Month: October 2008

THERE were calls last night for Clare County Council to fully sup- port Aer Lingus staff at Shannon ~ bu ola

The issue was raised during the monthly meeting of the council when councillor John Crowe asked that the members write to the Minster for Transport demanding that he ensure there would be no further reduction of transatlantic services from Shan- noe

“A lot has happened at Shannon

since I tabled this motion and none of it for the good of this region,’ he said, referring to the Aer Lingus plan to outsource most of the positions at the airport.

“There are 280 jobs to be lost there and these jobs cannot be lost to Shan- non’, he said and asked “where are the 22 airlines the minister said were waiting on the runways to come to Shannon under Open Skies? If there is any further decline in transatlan- tic services at Shannon, it will the death-knell,”’ he said.

Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Labour) said

that the “council as a body must sup- port workers at Aer Lingus. Only for Ryanair, there would be nothing left at Shannon. There are families who grew up in Shannon who are looking at leaving their homes.”

Cllr Brian Meaney said that it was the first time that the council had had an opportunity “to discuss what is a near fatal blow to Shannon Airport. This chamber needs to send a strong signal to the relevant departments and to the management of Aer Lingus in relation to the proposals on outsourc- ing. We have to deal with the pos-

sible consequences of so many jobs being lost. We have to look at this in terms of contingency plans.” Meanwhile, Deputy Pat Breen (FG) told a Dail debate on the situ- ation that, “the Aer Lingus workers at Shannon are the sacrificial lambs who are bearing the brunt of the Government’s failure to act last year to secure the Shannon to Heathrow service. Shannon bore the brunt of the crisis arising from the attacks in New York on September 11. Every time Aer Lingus gets ‘flu, unfortu- nately Shannon appears to get pneu-

monia.”

Minister of State, Tony Kileen(FF) saidhehasmadecontact with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Min- ister for Transport Noel Dempsey re- garding the airline’s cost cutting plan. “Meanwhile, I have referred to Ms Mary Coughlan TD, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the Aer Lingus workers’ future job pros- pects. I have also asked Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher TD to ensure that all of the worker’s statu- tory entitlements are delivered on.”

CALLS have been made for the hugely successful duty-free compa- ny, Aer Rianta International, (ARI) to plough back some of its profits to market Shannon Airport, where the duty-free concept was born.

As the airport faces the loss of 280 Aer Lingus jobs, a former senior management figure with ARI has said it’s payback time for the com- pany, which made pre-tax profits of €291 million in the 12 months to the end of 2007.

This was a huge increase on the €17.5 million filed with the compa- nies office for the previous year.

The company, which is based at Shannon Airport, paid ©230 million in dividends last year to its parent group, the Dublin Airport Authority and repaid €98 million to the DAA. Sales from ARI’s duty free shops in Russia, the Middle East, Europe and North America rose by 58 per cent to €69 million.

The Commonwealth of Independ- ent States – Russia and it’s former territories – accounted for €64.8 million of ARI’s turnover and their next biggest revenue contributor, the Middle East, generated sales of €2.4 million. Europe brought in €1.6 mil- lion of sales and North America was last in line with sales of €214,000.

Now a former senior management

figure, who was closely involved in setting up much of ARI’s business, has called for some of the money to be ploughed back into marketing the airport where the duty-free concept Veh o0) 60

He believes that “between 10 and 20 per cent” of ARI’s profits should be used to help Shannon in these troubled times.

There was no-one from the DAA available to comment on the proposal but it is understood that the authority would not see any compunction on ARI to contribute to any Shannon airport marketing drive.

The ARI is a company in it’s own right and apart from being based at Shannon has no other direct connec- tion with the airport.

Another company is responsible for running the duty-free shops at Shan- non, Dublin and Cork airports.

However, many supporters of the airport would see the ARI’s success as being at least in part due to the Clare facility being the first home of duty free.

