OPINION: Let us support, use, and champion our gateway

VERY often, we only realise the true value of something when it’s gone.
Shannon Airport has stood on our doorstep throughout our lifetimes, a constant presence linking us to the wider world. For many of us, it has been the starting point of unforgettable holidays, emotional reunions, and childhood memories of waving at planes from the viewing deck.
We have never known a time without this airport a few short miles outside of the city. And sometimes - perhaps a lot of the time - we take it for granted. Shannon Airport is one of the most vital and valuable assets on Ireland’s western seaboard and is a hugely important gateway to Limerick.
Covid was a punishing chapter for the airport, but through dogged determination and resilience, it has not only weathered the storm - it has come back stronger than ever.

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Just last week, The Shannon Airport Group announced the addition of 1,000 new car parking spaces, a timely and welcome move as we approach the busy summer season. This development is just one example of the Group’s continued €30 million investment programme across the airport and the Shannon Airport Business Park.
In 2024, over 2.1 million passengers passed through Shannon – the highest figure in 15 years – up over 7% on 2023.
Shannon Airport's success in 2024 was driven by a strong performance across its 33 routes to 11 countries.
Earlier this month Shannon Airport Group welcomed Ryanair’s announcement of the addition of a fourth based aircraft, three exciting new routes to Lapland, Madeira and Madrid, in addition to extra flights on six existing popular routes.
Sustainability is also high on the agenda, with work progressing on Ireland’s first solar PV farm on an airfield, set to power up to 20% of the airport’s electricity needs.
But Shannon’s impact goes far beyond the runway. Its business park is home to over 300 companies, employing 10,000 people. Read that again. It’s important. The Group’s activities support more than 20,000 jobs nationwide and contribute nearly €4 billion to the national economy.
This editorial isn’t sponsored or paid for - it’s a genuine acknowledgement of the value of Shannon Airport to our region. It supports life, business, and travel in Limerick and the Mid-West, often without the recognition it deserves. Let us support it, use it, and champion it - because only when it’s gone would we realise the enormous value we had right on our doorstep.