State agency’s lavish 50th birthday bash cancelled over cost rethink

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.

And Tánaiste Mary Coughlan had accepted an invite to Shannon Development’s 50th birthday bash.

Hundreds of guests had been invited to Knappogue Castle in Quin, Co Clare, on February 2 for the party which was, effectively, funded from the public purse.

The Enterprise Minister, charged with tackling the national jobs crisis, had agreed to travel from Dublin to lead toasts with the finest of wines. Caterers were working on what many would describe as an exquisite feast.

However, as private sector jobs continue to disappear, with 100 Molex jobs in Shannon the latest casualty, the agency began to have second thoughts.

Yesterday, the banquet was belatedly cancelled.

One source said: “It appears to have dawned within Shannon Development that organising a lavish party at Knappogue Castle in the middle of a jobs crisis, paid for by the taxpayer, might not be good idea.”

The agency is responsible for tourism promotion in the mid-west and industrial promotion in the Shannon Free Zone near the airport.

Gilt-edged invitations to the bash had been sent out to several hundred guests illustrated with a graphic of the castle. But, yesterday, cancellation letters arrived in the post.

The letter, signed by chairman John Brassil and chief executive, Dr Vincent Cunnane, gave the disappointed invitees the let-down as gently as possible.

The first paragraph recalled the foundation of the company which, it said, was formed to respond to threats to the then-fragile prosperity which had been built up around Shannon Airport.

It continued: “However, today, we find ourselves in an equally challenging environment to which we will respond with the same innovative spirit, risk-taking and hard work which we have become renowned over the past 50 years.”

Rallying to the call for restraint in public sector spending, the letter continued: “However, in the last number of weeks, we have had further very negative news on the economic front in this region.

“In these circumstances, we believe it is not appropriate now to hold this dinner and we have therefore decided to cancel it. We are sure you will understand out decision not to proceed.”

Instead of spending taxpayers money organising expensive banquets, reassuringly, Shannon Development said it will be focussing their energies on the difficult challenges facing the region.