DIRECT flights between the south-east and some of Europe’s top hot spots could be on the cards within months.

South-East Correspondent Neans McSweeney looks back at 21 busy years of international flights.

WATERFORD is today officially launching its bid to get a multi-million euro festival back to the city in five years' time.

WATERFORD may not have attracted the same focus as other Munster hubs in the run-up to the Heineken Cup, but the city and county is still basking in the boom the game brought to the region.

WATERFORD has been asked to submit a bid for the Tall Ships’ Races in 2011, a move which is being interpreted locally as a major indication the multi-million euro event could well be back to the south-east in five years.

PASSENGER numbers at Waterford Regional Airport are up 49% compared to this time last year.

Neans McSweeney reports how South-East Regional Airport turned despair into triumph.

HOPES of developing landmark air links between Waterford and some of Europe’s hottest sun destinations have been dashed - for the moment at least.

HOPES of developing landmark air links between Waterford and some of Europe’s hottest sun destinations have been dashed for the moment at least.

MORE flights between Waterford and Britain and plans for services linking the south-east and Dublin are expected to be outlined today as bosses at the South-East Regional Airport gather for their annual general meeting.

WATERFORD’S appeal as a hub for major multi-nationals could be suffering because of insufficient flights in and out of its airport, industry bosses say.

€6 MILLION in positive publicity was created in Waterford and the South-East before, during and after the Tall Ships’ Races 2005.

THE ORGANISERS of the phenomenally successful Tall Ships Race in Waterford have been commended with a major award for their work.

THOUSANDS of revellers wandered along the pedestrianised quays in Waterford from early yesterday as the Tall Ships festival got underway.

PUBLICANS in Waterford are standing behind the city’s hosting of the Tall Ships Race, donating €40,000 towards the cost of the event.

THE ORGANISERS of the Tall Ships race have appealed to the business people of Waterford not to hike up their prices as the countdown to the event continues.

THE ORGANISERS of one of the country’s premier summer festivals say they’re going to squeeze every euro they can out of government coffers, ahead of the international event.

WATERFORD’S airport is flying high as the peak holiday season beckons.

Festival puts wind in Waterford’s sails, writes South-East Correspondent Neans McSweeney.

PUBLICANS in Waterford have been criticised by the organisers of the Tall Ships Race and accused of penny-pinching ahead of the €20 million event.

THREE Argentine women are to travel almost 11,000 kilometres (as the crow flies) to be in Waterford for the start of the Tall Ships Races and will set sail on the massive Russian tall ship, Mir, from Ireland to Cherbourg-Octeville in France on July 9.

BUSINESS people and members of the Waterford community are being urged to aid a fundraising drive ahead of the Tall Ships’ Races in July.

WATERFORD’S residents and visitors will all be ship-shape this weekend as they are given a flavour of what is to come later this summer.

PILOTS who guide ships in and out of Waterford port and bring crews ashore have threatened to disrupt the city’s Tall Ships Race in July if the port authority proceeds with plans to reassign their contract.

LOSING Martin Cullen, or any possible demotion of the Waterford-based Transport Minister, would have been a major blow to the entire south east.

TIME is running out for the organisers of the Tall Ships Race 2005 to secure a major sponsor for the event, the first of its kind to be hosted in Waterford.

IT reads like a mariner’s fantasy tale - 100 of the most imposing and breathtaking tall ships in the world setting sail from a 12-mile stretch of coastline to race each other across the Irish Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea.

A REGIONAL airport which was on its knees and threatened with closure just 18 months ago is enjoying a bumper year with passenger numbers soaring beyond all expectations.

RED DEVILS fans who want to cheer on Roy Keane and John O'Shea in person now have the option of flying to Manchester three days a week out of the South East Regional Airport at Waterford.

A NEW air service set up at a regional airport which was saved from closure has got off to a flying start.

ONE of the fastest-growing regional airlines in Europe, Aer Arann, has begun a landmark new daily service — linking the South East Regional Airport at Waterford with London/Luton.