In 1951 the first airport duty-free liquor shop was opened. It started as a ship’s store where airline stewards purchased supplies for re-sale to pas- sengers when the aircraft became ~Npuee) uae

Later, passengers were allowed to buy drink and tobacco at duty-free prices on a restricted basis.

THE proposed outsourcing of cabin crew on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights will not directly affect the number of American tourists who use Shannon Airport, according to a leading tourism spokesman.

This outsourcing, which is part of the massive cost saving plan pro- posed by management last week, would see American based cabin crew employed on the flights with only pilots to be based in Shannon.

According to Lahinch hotelier and local spokesperson for the Irish Ho-

tel federation, Michael Vaughan the proposal may have impacted on the old Aer Lingus model, but will not adversely affect the new low-cost model.

“Aer Lingus has always used the image of being an Irish airline to attract business, especially from America. | think if outsourcing of cabin crew does take place then they really won’t be able to say that any- more,’ he said.

“They have adopted the low cost model and one of the assumptions of this model is that the person re- ally doesn’t mind who brings them to

their destination as long as they can get there for the price they want. In the older model for Aer Lingus this might have been an issue but I’m not sure that if will have an impact Ce) A

Mr Vaughan believes that the worst case scenario for tourism in the re- gion is if no agreement is reached between unions and the airline and a “wind down” of services comes into effect.

“I see this as a HR issue for Aer Lingus. They have to get their cost base right and negotiate with the un- ions. At present we don’t believe that

there is any threat to their transatlan- tic service out of Shannon barring a situation where we cannot come to some agreement. If this is the situa- tion I would assume that there will be some sort of wind down of serv- ices and that would have a damaging effect on the region, there is no doubt about that,’ he continued.

“That said it is quite possible that other airlines would see a possible opportunity in that. I know that Delta and Continental are quite happy with their activity of late and may just see an opportunity for themselves there.

“T am always conscious of the fact

that there are people’s jobs at stake here in Shannon, but in my position I must take a wider view. We have been hostages to fortune in Shannon for so long now. It’s like there has been a sword hanging over us for years now and there is a feeling within the busi- ness community that it is time to get the house in order in Shannon and go forward positively into the future in- stead of going forward with a chip on our shoulder about one thing or the other. In a perverse sort of way this may be a golden opportunity to en- Sure proper services in Shannon for the future.”

VISITORS have different concerns and priorities about their holiday experience in the mid-west than the tourism authorities have, the results of a survey being published today will show.

Conclusions from a summer season survey of nearly 5,500 visitors to the mid-west will be unveiled to mem- bers of the Tourism Learning Net- work at their seminar today.

Advance indications from the sur- vey showed that issues which have concerned the tourism authorities, including pricing and the propor- tion of non-nationals involved in the hospitality industry – did not come out as the top concerns with visitors. Instead tourists said that the warm hospitality from nationals and non nationals was one of the big pluses and there was also general satisfac- tion with food, quality standards, preparation, service and price.

Criticisms which were raised in the survey included hygiene, standards of cleanliness in toilets and grubby or shabby conditions in some accom- modation. Access for disabled peo- ple was also an issue raised by both able-bodied and disabled visitors and information on what’s available to visitors and how to get there was

also an issue with a significant level of dissatisfaction with both promo- tional material and signage.

Ranking as the most extensive in- dependent survey ever carried out in a single region, the exercise was the main 2008 project undertaken by members of the Tourism Learn- ing Network, the Failte Ireland ini- tiative which has been running since 2006. “As a do-it-yourself approach to market research which will be of immediate value, the survey fits in exactly with the aims of the Tourism Learning Network of bringing the development and promotion of lo- cal tourism down to local level” says Tourism Learning Network Director in the Mid-west, Padraig Cleary of May Day Management Consultants.

The verdict and views of visitors will be delivered to the seminar at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick today. In addition to the regional pic- ture to be painted, the survey results have also been packaged for each of the individual operators who partici- Joye Kerem

While the survey will be provid- ing guidelines on the strengths and shortcomings of visitor attractions, accommodation, dining and related visitor services, the seminar has been structured to provide practical guid- ance relevant to the survey findings.

