A Welcome return
written by Kitty Cronin, February 03, 2010

On behalf of AOPA Ireland, may i wish Brian and all his Organizing Committee of the Salthill Airshow, the greatest support possible.
The people of Galway, the Thousands of visitors it draws and indeed the Aviation personnel of Ireland will see this as a Welcome Return.

Kitty Cronin
Secretary
AOPA Ireland.

City Council should be utterly ashamed
written by Fred Johnston, February 03, 2010

Thet Galway City Council should set aside €25,000 'in case' the Salthill Airshow took place has become the talk of the country. This is the same Council who yapped loudly that the city was almost bankrupt not so long ago, but seems to be able to find money for a festival which doesn't even exist and, as is clear from the article above if read properly, has not even been planned for yet. Funding issues, by the way, had nothing to do with the cancellation of the Airshow. Th general view is that the helicopter losing its door didn't help matters. But now the Council has managed to work in a business alliance of Salthill interests and Boat Stop-over interests. So we at least know for sure who runs City Hall. Culture? Galway wouldn't know culture if it fell on it.

No to Red Arrows. No to War.
written by Elaine Mears, LLM International Human Rights Law, February 03, 2010

On behalf of the peace loving people of Galway I want to express my utter disgust and outrage that Galway City Council are spending €25,000 of our money in support of war. This so-called 'family show' is unacceptable for two reasons. Firstly it is supporting an illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, neither of which was UN sanctioned. Secondly, it is a dangerous and covert method of normalising war and the use of machines which are built to kill people. Neo-colonialist planes and piolets that murder people are certainly not a form of entertainment and something to be admired. It is something to be abhorred. The City Council needs to be sent a very clear message that this is an unacceptable way to spend our money. People of Galway do not support this. Do not be complicit in war through inaction and silence. Contact the City Council and let them know that we do not and will not support murder. Their number is 091 536400. If we act now we can stop this.

Elaine Mears
LLM International Human Rights Law

A welcomed return
written by Diesel, February 04, 2010

Elaine, perhaps you could explain how any persons attending an air show are "supporting an illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan".
And secondly, maybe it is just my brainwashed and mainstream media orientated brain but how exactly are the likes of an Aer Aran passenger plane, the IAC's CASA or a Search and Rescue helicopter neo-colonialist planes flown by murdering pilots?

And to all those who are berating the council for allocating funding in case it is re-established should simply think of the hundred thousand people who attend the event every year and the money that they bring with them to the city.

Glad to see it return
written by Paul McAllister, February 04, 2010

Elaine Mears and alike need to get their facts correct and learn to spell!
Airshows are for people who have an interest in aviation and aircraft.Military aircraft are rarely seen by the general public and airshows are one of the few occasions were they can be seen.
People like to see different types;some like civil aircraft,others prefer military types-its much the same as people that have an interest in motor cars for example.The crowds like to see variety,the majority of spectators just want to enjoy seeing the aircraft,they are not interested in politics or do gooders trying to impose their will,and stop what is a great day out!

The Red Arrows Hawks are trainers and do not carry any weapons and they certainly do not glorify war!

Why do people have such a problem with Galway / Salthill having an air show?
written by Welcome back Salthill Air Show, February 05, 2010

I can't understand what it is about the air show in Salthill that gets people wound up....

Almost every other country in the world has an air show or air display of some kind, why is Galway such a magnet for these people with their stupid objections.

If the Swiss Air Force or Swedish Air Force sent fighter jets to display would they still find a reason to object?

The fact of the matter is that loud fast jets are impressive and they draw crowds, they have done for years, and as it so happens that most of these loud fast jets are military so a civilian only option is really a non runner. Fast jets are at the very pinnacle of man's technical achievements, that is all they are displaying, they're not doing mock bomb runs or strafing runs on the crowd.

And as for Fred Johnston, by all accounts he'd object to anything so long as it gets his name into the paper.

Niall Farrell (who must be on holidays as he hasn't started spouting fire & brimstone yet) of the GAAW has a personal grudge with the British Army and is trying to make us all suffer for his grudge. He's not even from Galway for God's sake! Why doesn't go back to the North where he comes from and complain about the Portrush Air Show instead? They have lots of Royal Air Force participation, including the Red Arrows.

And just so you know, the door incident had nothing to do with the air show being cancelled, funding was indeed the main cause of the cancellation.

There will be an air show at Punchestown the same day, which will also have military aircraft, will you people be objecting to that too?

Rant over, roll on June, can't wait.

Think with all your might
written by Daryl of the U.S.A, February 07, 2010

Should Elaine’s comments come to the attention of the institution awarding her degree, I have no doubt whatever that said university would be inclined, if possible, to withdrawal the awarded LLM. One must admit that to so openly and clearly reveal ones stunted or limited cerebral capacity casts a serious pall on attorneys, solicitors, barristers and advisers the world over. It must not escape our attention that the President of the United States of America was involved, as a professor of law, in shaping the thinking of future attorneys. My question is… was Elaine’s thinking shaped by President Bama or Bama’s by Elaine? Air shows are merely fun; they attract people from great distance who spend money with local business and pay taxes. No doubt the economic benefit far exceeds the 25,000 euro’s invested. The moral of the story? Think with all your might; if you have insufficient might, borrow some from a neighbor.

