannon.” Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group said: “I also welcome the new director. Shannon Group directly contributes to Ireland’s economic prosperity and Mr Kelly will be a great asset in assisting us to continue to deliver on our plans, which we hope can further grow …

Shannon Group plc recorded another positive year of trading in 2016, as turnover hit €67.2 million, up by over 2% on 2015.  In its second full year of trading, the group, the parent company of Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage, recorded EBITDA of €7.6 million, reflecting a solid performance and a 10% increase on 2015. Announcing his first annual results as CEO of Shannon Group, Matthew Thomas said that a continuation of the company’s improving financial performance is necessary to enable it to undertake critical investments across its business units. “The Shannon Group has a unique mix of complementary businesses that, more than any other commercial entity in the region, gives it the potential to positively influence economic development. Sixteen companies who announced new or expanded operations in 2016 in the Mid-West, which was the fastest growing region outside of Dublin last year, cited the global connectivity at Shannon Airport as a key influencer in their decision to …