Month: January 2012

STATE Papers for 1981 that have been released under the 30-year rule have revealed how Shannon was plunged into the international limelight for all the wrong reasons, thanks to an entrepreneur who established a business in the Free Zone.

On May 2, 1981, it was revealed that the man, who hijacked an Aer Lingus flight to Heathrow because he wanted to know the Third Secret of Fatima, was Laurence Downey, a man who operated out of Shannon, touting himself as an international entrepreneur who would bring hundreds of jobs to mid-west region.

Downey – a former Cistercian monk, Olympic boxing trialist, sailor and Shannon Free Zone-based company director – came to Shannon in late 1979 and unveiled ambitious plans to develop among other things an Institute of Learning, a Shannon Co-Operative and a £10 million sports and recreational complex.

However, Downey’s plans for Shannon were too good to be true – he had a string of dodgy business dealings in his native Australia, among them the disappearance of £40,000 from a trust fund.

Downey then re-emerged into the limelight when he walked into the cockpit of an Aer Lingus flight, threatening to cause an explosion by setting fire to his petrol-soaked clothes, unless he was taken to Teheran and that the Third Secret of Fatima be released by Pope John Paul II and published in Irish newspapers.

Captain Foyle suggested that they fly to Le Touquet because of a shortage of fuel, with the captain announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to land in London but there is a man in the cabin who wants us to go on to Le Touquet.”

The end of the highjack ordeal for the 108 passengers and crew of five came at Le Touquet when crack French commando forces moved in and stormed the plane when it was on the runway. Downey was arrested while passengers spoke about the drama. “He must have been very dis- turbed,” said one passenger. “I asked the stewardess if we were being hijacked and she said yes,” commented another. “It wasn’t scary because we knew almost from the start that he wasn’t from a terrorist organisation. He said something about wanting to tell people in Ireland that the Virgin Mary had a sister and that there were two of them.”

CLARE TD and Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera was accused of showing “allegiance to the devil” when he expressed condolences to the German ambassador in Ireland on the death of Adolf Hitler.

State papers have revealed a well of anger at Mr de Valera, who represented the Clare constituency from 1917 to 1959, over his controversial decision to express condolences to ambassador Dr Eduard Hempel on the behalf of the Free State on May 2, 1945, two days after Hitler’s suicide.

The file on the controversy in the National Archives contains a number of letters sent in the immediate aftermath.

Angela D Walsh, with an address at East 44th Street, New York, writes to de Valera the day after: “I am horrified, ashamed, humiliated. You, who are the head of a Catholic coun- try, have now shown allegiance to a devil.”

Patrick O’Reilly wrote of de Valera to President Hyde from Stratfordon-Avon: “We feel ashamed to let people know we are of the blood of people who have such as man as their leader.”

The episode resurfaced in a letter dated January 22, 1970, when de Valera was President. Fr Kevin Keegan, writing from an address in France, said he had been watching a television documentary in which the famous Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal “said that you went to the German ambassador to express your sympathy when you heard that Hitler had committed suicide”.

“Needless to say I was astounded to hear such a statement. I would be very grateful to you if you inform me whether it is true or not.

“In the case of it being untrue, I will inform the French television immediately, asking them to make a public rectification,” the letter added.

The State papers also reveal that Mr de Valera considered lowering the Irish flag over Government buildings as a mark of respect following the death of Hitler, as had happened following the death of American President Franklin D Roosevelt two weeks earlier.

The whole affair led to a memorable joust over the airwaves between Mr de Valera and Winston Churchill. The British prime minister praised himself for having the “restraint and poise” in refraining from laying “a violent hand” on Ireland and said “we left the de Valera government to frolic with the Germans and later with the Japanese representatives to their heart’s content”.

However, in response three days later on Radio Éireann, de Valera had what his supporters and even some of his detractors described as his finest hour.

“I know the kind of response that I am expected to make,” he said. “I know the reply I would have given a quarter of a century ago.

