Castro's Shannon stopover created headache for Irish diplomats

The famous Cuban revolutionary landed at Shannon Airport for a short stopover on November 17, 1982, as he was returning home from attending the state funeral for the late Soviet president, Leonid Brezhnev, in Moscow.

A stopover by Cuban leader Fidel Castro at Shannon Airport more than 40 years ago created a potential headache for Irish diplomats who were fearful the prospect of improved trade between Ireland and Cuba could hamper Irish-American relations.

The famous Cuban revolutionary landed at Shannon Airport for a short stopover on November 17, 1982, as he was returning home from attending the state funeral for the late Soviet president, Leonid Brezhnev, in Moscow.