Inaugural Lough Derg air show to draw 20,000

Up to 20,000 people are set to converge on Lough Derg in Clare on Sunday for the first air display to be held over the lake.

The event has been organised by the Lough Derg Air Spectacular group, a voluntary body whose singular remit is to promote and develop tourism in the area.

It had been feared that plans to stage the event in the Mountshannon area would be scuppered by local opposition. However, after a meeting with community groups, the organisers finally secured full support.

Sunday’s event is expected to cost around €20,000 to stage, but half the funding has been secured from Inland Lakes and Waterways on condition the organisers raise a similar amount in matching funding.

“We are looking to attract between 18,000 and 20,000 visitors on the day and pending the success of this show, it will become an annual event with the intention of making it into a three and/or five-day event, to involve and include all of the towns and villages on the lake,” spokeswoman Rose Curtis said.

One of the groups behind this weekend’s event, Lough Derg-based Harbour Flights Ireland Ltd, is set to become the first operator of commercial seaplane services into Ireland.