Tag Archives: USA

AMERICAN accents will be heard around Clare more frequently from next Thursday, with transatlantic flights finally resuming from Shannon. With Americans well known as big spenders, it is great news for the Banner’s tourism sector, which has had to cope without them for the last two years. Maurice Walsh is general manager of Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty and he said the return of the Americans will be very welcome. “We are looking forward to it with anticipation. It’s going to be a great bonus to the airport and a great bonus to the area. The flights at Shannon at the moment are really just moving Irish people in and out of the country, but the American flights will bring the tourists back into the area.” He says that he expects business to pick up significantly. “We have a lot of bookings at the start of next week. It’s the usual St Patrick’s Day rush that comes in through Shannon. They …

IT now appears that US Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to the Banner County will be happening earlier than planned and he will stay for two nights in Doonbeg. While Mr Pence had not been expected until next Friday, his European trip has now been brought forward, with him firstly travelling to Poland, in place of President Donald Trump. He is now expected to arrive in Ireland on Monday, and be taken to Doonbeg after arriving in Shannon. From Doonbeg he is expected to Dublin on Tuesday for meetings, but to be back in Doonbeg again on Tuesday night, before leaving the country on Wednesday. At this stage little information available, and even official sources have few details, however it is thought that the Vice President will not now travel to the Cliffs of Moher during his time in Clare

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has now left Clare, flying from Shannon Airport earlier this afternoon. Shannon Group Chairman, Rose Hynes was one of the last people to speak to him before his flight left, and she said the trip had been a great boost to the region. “The visit of the American President Donald Trump to Shannon further illustrates the deep ties between the West of Ireland and the United States. “Shannon is the gateway airport to the Wild Atlantic Way and is critical for tourism and indeed, business in this region, not least in the context of the huge US multi-national footprint here. The visit has been a huge sign-post for Shannon, something that will grow awareness of the airport as the premier access to this wonderful part of Ireland.”

TRICOLOURS and American flags were waving in the May breeze on Wednesday in the centre of Doonbeg, as the Trump visit approaches. Local farmer Willie Hanrahan is the chairman of the IFA in Clare and he said it is a huge opportunity for Doonbeg. “There’s a great buzz around the place and it’s mighty that the President of the United States is actually coming to this village. It’s absolutely fantastic for the area and let’s hope we can showcase it to the world media.” He said the office of US president should be respected. “We’re not going to get into the politics of it, he is the democratically elected President of the US, the most important office in the world and we’re delighted to have him here. “In Doonbeg, we look at the position rather than the person. It’s a great honour for Doonbeg to have the President in our parish, it’s absolutely a great honour. It is something that …

WEST Clare will see the most extensive security operation in its history next week, when President Donald Trump arrives in Doonbeg. An area close to Trump International will be completely closed off to the public, apart from people living in the area, who will have special passes. The restrictions will be in place from Monday until Trump leaves again, probably on Friday, but possibly as late as Saturday. There will be a huge security operation at Shannon also, but it is expected that it will be largely business as usual at the airport, although people arriving there at certain times may have to take a short detour. Companies in the Shannon Free Zone are expected to stay open throughout. Detective Garda Ollie Downes said there will be traffic restrictions on access to the entrances to Trump International and only those who have been granted passes (such as residents and care staff) will be granted access. Some distance further back there …

WHEN Donald Trump comes to West Clare, one house he shouldn’t call to is Janet Burke’s, even though she is a fellow American abroad. Trump might not be a popular president anyway, but when Janet talks about him it is very clear her dislike of The Donald is very acute. Even when he was just a celebrity billionaire she didn’t care for him, and her attitude only hardened as the Trump presidential campaign proceeded, and Janet says his two years in office have been much worse than she feared. “Living through that election process, the things he was saying and the way he was behaving, at first it seemed like a joke. From the beginning it was terrifying to think that this man might get that job. He was so erratic, he was so divisive and hateful. “I was worried when he got it, but he has far surpassed how bad I thought he could be. I didn’t think he …

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar is under intense political pressure today, after claiming he had sought to help Donald Trump prevent a windfarm being built near Doonbeg. At a lunch in Washington yesterday, he spoke about receiving a phone call from Mr Trump three or four years ago, at which time he was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. In the call, Mr Varadkar said that the future President told him he had a problem near the golf course, where a wind farm was being proposed. Afterwards, Mr Varadkar said he tried to assist Mr Trump. “I endeavoured to do what I could do about it,” Mr Varadkar claimed. “I rang the County Council and enquired about the planning permission and subsequently the planning permission was declined and the windfarm was never built. Thus the landscape being preserved. The President has very kindly given me credit for that. Although I do think it probably would have been refused anyway. But I’m very …

  Clare County Council today (Monday) hosted a delegation from Rhode Island, USA, at Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis. The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, comprising business, tourism and government representatives, was led by Mayor Scott Avedisian, City of Warwick. Warwick is the second largest city in the State of Rhode Island and is home to T F Green Airport which is served from Shannon Airport by Norwegian Air. The delegation was welcomed to Ennis by Councillor Tom McNamara (Mayor of Clare), Pat Dowling,Chief Executive, Clare County Council and Padraic McElwee, head of enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Clare). A function attended by the delegation and community, business, Government, local government and tourism representatives from throughout County Clare was hosted in Durty Nelly’s, Bunratty, last night (Sunday).