Dev airport proposal fails to take off

IN Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, comely maidens campaigning for votes, the recognition of gay couples and the liberalisation of licensing laws - you’d wonder what Dev would have made of the Ógra Fianna Fáil conference?

Of course, Eamon de Valera died in 1975, the same year the Fianna Fáil youth wing was established. While he is still held in high regard by the next generation of the party he originally founded, proposals to rename Shannon airport in his honour were surprisingly shot down by delegates.

Despite the former Taoiseach and president representing Co Clare as a TD for over 40 years, it was actually a Clare man who led the charge against the proposal. Clare Ógra chairman Darragh McAllister said a terminal or wing of Shannon airport should be renamed instead to not take away from the well established brand.