AN ENNIS man has been jailed for life after pleading guilty to the mur- der of a man in Dublin last year. Michael Downes (42), of no fixed abode but originally from Mar- ian Avenue, Ennis, pleaded guilty to murdering Finbar Dennehy (50), Seafield Road, Clontarf, Dublin, be- tween September 24 and 26, 2007. Detective Sergeant Paul Slattery told the Central Criminal Court last Tuesday that Downes and Mr Den- nehy, both gay men, were previously PYOre UE NUNIKeLO b Downes had travelled to Dublin on the Sunday before the murder and had arranged to meet Mr Dennehy. They socialised and returned to Mr Dennehy’s apartment that evening. The garda said that Mr Dennehy’s body was found in his apartment the following Wednesday. He was “tied up elaborately on the couch, a plastic bag was tied over his head and there was a pool of blood on the floor be-

side him.”

Mr Dennehy died from strangula- tion and a stab wound to the groin.

Downes was arrested in Dublin that Friday. He told gardai that he had been with Mr Dennehy in his apartment the previous Monday and that “a dispute had arisen in relation to sex.”

Downes got a knife from the kitch- en, returned to the living-room and asked Mr Dennehy for cash. Mr Dennehy pushed him and Downes pushed back. He told gardai that there was a struggle and that there was blood on the floor.

The accused told gardai that he tied up Mr Dennehy on the couch, waited in the apartment that night and stran- gled him the following morning.

COUNTY finals are unpredictable beasts of things.

They often go to script with the favourites winning out. Then again scripts are frequently shredded and then thrown over the rusting hulk of Cusack Park’s shed terrace and left to float down river and out of town.

You only have to go back 12 months. The Townies were talking domina- tion before their head-on collision with a Lissycasey team that simply weren’t going to be beaten in county finals two years in a row.

The Townies had beaten bluebloods

Doonbeg and St Senan’s Kilkee to get there – two teams with 11 county titles between them over the previous 20 years. Lissycasey had nothing – the victory could be marked down.

History now tells us that something very different panned out….

And, a different story will unfold between Kilmurry Ibrickane and Liscannor. 2007 is a good starting point though.

All because, Kilmurry mightn’t be talking domination publicly, but their form has been such this year that domination fits them like old cus- tom-made and handcrafted Black- thorn football boots.

Liscannor may have beaten the bluebloods of Lissycasey, Eire Og and Doonbeg, but it’s Kilmurry Ibrickane’s county final. That’s what 90 per cent of the football population will tell you this week.

After all, Liscannor were 8-1 to win the championship before they kicked a ball against Doonbeg in the semi-final.

Word is that Liscannor folk, who are no strangers to big punts thanks to generations of coursing dogs in John Scales’ Field, mowed in with their money before the Doonbeg game. And, they won’t be laying off the bet before Sunday’s final.

No, Liscannor’s script has a fairy- tale ending! It’s why Liscannor and surrounds will be emptied of its pop- ulation on Sunday.

The barony of Ibrickane will be de- populated too.

Both are expecting – Liscannor are ready to welcome Jack back to McHugh’s; Kilmurry are primed to roll the green and red carpet out in the Quilty Tavern.

The county final script on its own will tell us if Jack Daly takes a left turn at Inagh for Quilty or goes straight ahead for Liscannor.

Maybe Liscannor will hit the form they showed in the last six minutes of

the Cusack Cup final in 2006 when they scored five points on the bounce to beat Lissycasey by two.

Maybe they won’t.

Maybe Kilmurry will repeat their county semi-final form against Kil- oro

Maybe they won’t.

The ‘What Ifs’ are the great- est things about county final week countdown.

The countdown begins here.

A ROMANIAN woman who stole two dozen bottles of alcohol from a Shannon supermarket – by hiding them under her coat – has been hand- ed a week-long jail term.

Aurelia Sindie took 24 bottles of alcohol on two dates within a week from Dunnes Stores in the SkyCourt shopping centre, Shannon.

