Prince Charles wished the students of IT Sligo “good luck in your exams” as he left the college following his short tour.

The rebranding, relocation and other costs associated with the restructuring of Shannon Development total €1m, new figures show.

Pre-tax losses at Shannon Development last year narrowed by 27% to €11.9m as the property crash continued to impact on the agency’s finances.

Shannon Development’s cash loss fell significantly last year and the agency is aiming for a break-even position in 2013.

Shannon Development reported a net loss of 174 jobs in the Shannon Free Zone last year.

Shannon Development wants an ownership and operational role in the new Shannon Airport structure.

The chief executive of Shannon Development said yesterday he has “no doubt that Chinese investment will come” to the Shannon Free Zone and Ireland based on the agency’s special relationship with China.

Plans to develop a multimillion-euro themed adventure park adjacent to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park are generating a lot of interest, according to the chief executive of Shannon Development.

The chief executive of Shannon Development called on all sides in the dispute on the development of a proposed €1bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to enter talks and reach a compromise solution.

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has welcomed Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping to Ireland at the start of his three-day official visit.

China's Vice President Xi Jinping has landed at Shannon airport.

THE removal of Shannon Airport from the control of the Dublin Airport Authority would allow the mid-west airport to finally realise its potential, it was claimed last night.

A FUND of €1 million to stem declining passenger numbers at Shannon Airport was announced yesterday at a meeting of key tourism interests in the mid-west.

PRE-TAX losses atsemi-state agency Shannon Development totalled €16.5 million last year as the company continued to be hit by the fallout from the collapse in the property market.

THE importance of the government’s strong stance on retaining the 12.5% corporate tax was further endorsed yesterday when Shannon Development reported that while last year 616 jobs were lost in the Shannon Free Zone (SFZ), there was no company closure.

Overall employment in the Shannon Free Zone dropped by 4% last year but the vast majority of job cuts were because companies downsized, rather than shut.

THE Irish base for US mobile technology accessory firm ZAGG has received a significant boost, following the Nasdaq-listed company’s acquisition of US firm iFrogz for $104 million.

DOZENS of primary school students from US President Barack Obama’s ancestral homeland of Moneygall gathered yesterday to raise star-spangled banners across the Co Offally village.

THE chief executive of Shannon Development said yesterday he was confident that the Shannon Free Zone will record a net jobs gain this year after two years of net losses.

MEMORABILIA from actor Liam Neeson’s amateur boxing career forms part of a new exhibition which opened in Limerick last night.

FOLLOWING Michael O’Leary’s latest broadside at Shannon and its dealings with his airline, a member of the airport authority yesterday invited the Ryanair boss to sit down and talk business.

FÁILTE Ireland and the Department of Tourism has approved €4.7 million for a major redevelopment of Limerick’s King John’s Castle. Shannon Development will allocate a further €1m.

Tralee technology company Aspen Grove has announced the creation of 20 new jobs due to the continued expansion of its business.

PRE-TAX losses at state agency Shannon Development last year increased three-fold to €17.2 million due mainly to the collapse in the property market.

A NEW US-based commercial group has agreed to act as business ambassadors for the mid-west.

A PIONEERING E-Town project, which will encourage people to work from home, is expected to create jobs in Tarbert, Co Kerry.

THE Limerick to Galway rail gateway has been hailed as a huge boost to tourism and commerce in the West of Ireland.

LIMERICK rugby hero Keith Earls will line out in front of tens of thousands on St Patrick’s Day– but this time he’ll tog out in a different shade of green from his international kit.

A STRONG and vibrant Limerick city was essential for the rest of the region to do well in the jobs market and in attracting tourism, the chief executive of Shannon Development said yesterday.

A GRIM warning was issued yesterday that the downward spiral in the fortunes of Shannon Airport would continue unless corrective action is taken to broaden its business base.

THE businesspeople of Kerry are celebrating after the county was awarded the prestigious title of European Entrepreneurial Region of the Year for 2011.

A BUSINESS Boot Camp will see 600 students from Kerry and Limerick put their ideas to the test in front of a panel of leading Irish entrepreneurs and business people, as part of the annual Young Entrepreneur Programme and Awards.

RUGBY legends Keith Wood and Peter Clohessy yesterday signed up to become Ireland’s first sports ambassadors.

THE head of Shannon Development – whose main tasks include jobs promotion in Shannon Free Zone and tourism in the mid-west – said yesterday that the organisation should not be on Bord Snip’s radar as it was self-financing.

More than 130 jobs could be created after computer chip giant Intel announced plans for a new research centre in the Mid-West.

A PRINT company employing people with disabilities is the latest casualty of the Dell decision to shed 1,900 jobs in Limerick.

AMID the Dell bloodbath of 1,900 job losses, a state job creation and tourism agency was planning a lavish “anniversary celebration” banquet — at the taxpayers’ expense.

SHANNON Development got a strong endorsement yesterday from Tánaiste Mary Coughlan as swingeing budget cuts loom in the state sector.

THE Mid-West yesterday provided some ease to the prevailing economic gloom with the announcement of 99 new jobs in Limerick and Shannon.

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK (UL) announced it received energy research funding of over €3m yesterday.

Vincent Cunnane, vice-president of research at the University of Limerick (UL), talks to David Clerkin.