“But I have deliberately decided that this is not the reply that I will make tonight. I shall strive not to be guilty of adding any fuel to the flames of hatred and passion, which, if continued to be fed, promise to burn up whatever is left by the war of decent human feeling in Europe,” he continued.

“Could he not find it in his heart the generosity to acknowledge that there is a small nation that stood alone, not for one year or two, but for several hundred years against aggression; that endured spoliations, famines, massacres in endless succession; that was clubbed so many times into insensibility, but that each time, on returning to consciousness, took up the fight anew; a small nation that could never be got to accept defeat and has never surrendered her soul,” he added.

TO GO or not to go? That was the question that faced Clare’s President of Ireland, Dr Patrick Hillery in 1981 when, as head of State, he was invited to attend the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Thirty years on, one of his successors in Áras an Uachtaráin, President Mary McAleese, may have attended the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but things were different in 1981.

It was the year of the hunger strikes and Anglo-Irish relations, as they were in 1981, led to a government decision that President Hillery should not attend the wedding.

The State papers from 1981 that were opened this week reveal that Dr Hillery, who as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the 1969-1973 government, was trenchant in his criticism of British policy in Northern Ireland, didn’t want to attend the wedding.

However, President Hillery’s stance, which was backed up by the Charles J Haughey-led Fianna Fáil government in 1981 and the Garret FitzGerald led Fine Gael/Labour coalition that also came to power that year, didn’t meet with universal approval.

The State papers show that Dr Hillery’s non-attendance at the wedding was taken up directly by an Irish priest, Fr PG O’Dea, who was based in Lancashire at the time. Fr O’Dea, who is still alive and now a retired monsignor, wrote directly to Áras an Uachtaráin to protest at the failure of President Hillery to accept an invitation to attend the wedding.

In deciding whether President Hillery should attend the royal wedding, a government memo noted that “whichever decision is taken will give rise to criticism”.

Some in the Taoiseach’s office, including assistant secretary Richard Stokes, advised in favour of compelling the president to attend, as staying away would “make a nonsense” of all progress in Anglo-Irish relations.

An unnamed Taoiseach’s department official criticised the Department of Foreign Affairs’s “very inadequate” briefing document which posed questions rather than coming up with advice and supporting arguments.

“The Government have been very badly served by the Department of Foreign Affairs” whose tone indicates that it did not favour acceptance but it did not “advance any compelling argument”.

The foreign affairs brief said such an invitation from a friendly country should be accepted “unless there are compelling arguments against” it. It then refers to the ensuing “unfavourable comment” due to general feel- ings of dissatisfaction with the British government over the H-Blocks.

This argument could “hardly be described as a compelling reason”, the civil servant wrote, adding that most of the unfavourable comment would come from the Provisional IRA and H-block committee. He described as “naive” the assertion by foreign affairs that refusal “would not impair political dialogue with London”.

The British prime minister “would almost certainly regard a refusal as a rebuff” and it would be viewed by the “hostile British press” as presidential support for the hunger strikers.

In the end, the new Fine Gael-led coalition, it decided that the President should be advised not to attend and to send the ambassador in his place.

The reply to the palace was issued on the final day possible, June 26, with the excuse of the President’s “prior commitments”.

Meanwhile, in response to complaints from Fr PG O’Dea, Áras an Uachtaráin pointed out that Ireland had been represented at the wedding by the Irish ambassador in London.

SHANNON had its moment in the international limelight on January 25, 1981, when 52 American hostages, freed after 444 days in captivity in Iran, were given a rousing welcome as they stopped at the airport.

Taoiseach Charles Haughey led the Irish celebrations, boarding the US Air Force Jet, dubbed Freedom One, with US ambassador, William Shannon, and invited the freed hostages down to the airport’s VIP lounge for traditional Irish refreshments of Irish coffee and Guinness.

