*Cllr Gerry Flynn with Shannon Heritage workers at a recent demonstration. Photograph: Natasha Barton
SHANNON AIRPORT GROUP have been slammed by county councillors for running the infrastructure at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park fall into “into the ground”.
Attempts by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) to organise an “urgent meeting” with CEO of Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine and elected members of the Shannon Municipal District “to discuss the serious issues facing employees of the Shannon Heritage sites” were passed up on.
Due to the “commercially sensitive discussions” ongoing on a potential transfer of the four Clare sites between Shannon Airport Group and Clare County Council, such a meeting was “not deemed appropriate at this stage,” acting senior executive officer with the Shannon MD, Anne Griffin advised having spoken with senior officials in Shannon Group.
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Flynn said Shannon Airport Group have “a lot to answer for. The infrastructure in Bunratty has been run into the ground, it has been left in a less than desirable position for Clare County Council to take on”. Seconding the proposal, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) lamented the lack of engagement from the group, “I don’t see what they are afraid of”.
“This is the second time in recent times I won’t say they refused but they have not made themselves available, it seems to me that they are not transparent and have no intention of being transparent. There’s no Alsatians or rottweilers here, they have nothing to fear. I think it looks very bad for a public company to say they won’t come before the Shannon Municipal District to explain their position on Shannon Heritage,” Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) commented.
Communication would have helped, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) agreed. “We’ve been asked to take over what some people have called a poisoned chalice the way the Group have let it go, there’s cobwebs hanging off doors, Bunratty was always a good stand, you’ve all the facilities around it, we’ve been asked to take it over but we don’t seem to be getting any help from Shannon Group”. He estimated that a €4m investment alone is required to make Bunratty more enticing.
More sincerity should be visible from Shannon Airport Group, Cllr John Crowe (FG) felt. “These people working in the Folk Park, they are all neighbours of ours and have been part of our community”. He added, “I can’t understand that they can’t support us with the finances needed, to be honest they should be on their knees thanking us for suggesting we take it over”.
Clare County Council’s track record in managing tourist attractions must be remembered, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) flagged as he called on the Government to “give us the money”. He said, “We still believe it is the jewel in the crown in the whole area, it is an all-year round facility”.
Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally offered assurances that “the job security is there” for current Shannon Heritage employees regardless of what happens next. “We do need to make a decision sooner rather than later so everyone knows where we stand. I do know, Clare County Council wants to take over these significant tourism assets but we want to do it in such a way that they are looked after properly, there should be no cobwebs in any tourist attraction”.
Concluding the debate, Cllr Flynn said the Council were short-changed following the 2004 transfer with Shannon Development.
Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) added, “I don’t think our Oireachtas members are doing their job on this”.
