The open air concert which followed the air show spectacular was a huge success. it featured seven of the most exciting and delightful jazz musicians in Galway and was led by the great entertainer Tony McDonald.  The concert attracted a large appreciate crowd of music lovers and others just there to be entertained. 

"The idea was to provide the ideal ending to the first day of the festival the Family Day Out.  The Salthill Car Park was the ideal location as people didn’t have far to go after the air show and could also watch and listen from the local pubs", explains Hannah Kiely, Head of Operations at H~C. 

In another great example of H~C Financial Services supporting the arts, H~G will be sponsoring a further Heritage Proms event in August in the Victorian Bandstand in Salthill Park. Salthill Park is ideal for family days out and there will be some great jazz entertainment in the background too.

TENS OF thousands of people flocked to Salthill promenade last Sunday to see the airshow that almost didn't happen.  

Low cloud cover threw a blanket over the day for the crowd in the region of 70,000 which turned out on the promenade to watch the event, and led to a number of aircraft being hidden from view.  

The difficult conditions forced the parachute drops to be cancelled, while the RAF Nimrod and the P3 Orion circled overhead and could be heard yet not seen. When a diver off the coast of Connemara got the bends, where bubbles of nitrogen form in the blood when rising from depths too quickly, the Sikorski helicopter was forced to cancel its display and perform an emergency rescue.  However, after it dropped the patient off at hospital, the helicopter returned to Salthill to a huge round of applause. 

Among the other craft which made a real impression on the day were the two American F15 Eagles, which flew four fly-bys at high speeds, demonstrating what afterburners can actually do for the acceleration of a plane. Perhaps the loudest and fastest craft on the bill, they were the ones that left lasting images in the minds of the people in attendance.  

Another of the displays which thrilled the crowds were the Crunchie biplanes with wingwalkers. Watching the people perched on the top wing of these remarkable aircraft being the centre of loops and twists was enough to make one's stomach turn.  

According to the organiser of the airshow Brian McGrath, "We were very happy with the result we achieved, especially considering the weather almost forced us to cancel the whole event. We decided to go ahead, and although it was not exactly as planned, I am happy that the day was a success."  

A number of people said they were not as impressed with this year's event as they were with last year's, although this could be down to the fact that the weather was not as everyone would have liked. Pilots, understandably, do not like low clouds , but unfortunately the weather was the one thing that was out of the organiser's hands.

TWO United States F-15 Eagle fighter jets and a C-141 cargo craft will be among the 'stars' of an Airshow to be held off the Salthill Promenade on Sunday - it promises to be one of the most exciting events of its type staged in Ireland, and begins at 3p.m. 
The F-15 is the air superiority fighter jet which was used in the Gulf War and served as flagship of the US Air Force’s fighter force in the last few years.  The other aircraft taking part in the display from the United States Air Force include two Lear carrier jets and a US Navy P3 Orion. an anti-submarine craft. 

The twin-engined F-15' success in air-to-air combat owes much to its powerful radar. its maneuverability and durability. and its heavy load of diverse weaponry. The jet's top speed is 1,650mph.  Its arsenal includes sidewinder infrared missiles and Vulcan six-barrelled cannon. 

During  Operation Desert Storm. they were used for finding and destroying Scud missile launchers.  Most aerial victories by the F-15 were achieved against Iraqi aircraft caught by chance or attempting to flee Iran rather than in serious air-to-air battles. 

The United States Navy's P3 Orion is used mainly in search and rescue operations and is currently based in Iceland.  According to Brian McGrath. organiser of the airshow: "The P3 Orion is a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft, which is used mainly in search and rescue operations and submarine protection.  The craft carries the most modern equipment for the monitoring of movement". 

The C-I 41 Starlifter cargo craft have played an essential role in all combat and combat support operations.  In Operation Nickel Grass. the emergency airlift of arms and equipment to Israel during the October War in 1973, the C-141 handled a major portion of the 136 million tons flown.  Perhaps the finest hour of the aircraft was during operation Desert Shield (January 1991), with the abrupt movement of unprecedented numbers of people and tonnages of equipment to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East locations. The craft has a maximum speed of 566mph. 

Said airshow organiser Brian McGrath: "An Alpha Jet from the French Air Force will also feature, with a full display pilot.  These craft are used extensively in training, and are also the main aircraft in the Patriole de France, the equivalent of the Red Arrows, which will be flown by Philippe Costeseque”. 

A Royal Air Force Nimrod will fly into Salthill to launch thc airshow oft the Promenade at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. 

