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Jun 22 2023

clareecho.ie

‘Put air security base in Shannon’ by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A CASE FOR basing an Irish Air Policing Fighter Squadron at Shannon Airport has been pitched by two retired members of the Irish Defence Forces. In a new proposal, Brigadier General Ger Aherne (Retd) and Lieutenant Colonel Jim Lynott (Air Corps Pilot Retired) have argued that Shannon Airport can be better utilised to station Irish intercept aircraft. An initial outlay of €350m and annual operational costs of €20m would be needed for Ireland to have this sovereign capability, the duo outlined. “I believe there is support for it, the

MAKING A SPLASH

reason we’re doing this is to say it’s not outside the reach of Ireland economically, relatively speaking it’s peanuts,” Aherne told The Clare Echo. Stationing sovereign air assets at Shannon would serve lift the confidence of EU and international allies, they maintained. “It would increase the use and prestige of Shannon Airport, be a multiplier of military employment to that region with its ripple effect economic benefits. Crewing/staffing air policing at Shannon would require 200 Air Corps personnel of mixed qualifications/skillsets. When families are added to that workforce, it could reach as many as 1,000 people, consistent with the states policy of supporting regional development and employment in an area long associated with aviation”. More on Page 6

‘Best in the business’ steps down GLOWING TRIBUTES have been paid across the football divide to Colm Collins after he called time on his ten-season stint as manager of the Clare senior footballers. Kilmihil native Colm was appointed Clare manager in September 2013, he was the longest serving inter-county manager in the game at the time

of his resignation. During his stewardship, he led Clare to promotion from the bottom tier of the Allianz National Football League to Division 2 where they kept their status for seven years. Collins was also the first manager to guide Clare to appearances in the AllIreland SFC quarterf i n a l s , reaching the stage in 2016

and 2022 where they came up short against Kerry and Derry. He announced that he would not be seeking a new term in charge in the dressing room of Pearse Park on Saturday evening following Clare’s exit from the All-Ireland SFC. Clare captain, Eoin Cleary described Collins as “the ultimate players manager” and added “we were never playing for Clare we were playing for Colm Collins”. Defender, Ciaran Russell said Colm was “the definition of a great man manager” and called him “the best in the business”.