This article is from page 12 of the 2008-01-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
NINETY-YEAR old Tom Casey from Sixmilebridge loaded the first piece of luggage on to the first Shan- non Heathrow flight fifty years ago.
Tom – who worked even before that laying drains on the site where the airport was to be built – was in Shan- non on Sunday to say goodbye to the Heathrow slots.
“It’s a very sad day but this airport could never close,’ an emotional
Tom said.
Among passengers checking in for the last flight, feelings were also run- uubereaseuhcaaw
Sharon McGann from London was a regular traveller on the route.
“Tm from Gort originally. I like to come home as often as I can. My fa- ther was ill recently and at the age my parents are, I want to be at home as much as possible. I live ten min- utes from Heathrow so it was very handy. I don’t know how often I’ll be
able to make it now,” she said.
Peggy Owers from Hampshire has a house in Clare and flies regularly. “It’s disgusting the flight is always fully subscribed. TV’ fly to Dublin now and travel down but I won’t fly Aer Lingus.”
Aideen Goggin from Shannon was flying out to Heathrow but will have to return from another airport. “And Pll have to stay an extra day. The course I’m doing finishes Friday but I can’t get a flight till Saturday.”
Bernadette Marren for London flew regularly to visit relatives in Clare and the west.
‘This is cutting off the west of Ire- land for everyone. Aer Lingus must have have got loads of money to move to Belfast but they shouldn’t have been allowed to leave Shannon Stranded,” she said.
Theresa and Tom Madden from North Tipperary say the loss of the flight means many lost family days.
Tom has to travel on business and
connect to a flight from Heathrow several times a month.
“IT could fly from here late Sunday or even early Monday – now I’II have to add the most of two days travel- ling to every trip,’ he said.
Thersa is angry that the move will mean more time away for Tom.
“Sundays are important days when you have small children – weekends are important. This is robbing us of time with our children growing up,” ORO KeKy Mr HUCe