Sindie (29), of Emerson Avenue, Salthill, Galway, pleaded guilty to stealing eight bottles of Hennessy brandy on April 24 last. She also admitted stealing 10 bottles of Jame-

son whiskey, two bottles of Hen- nessy brandy and four bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey, one week later, on May 1. The total cost of the bottles amounted to €946.36.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court last Thursday that on May | last, the accused went shopping in Dunnes.

She paid for household items, but concealed the alcohol – worth €590.44 – and did not pay for it. Se- curity staff detected her.

It later transpired that she had been in the store exactly a week earlier – at 3pm in the afternoon – when she had

concealed eight bottles of brandy.

“That investigation was only con- ducted because she was detected on May 1,” said Inspector Kennedy.

The court was told that while the accused had no previous convictions in her native Romania, she had been convicted of shoplifting in Roscom- jeaCOyempaMLetelon

Her solicitor Daragh Hassett said she “stole with the hope of selling the bottles on to her friends.”

“She was in doing some shopping and yes, she succumbed to tempta- tion due to financial hardship. . . She now has three strikes on her record.

She has only been here a year,” he Cree

“She was walking into shops, putting bottles under her coat. It beg- gars belief that she would think she would get away with this,’ he said. He added that the accused has now learnt her lesson.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a seven-day jail term and ordered that the Health Service Executive be noti- 1nsreb

He fined her ©200 and ordered that the remaining compensation – €355.92 – be paid. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

A FIRE service employee lost his job after being stopped by gardai on sus- picion of drink-driving and for driv- ing while banned, a court has heard. A judge jailed the father of eight- week old twins after hearing he was drunk behind the wheel.

Richard Steadman (23) of Abbey- ville, Limerick Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to drink driving and to hav- ing no insurance on the night he was stopped. Judge Joseph Mangan was told that Steadman had been banned from driving for a previous offence under the Road Traffic Act and “on the night, he got drunk and unfor-

tunately got into his car and drove. He drove five days before the ban on his driving had expired,’ his solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court. Pointing out that Steadman “real- ises 1t was a very wrong thing to do”, Mr Hassett said that his client “was employed by the fire brigade and has lost his job as a result of this occur-

rence. He is the father of twins, born eight weeks ago”.

Steadman was banned from driv- ing for four years and 13 days and sentenced to two months in jail with sentences to run concurrently.

The judge fixed bail for an appeal at Steadman’s own bond of €1,000 and an independent surety of €1,000.

A 33-year-old man exposed him- self at a Shannon supermarket three times in as many weeks.

The accused pleaded guilty to three counts of indecency, on December 26, 2007; January 2, 2008 and Janu- ary 13, 2008.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that at 8.30pm on December 26 last, the accused exposed his penis to a female staff member, before leaving the premis- es.

He repeated this just before 7pm on January 2 and again on January 13. The court was told the accused was

identified from CCTV footage.

His solicitor said the accused made full admissions to the investigating garda. He said that on the scale of things, the garda would put the be- haviour on a rating of two or three, on a scale of one to 10.

“He did not know these ladies. It was casual. It didn’t have any serious

effect on them at all. From their point of view, it was mischievous, rather than frightening,” said the solicitor.

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case until later in the year and ordered that a probation report be carried out.

A HOUSE with uninterrupted sea views iS a winner every time, as proven by the €530,000 sale price achieved by Sherry FitzGerald Hus- sey Madden on Friday, October 10, when this modest, but perfectly sited house in Clahane went under the hammer.

Credit crunch, gloomy outlook, stock market blues all disappeared to make way for a bright and lively auc-

tion. The price achieved exceeded the guide price by €80,000, so much for that credit squeeze.

According to auctioneer Evelyn Madden, “The auction opened at €350,000, there were 37 bids and the hammer finally came down at €530,000. This auction result has topped what has been a very busy week for us and it makes us feel con- fident that the property market may well turn the corner in the near fu- ture”.