The official welcoming party included Clare’s Minister for Defence, Sylvester Barrett; Clare County Council chairman, Tadhg Mac Conamara; local Fianna Fáil senator, Tras Honan; Aer Rianta chief, Liam Skelly and chief superintendent of the Clare Division, Michael Griffin.

As the former hostages left Shannon, the final word was left to Taoiseach Charles Haughey. “As you journey gladly homeward, your stay on Irish soil must be brief but it gives me an opportunity to tell you of the joy we all feel in this country that you are all safe, well and free,” said Mr Haughey.

“It is our sincere and fervent wish that when you are restored to your families and friends, the cruel memory of your long days in captivity will soon fade away until they are finally forgotten,” he added.

CLARE would have played a frontline role in Ireland’s reaction to a German victory in World War II, newly released papers relating to the operation of Met Éireann services have revealed. And the Met Éireann secret files have also revealed that Shannon Airport had been identified as having a key role to play in helping Ireland react quickly in the event of a nuclear war breaking out.

The Met Éireann papers which have been released in tandem with the latest publication of State papers reveal the extent of Clare’s role in dealing with the twin threats of a Nazi war victory and nuclear war.

The papers reveal efforts to protect weather reports from the Nazis, naturalise staff members who could face prosecution had the Germans won the Second World War and to ensure the protection of weather stations against nuclear fallout.

Released by the National Archives, the files outline a meeting of the inter departmental committee on emergency preparations for the delivery and maintenance of essential supplies in the event of a conflict. This included how goods would be bought from Britain and elsewhere and stored at Shannon Airport and Urlanmore in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

And, the spectre of nuclear war meant practical scenarios for the transport of vital supplies needed to be mapped out, with Shannon Airport crucial to this policy.

An air link to Canada and America was singled out as being vital to Ireland’s response to a nuclear situation, with one file stating Shannon would need to be operational for “essential cargo purposes only”, with no passengers likely to be flying.

BUSINESS groups in Ennis say an intensive ‘Shop Local’ campaign helped boost trade in the town during December.

Representatives of Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum say local businesses reported an increase in takings last month compared to Christmas 2010.

The introduction of free morning parking has also been cited as one of the main reasons for bringing more shoppers to Ennis.

“It was way up on the last two years. There was definitely more people in the town and most people said their tills were way up”, said Aoife Madden of Ennis Development Forum.

Free parking was one of a number of initiatives rolled out by Ennis Town Council in conjunction with local businesses for Christmas.

“The free parking definitely brought more people in, In the last two years, people, with the free parking in Limerick, were thinking why would I bother coming into Ennis. They did not come in”.

Ms Madden said Ennis Street Radio, which played music in the town centre, allied to the unseasonably mild weather, helped create a more festive atmosphere.

“Takings were up and the atmosphere was way better than last year”, she added.

The ‘Shop Local’ campaign was launched in earnest at the start of December with the release of a festive Internet video.

Ennis Town – Share the Feeling sees Santa Claus turn to Ennis ‘The friendliest town in Ireland’ to help him after all of his elves fall sick on Christmas Eve.

Directed by local man Gavin Gallagher, the 2min 54sec video was shot in locations around the town and features a number of well-known politicians and businesspeople.

The video has so far attracted just 23,500 views on websites You Tube and Vimeo. It has been distributed to hundreds more people around the world through social networking sites.

Incoming President of Ennis Chamber said shoppers were more mindful of the benefits of supporting local businesses.

He said, “The Shop Local campaign made a big difference. People did make that extra effort to shop locally and that was appreciated.

“Also businesses seemed to be supporting other businesses, which is what its all about.

“With the parking too, people were staying in town that little bit longer in the morning”.

Mayor of Ennis, councillor Michael Guilfoyle said the Council would support future free parking initiatives if the circumstances “warranted it”.

Cllr Guilfoyle said cooperation between Ennis Town Council and local businesses had helped boost trade in the town during Christmas.

He added, “The businesses definitely made an effort and the free parking seems to have had an effect especially in the morning”.

