This article is from page 13 of the 2013-06-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
MAYOR of Clare Cllr Pat Daly (FF) appealed to the business community and fellow Local Authority mayors in the West of Ireland to support Shannon Airport’s position as the Region’s ‘transatlantic airport’.
The appeal was part of the swan song by Ennisman Pat Daly as he prepares to step down as mayor of the county next week.
Under a cross party agreement within the council, Fine Gael Councillor Joe Arkins is expected to take the chair next week and the council winds down to a local election next year.
During his final speech in the chair last evening Cllr Daly said, “the onus is on the people of Clare and beyond to support the airport and ensure its growth into the future.”
Mayor Daly confirmed he would be writing to the Mayors of the Local Authorities in the West of Ireland urging them to actively support and promote Shannon Airport as the Region’s transatlantic airport.
He also issued an appeal to businesses in County Clare and surrounding areas, particularly those which engage in business outside Ireland and those in the tourism sector, to include a direct link or reference to the Shannon Airport website from their websites, email accounts and letterheads.
“The separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA has provided added impetus in relation to efforts to source new business. While attending the launch of United Airline’s summer service between Shannon and Chicago last Friday, I noticed a distinct change in atmosphere at the airport which can only be attributed to an operation that has a restored sense of confidence and purpose.”