Foynes air show set for takeoff in July

THE Foynes Air Show is set to go ahead again this year, on July 17, it was confirmed this week.

Almost 25,000 people have attended the event over the past two years and festival manager Margaret O’Shaughnessy said she was confident that this year’s event would be the best yet.

“A lot has been learned over the last two years and this experience will be used to continue to make the event a must-see air show,” she said.

In a presentation to councillors from the Adare Rathkeale municipal district this week, she confirmed there would be more than 20 acts and that a number of the acts that took part in previous years have already signed up, including the Breitling Wing Walkers. She added that they had also a “verbal commitment for an extremely big act”, details of which would be revealed closer to the date.

Ms O’Shaughnessy also pointed out that the Foynes event would be one of only two air shows taking place in the State this summer. Last year’s show came a week after a similar event in Shannon to mark the airport’s 70th anniversary. However, there is no event planned in Shannon this year.

The total cost of running the air show is expected to be in the region of €120,000. A number of high profile sponsors in the aviation sector have already signed up to support it and the committee is also seeking €50,000 from Limerick City and County Council.