The four-engined craft is used mainly for maritime patrol, and provides "top-cover" guiding for the Irish Marine Emergency Service on long missions fmm Shannon.  It was designed for use during the Cold War and features some of the most modern equipment. 

Sunday's airshow, which begins at 3pm and is part of the Budweiser Salthill Festival, will also feature an Irish Air Corps display with Casa aircraft, Dauphin helicopter and a Fouga jet.  Also featuring will be the Irish Army parachute display team, the Garda Air Support Unit (Defender aircraft and Squirrel helicopter).  The Irish Marine Emergency Service will also feature, with the Sikorsky helicopter air-sea rescue display. 

A novel element which has been added to the show will be supplied by the Cadburys Crunchie Flying Circus from the UK, which features daredevil girl wing-walkers. Aer Lingus will stage a display by their first commercial aircraft, the 'lolar'. 
 

A Royal Air Force Nimrod will fly into Salthill to launch the airshow off the Promenade at 3pm on Sunday  afternoon - organisers of the show are delighted at the last minute addition of the highly sophisticated craft. 

The four-engined craft is used mainly for maritime patrol, and provides "top-cover" guiding for the Irish Marine Emergency Service on long missions from Shannon.  It was designed for use during the Cold War and features some of the most modern equipment. 

Also featuring in the airshow will be two F-15 Eagle fighter jets and a C-141 cargo craft.  The F-15 is the air superiority fighter jet which was used in the Gulf War and served as flagship of the US Air Force's fighter force in the last few years.  The other aircraft taking part in the display from the United States Air Force include two Lear carrier jets and a US Navy P3 Orion, an anti-submarine craft. 

The twin-engined  F-15s' success in air-to-air combat owes much to its powerful radar, its manoeuvrability and durability, and its heavy load of diverse weaponry.  The jet's top speed is 1,650mph.  Its arsenal includes sidewinder infrared missiles  and  Vulcan  six-barrelled cannon. 

During Operation Desert Storm, they were used for finding and destroying Scud missile launchers.  Most aerial victories by the F-15 were achieved against Iraqi aircraft caught by chance or attempting to flee Iran, rather than in serious air-to-air battles. 

The United States Navy's P3 Orion is used mainly in search and rescue operations and is currently based in Iceland.  According to Brian McGrath, organiser of the airshow:  "The P3 Orion is a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft, which is used mainly in search and rescue operations and submarine protection.  The craft carries the most modern equipment for the monitoring of movement". 

The C-141 Starlifter cargo craft have played an essential role in all combat and combat support operations.  In Operation Nickel Grass, the emergency airlift of arms and equipment to Israel during the October War in 1973, the C-141 handled a major portion of the 136 million tons flown.  Perhaps the finest hour of the aircraft was during operation Desert Shield (January 1991), with the abrupt movement of unprecedented numbers of people and tonnages of equipment to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East locations. The craft has a maximum speed of 566mph. 

Said airshow organiser Brian McGrath: 'An Alpha Jet from the French Air Force will also feature, with a full display plot. 

Sunday's airshow. which begins at 3pm and is part of the Budweiser Salthill Festival, will also feature an Irish Air Corps display with Casa aircraft, a Dauphin helicopter and a Fouga jet.  Also featuring will be the Irish Army parachute display team, the Garda Air Support Unit (Defender aircraft and Squirrel helicopter).  The Irish Marine Emergency Service will also feature, with the Sikorsky helicopter air-sea rescue display. 

A novel element which has been added to the show will be supplied by the Cadburys Crunchie Flying Circus from the UK, which features daredevil girl wing-walkers.  Aer Lingus will stage a display by their first commercial aircraft, the 'lolar'. 

 Following this will be a week of traditional music in various venues along the "prom" and lunchtime readings by poets and writers in the Salthill Hotel.  

 On July 10th, Mike McCormack will read from his new novel, Crowe's Requiem, in association with Magpie, the west's new events guide.  

 The programme also includes several children's events, one of the highlights being a demonstration by Danish gymnasts.  

 Roundstone, the village which voted No to the Amsterdam Treaty last month, opened its arts festival yesterday. The Connemara Theatre Company presented The Alternative, a new play by Ann Henning Jocelyn, in the village hall, and the programme continues throughout the week with music, lectures, workshops and readings on themes ranging from bat anatomy (with Dr Kate McAney, field officer for the Vincent Wild Life Trust) to confessions of a sean nós singer (Brian O'Rourke, Eldon's Hotel on Thursday at 8.30 p.m).  

 Local artists will also exhibit works inspired by an environment which has some 250 acres of beach.  

