Extension of Aran Island air services welcomed

The managing director of knitwear firm that counts Barney’s in New York among its clients yesterday cautiously welcomed the extension of State-subsidised air services to the Aran Islands.

Located on the smallest of the three Aran Islands, Inis Meáin Knitting employs 10% of the 160-strong island population. Founder and managing director Tarlach de Blácam said yesterday the the firm’s business model would not work without air services, as 50% of its products are exported from the island by air.

“The air service is absolutely essential to what we do,” he said. “I dread to think what would happen if we lost it.”