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Campaign to save Shannon route hots up
BY ELAINE SHERIDAN
THE CAMPAIGN to save the route between London Heathrow and Shannon airports has stepped up a gear among Irish people living in Britain.
A public meeting has been organised at the end of the month to encourage the community to have their say in the matter.
London-based funeral director Patrick Ryan along with publican Johnny Barrett have come together to organise the meeting in an attempt to get Aer Lingus to reverse its decision to axe the Shannon service.
They are calling on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to take action to ensure the Shannon-Heathrow service be retained.
Pat Ryan — who hails from Limerick — has been in the funeral business for over 35 years and says if plans go ahead to axe the service it will have a detrimental effect — particularly for those with links to the west of Ireland.
He said: “We need to act now before it’s too late.
“The Irish government will have to do something soon to help save this situation from occurring.
“We want as many people to turn up to this public meeting and voice their concerns. Let them know we mean business!
“It will hit people hard when it happens and we don’t want it to get to that stage.”
Mr Ryan is trying to enlist the help of as many Irish Government Ministers, Senators and TDs as possible and promises there will be representatives from Ireland present at the meeting.
Since the August announcement that Aer Lingus was to axe the service politicians, business leaders and tourism chiefs have all voiced fears it will be a major blow to the area.
The planned re-routing of the Heathrow slots from Shannon to Belfast is due to take place sometime in December.
Johnny Barrett — who hails from Tipperary — runs several pubs around North London and has been travelling between England and Ireland for over 40 years.
He said: “This meeting is a must for those of us living here in London. If it doesn’t affect you personally then you’re bound to know someone who it does affect.
“It’s a disgrace what Aer Lingus and the Irish Government are doing to us over here.
“They have no regard for us whatsoever and haven’t considered the total inconvenience it will cause for people from the west and south west of Ireland.
“We urge people to get involved and turn up at the meeting. Let us have our say and be heard.”
The meeting takes place at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood on Friday, October 26 from 8pm.
Contact Pat Ryan on 020 8567 1664 or Johnny Barrett on 07785 278916 for further details.
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