 Further information and programme from Richard de Stacpoole, the director, at Roundstone Information Centre, Errisbeg House, Roundstone, tel: (095) 35834 or email marquis@connemara.net  

 In Mayo, a bronze sculpture to honour the county's exiles has been unveiled in Ballyvary by the Mayo Emigrant Memorial Committee. The sculpture, which is four feet tall and symbolises the swallow, is the work of Colm Brennan, a native of Ballina, now living in Dublin.  

 Mayo is having its own marching season later this week. Participants from Japan, New Zealand, Israel, Norway, Australia and Canada will take to bog and mountain for the Portwest Castlebar International Four Day Walks.  

 Now in its 32nd year, the event is on the annual calendar of the International Marching League and is billed as the "walking United Nations". This year members of the Dutch military are flying into Knock for Thursday's opening and the event will run until Sunday. Further information from Elaine Devereux at (094) 24102. 

The airshow is the main highlight of the Budweiser Salthill Festival again this year, with thousands expected along the Promenade to view the spectacular event on Sunday week, July 5.  The show will include fly-overs by the US and French Air Forces, Irish Air Corp, Garda Air Support Unit and the Irish Army parachute display team. 

Michael D Higgins TD, was the guest speaker at the launch of the Festival in the Sacre Coeur Hotel on Monday night where he paid tribute to the organisers of the festival and the sponsors. and spoke of how he was pleased that the festival had extended its programme. 

"It is very good to see that the organisers have extended the festival to include music, including traditional and pop. and that they have included a literary component with the likes of Ger O'Donovan." said Deputy Higgins. 

Similar to the past two years, the jets partaking in the air show will perform various complicated high speed manoeuvres. 

The biggest air show yet will also feature the traditional. air/sea rescue with a Sikorsky helicopter.  The organisers have also adopted a novel approach this year - the Cadbury's Crunchie Flying Circus from the UK will include an aerobatics display with girl wingwalkers. 

Also taking part in the show will be The Galway City Lifeboat, the Doolin Coast and Cliff Rescue. Aer Arann islander aircraft and the Aran Island lifeboat. 

The festival. which runs from July 5-12, promises a great musical line-up. ranging from jazz to traditional. starting with jazz man Tony McDonald on the Gig Rig in the car park.  Later in the week, the line-up includes popular Irish artist Sinead Lohan, the Steve Hacks Band, John Faulkner and Galway band Dillisk. 

There will also be a strong literary aspect this year, the Salthill Hotel being the venue for lunchtime readings by the Clifden Lettenfrack Writers Group and the Griffon Writers Group.  There will also be readings by Michael Carragher, poet Gerry Donovan and Rita Ann Higgins.  The young author Mike McCormack will also read from his new novel "Crowe's Requiem". 

Children will be catered for in the Captain's Deck in Leisureland, with daily entertainment provided by Pipa the Clown.  "Coilis" by La Troupe Tempete is designed for five to ten year olds.  The show features puppets and actors together. along with live music and moving sets. There will also be clowns. puppets and face-painting along the Promenade. 

Also for the kids. the Vejle Youth Gymnastics Team from Denmark promise a lively event incorporating modern gymnastics with traditional Danish to folk music and dance.

Mary Mac Partland hosted the festival launch at the Sacre Coeur Hotel on Monday and guest speaker Michael D Higgins officially opened the festival, which is sponsored by Budweiser.  Although details of a packed festival were revealed, the emphasis of the night was on the airshow. 

The show will be opened at 3pm by two American C21 Lear Jets which will fly at high speeds and demonstrate complicated manouveres above the bay.  This will be followed by a display by the Aran lifeboat (S61N IMES), then the new sponsors Crunchie will fly their display aircraft, with people 'wing-walking' and doing generally hazardous tricks in the air. 

The Irish Air Corps solo Fouga jet, which flew last year as part of the Silver Swallows acrobatic team to huge response takes to the skies next.  Speaking to the pilots Christian Keegan and Justin Martin at the launch, they were particularly excited at the prospect of taking to the skies and performing a display above Galway once again. 

Another new addition to the show will be the Garda aircraft and helicopter.  This division was only formed in September last year, so they are anxious to show the public exactly what they are capable of doing. 

For the first time ever the French air force will be flying an aircraft in the display.  Its Alpha jet will fly runs at the end of the display, wrapping up the show. 

Among the other aircraft on the day will he Aer Arann with a parachute display, two immense Fl5s flown by the US Marines, a C141 Starlifter, an Aer Lingus A320, the Air Corps Casa and parachutists along with the Air Corps Dauphin. 

The afternoon will see a host of activities taking place along the promenade for children ensuring a fun day out for all the family.