The "North" isn`t that bad!
written by Paul McAllister, February 07, 2010

I travel from Northern Ireland or "The North" as refered to in an earlier post and I have attended all the Salthill and Portrush Airshows since they started-Salthill is a great location and the pathetic anti-war protestors are barely noticable amongst the crowd.
Do Elaine and her chums sit outside cinema`s complaining about war films? Do they hold protests outside toy shops for selling toy soldiers?
Sounds as if they have too much spare time on their hands and just fester with rage at the thought of over 60,000 people enjoying an airshow.

LLM International Human Rights Law
written by Elaine Mears, February 09, 2010

The personal attacks really speak for themselves. I have to say I'm quite shocked at people's level of aggression around this issue. I do not wish to stoop to this level as thankfully I am not an aggressive person, I merely wish to point to the facts that are so often not publicised around these events. You may deny or disagree with what I say, that is your human right. I am not alone in my beliefs. One of the world's most prominent social and political theorists Noam Chomsky has also spoken out against this air show (See Galway Advertiser, 5th July 2007, Pg 26).

These are planes and pilots who have killed people in Iraq and Afghanistan in a non-United Nations sanctioned occupation/attack/war (use whatever language you wish) which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and made the world an extremely unstable and more intolerant place to live. The homepage of the Red Arrows confirms this, in fact it is presented as something to be proud of! (See: http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/).

This show is supporting war crimes both monetarily and ideologically. Ireland is already complicit in torture through the continued use of Shannon airport as a stopover for US rendition flights. Proof of this is available here: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR01/003/2008/en

I do not begrudge or disagree with family days out, however I believe that there are other ways of enjoying such days without glorifying people who partake in illegal wars and presenting weapons of war as an acceptable means of entertainment. I am saddened that parents consider bringing their children to a war display as entertainment.

This is my analysis of the situation. You are perfectly entitled to agree or disagree with me and I invite both. I think we should keep to the subject at hand though and not resort to attacking each other. I would never address another human being, in person or otherwise, with the level of disrespect with which was shown to me. We have the capacity for insightful and engaging debate. Let's act like the adults that we are and not children who play with toy soldiers.

dear oh dear
written by Niamh Morgan, February 10, 2010

It appears to me that it is not Elaine that has "too much time on her hands", but these simpletons who fire insults at her and then get exhilirated at the prospect of a warplane flying overhead. If the warplane was about to drop a bomb or fire a rocket (as is the purpose of warplanes) then i think these dopes just might (altho' they are clearly not the sharpest knives in the drawer) have a different attitude.
I just received GAAW's monthly bulletin and I notice that the US Iraq Veterans Against War were running protests at the warplane "displays" during the Super Bowl .
Back in 1914 in Galway those who opposed the 1st world war were also subjected to abuse just as Elaine has been for opposing this obscene war show. History repeating itself? Maybe. Niall Farrell is condemned because he comes from Belfast. Liam Mellows' second-in-command at the time of the 1916 Rising also hailed from that city.
Somehow i'm not surprised that it took two "blow-ins" to achieve a rising in Galway. ha ha ha
niamh

You did not answer my questions...
written by Welcome back Salthill Air Show, February 10, 2010

You peace heads are so funny, you pick what you want to complain about and ignore the rest. Answer these questions please:

If the Swiss Air Force or Swedish Air Force sent fighter jets to display would you still find a reason to object?
(In case you don't know both of these countries are staunchly neutral)

There will be an air show at Punchestown the same day, which will also have military aircraft, will you be objecting to that too?

"One of the world's most prominent social and political theorists Noam Chomsky has also spoken out against this air show (See Galway Advertiser, 5th July 2007, Pg 26)."

He only spoke out against the air show because he was directly contacted by Niall Farrell.

Niall Farrell was NOT condemned because he comes from Belfast, I merely asked why does he not return to the country that he comes from and complain about the air shows being held there.

I do think that he had a gripe against the British Army and I do not want his personal views interfering with something that most* of the people in Galway support.

* 60,000+ attendance at the last air show versus a few whingers does count as most.

Please read the text properly before stating that people who comment on this story "are clearly not the sharpest knives in the drawer".

I can assure you Niamh that I am quite sharp and I take great solace from the fact that the Red Arrows will be returning to Galway this year in spite of what you moaners say or do, remember, the empty can rattles the most and people are sick of the Niall Farrell's anti-British tripe.

Personal attacks???
written by Paul McAllister, February 11, 2010

I did not personally attack anybody in this debate;I mearly asked the questions did Elaine and her chums protest at Cinemas showing War Films and Toy Shops selling War related toys.Where is the agressive intent in that? It`s a simple enough question-I still didn`t get an answer.
The only person hurling insults is Niamh Morgan,I am neither a simpleton nor a dope! How dare you! Niamh Morgan
Is that how you always deal with people you disagree with?