BUSINESS representatives have expressed support for a new model of economic development for Ennis saying it will aid job protection.

Plans for a possible Business Improvement District (BID) were unveiled last week with backers claiming it will protect and create new jobs.

Incoming President of Ennis Chamber Brian O’Neill said, “The Chamber supports moves toward a possible BID initiative as it would be a great opportunity for business owners to improve their business streets/area, which they are most familiar with, in the most efficient manner for their own business, job protection and the district as a whole.”

Rita McInerney, Ennis Chamber CEO stated, “The BID process has worked very well in Dublin and elsewhere as shown just two weeks ago by a 78 per cent vote in favour of renewing the BID that ran for the last three years in Dundalk.”

Aoife Madden, Chairperson of Ennis Development Forum, “Recent experience shows that it is only by employers and employees working together with others such as Ennis Town Council that we can keep Ennis a strong employment centre and to grow jobs. The BID idea may well be the best way to go forward building on recent successful partnerships including the Ennis street radio, free parking initiative during Christmas and the Ennis Share the Feeling Christmas video.”

The concept of BIDs originated in northern America and BIDs have been in existence in the UK since 2003 with an estimated 1,000 BIDs now in the US and over 100 in the UK.

The largest BID in Ireland (and indeed in the whole of Europe), is the Dublin City BID, which has been in operation since March 2008 and has a five-year renewable mandate to develop and promote the economic advancement of Dublin city centre. Half-way through their mandate, the Dublin BID was able to report the following successes in their Annual Report of 2010: (1) A city-wide marketing group that for the first time brings together city stakeholders to establish a common message and approach to the promotion of the city; (2) The process of making the BID cost-neutral for our members by creating a heavily discounted insurance scheme. We intend devel- oping a wider programme of similar offers; (3) Local area action groups which establish members’ needs and expectations on a district by district basis and work to make the shared vision a reality; (4) A strong working relationship with the Gardaí that is helping to create a safer environment for our customers; (5) A prominent presence on the city’s Joint Policing Forum with the Lord Mayor, the Gardaí, Dublin City Council and other business groups to establish a road map for a sustainable and safer city; (6) A dialogue with politicians and city officers to plan for a new and vibrant city.

LISDOONVARNA matchmaker Willie Daly is to re-double his efforts to find a suitable husband for the newly-separated Irish singersongwriter Sinead O’Connor.

Last September, O’Connor engaged the services of Daly and his daughter Claire during a much publicised visit to Lisdoonvarna, but last week announced that she and her husband of just 16 days had separated.

According to Daly, O’Connor’s marriage to drugs counsellor Barry Herridge happened too quickly and, because of that, was destined to fail.

“I think she was in too much of a rush. Sinead’s a wonderful, free spirit and I noticed that about her when she came to Lisdoonvarna earlier in the year,” he said.

“She got a lot of attention and was in huge demand from many of the eligible fellas when she was here, but I think the enthusiasm of one or two of them scared her off. She was maybe more picky than I expected her to be, but I’m still certain that I could find the right man for her.

“My technique is tried and tested and it works. Sinead has a wonderful heart and I’ve no doubt she will soon find the happiness she deserves and a lasting romance,” added Daly.

O’Connor made quite the stir when she arrived at this year’s Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna. She cut her planned three-day visit to the festival short and later admitted that the experience had been too much for her.

Describing the scene that greeted her at Lisdoonvarna, Sinead said that the gathered men were “winking and grinning at each other and hitching up their trousers as if to say: we’re in here, lads”.

Just two months after her visit to Lisdoonvarna, O’Connor tied the knot with Mr Herridge at the famous White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted just 16 days, with O’Connor admitting that the pair lived together for just seven days.

“From the moment myself and my husband got together not long ago, there was intense pressure placed upon him by certain people in his life, not to be involved with me,” she said. “The marriage was 16 days. We lived together for seven days only. Within three hours of the ceremony being over, the marriage was kiboshed by the behaviour of certain people in my husband’s life.”

