On Thursday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with former Director of Shannon Airport and
Aer Rianta International’s (ARI) first Director General Liam Skelly, who lives in Scarriff
Liam joined the sales and catering division of Shannon Airport in 1955, at a time he had gained national renown for his prowess at hurling, at which he represented Tipperary at All-Ireland level. His career at Shannon developed steadily until he was appointed director of the airport in 1979, helping return the business to profit through a ground-breaking fuel bartering deal with the Soviet government.
In 1987 Skelly headed an Aer Rianta delegation to Moscow with the intention to develop duty-free in Russia, and the following year the Irish company’s joint venture with Aeroflot and the Russian authorities, Aerofirst, began trading as Moscow Duty Free. Thus Aer Rianta International was born.
Liam gave over 50 years of service to the Aviation industry and received a number of honours for this, he retired in 1992
Speaking exclusively to Clare FM the former Director of Shannon Airport gave his views on Shannon Airport over the years and particularly its future direction as the government is due to announce plans for it’s probable separation from the DAA next month – based on recommendations in the Booz Consultants report
Marian Egan began by asking him about his first years in Shannon, the beginning of duty free and working with the great Brendan O’Regan… he also spoke about setting up Duty Free in Russia and gave his opinions on what went wrong with Shannon Airport and possible solutions for Shannon’s future
Liam maintains that it must continue to receive state support under any new operational procedures to be outlined by the government.
Mayoral trips for St Patrick’s Day events worldwide always cause some controversy due to the cost to councils- however some maintain that the PR value of such trips cannot be understated
Mayor of Kilrush Ian Lynch had a word about his trip to New York and Boston
Mayor of Shannon Mary Brennan spoke about representing the town at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley T.D. joined Marian in studio during his visit of County Clare today
He will see Choláiste Uí Comara in Carrigaholt which attracts hundreds of Irish Students each summer and is celebrating its centenary this year
From there he will travel on to Querrin to visit the “Seol Sionna” project, where a group from the West Clare Carrach Club are building a 25ft wooden boat evoking the small to medium Shannon Hooker that once sailed in the Estuary
Then he will also visit the Gael Scoil in Kilrush and meet with “Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann” in Teach Cheoil before going on to the Kilrush Golf Club to meet with “Cost Forbarbhta na Gaeltachta”, a group of Irish language enthusiasts who are working hard to strengthen the Irish Language in West Clare
Later on, he will travel to Ennis where he will visit Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann in Cods na hAbhann on the Gort Road in Ennis before meeting with “An Clár as Gaeilge” at their offices on Anthony’s Terrace in the Town.
The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the Irish public to join the fight against cancer and support Daffodil Day this Friday
Across the country there will be over 4,000 volunteers selling fresh and silk daffodils as well as daffodil pins
All monies raised on the day will be used to fund the Society’s free nationwide cancer information and support services
Michael Guerin, Clare Chairman of Daffodil Day, joined Marian to encourage people to support the fundraising in Clare and explain what the monies raised will go towards
This is his second year involved- his late father Michael organised Daffodil Day in Clare for almost 24 years.
Jackie Vaughan of the Tulla Senior Citizens Active Social Club and Don Purcell from Feakle encouraged people to come along to their event in Bohan’s Bar, Feakle this Friday night.
Jackie brings a bus of pensioners from Tulla to the ‘Looking Forward’ nights in Bohan’s Bar where there is food, music, dance and fantastic company
She says that it is the best way of combating rural isolation and loneliness and that it is literally the highlight of many of their months.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