Daly is the third generation in his family to take up matchmaking. He claims that his matches yield around 200 weddings each year.

AS ONE of the country’s foremost concertina players, music provided Chris Droney with a passport to see the world.

In 1951, the Bellharbour musician visited America for the first time, hopping aboard a plane for the first time from Shannon to Boston.

It was a shocking experience, one that Chris vividly recalled to The Clare People in 2007.

He said, “I remember the first time. It was one of those planes with the propellers and we had to re-fuel in Gander airport in Newfoundland. I mean, the cold in that place was unreal. I’d say it was about 25 degrees below. I’ve never known anything as cold. We had to refuel there and then head of for Boston. The planes would be half-empty.

“It took nine and a half hours to go to America that time. They were all re-fuelling in Gander back then. It was the first time on a plane and I will tell you one thing, it was like being in the World Cup, that’s how nervous I was.”

Music brought Chris Droney to Gander. It brought him most places. He learned the concertina by paying careful attention to his father James and grandfather Michael at the family home in Bellharbour.

Playing music was a social thing. It also provided the opportunity to travel. His teenage years were spent playing in pubs and dance halls and competitions. He was named All-Ireland Senior Concertina Champion on nine occasions. After winning the All-Ireland in 1961, he was invited to play in Boston.

They toured hard in the 1960s, travelling from America to Canada and back to America, playing to noisy, sold-out venues.

He said, “I was asked to go to play in a concert in Boston in the colonial hall. I’ll never forget it. It was frightening, because I never realised there would be much of a crowd there but there were 2,200 people.

“I had to play for about 20 minutes for two nights, just two nights. The second night there were maybe about a thousand people there. But the amplification they had was perfect. It was no trouble…

“I know there were 23 concerts in America. We started off in Boston; there were two concerts in Boston. Then we went to New York and after that we flew to Canada and we did Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa and then we crossed into Detroit. We went from Detroit to Chicago and from there to Philadelphia. We went all over.”

Despite the rigours associated with transatlantic travel at the time, Chris said he was grateful for everything music afforded him.

He added, “I don’t think I’d be here now if I wasn’t playing music. I’ve been playing all my life, 74 years now. I don’t think there was ever a bad night.”

A CHARITY walk organised by members of the Clare Association Dublin has raised € 3,000 for children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities.

A large crowd turned out for the Martin Corry Memorial Walk which took place around Howth Head last October.

A former President of the Clare Association Dublin, Cree native Martin was a keen walker who was actively involved in fundraising for local and national charities. Money raised from this year’s walk will go towards the Clare branch of Enable Ireland.

Gerry O’Reilly, Clare Association PRO, presented the cheque to representatives of Enable Ireland in Dublin last month.

Acknowledging the large turn-out at the Addison Hotel, Gerry paid tribute to those who had helped make the Martin Corry Memorial Walk such a success. He said 2011 had been an excellent year for the Clare Association.

He thanked all those who participated in the charity walk around Howth Head. Gerry said that, despite the poor weather and difficult terrain, the walkers enjoyed the scenic 10k walk. He also paid tribute to sponsors and those who contributed in any way towards the success of the walk. In particular, Gerry thanked Mary Corry, wife of the late Martin Corry, and her family, who joined the crowds on the day. Gerry said that he was particularly pleased that the proceeds from the walk would be going to the Clare branch of Enable Ireland. The charity provides essential support, therapy and services to children and adults with physical and sensory disabilities to enable them to achieve maximum independence, choice and inclusion in their community. Enable Ireland Clare was formed in 1990 as a support group for families and carers of people with physical disabilities. In the following years, Enable Ireland has developed and expanded to include a wide range of services to meet the needs of children and adults with disabilities and their families in Clare. Dorothy Barry from Enable Ireland thanked the Clare Association Dublin for their efforts and, in accepting the cheque from Mary Corry, she outlined the benefits that this contribution would make to those who rely on support and assistance on a daily basis.