The humane director behind the success of the air show- is Brian McGrath. Son of the late Andy, who the porter at Lynch’s Castle AIB who knew everyone and greeted tirerit witlt a simile. 

Brian stepped in to save the Salthill festival when yet another downpour had ruined the outdoor concerts.  Poor Caroline Shields, a great champion of Salthill, was to despair until Brian suggested an air show.  In 1992 he persuaded Tommy Oliver to bring his boat to Salthill from which the Irish Air Corps winched one of their crew into a helicopter.  It was pretty mundane stuff but the crowds loved it.  With air traffic controller Tony Gibson at his side, and about l,000 phone calls later, things gradually began to happen. There have been visits from Italian and French air forces, and in 1995 two American Fl6s screamed over the 
 City having flown direct from peacekeeping duties in Bosnia.  In 1996 an F14 and F18 swept in from the JFK carrrier anchored off shore; the Spanish and German air forces roared in to acknowledge the Irish Air Corp's 75th anniversary in 1997.  This year is special.  It is almost exactly to the day, 80 years ago. that former RAF men Alcock and Brown landed at the Clifden Marconi station having completed the first transatlantic flight. 

The Red Arrows like that. 

Since the air show' started, Brian has built up air impressive range of contacts.  He just kept on writing and phoning the embassies in Dublin and eventually hit gold when he met US press attaché Colonel Bill Torpey.  The colonel took a real shine to Brian and Salthill and doors began to open.  Brian was delighted with all his international visitors but he admits to being stunned when the British embassy began making all sorts of interested noises earlier this year.  In February embassy officials walked the prom; in March they hinted that perhaps the Reds would come.  The news was greeted incredulously by so many other centres who had tried for years to get them but failed.  The local tourist office is besieged with enquiries; at least one coach load of British fans is on the way over. 

Aerobatics have always been an important part of RAF pilot training. It allows the pilot develop complete confidence in himself anal his aircraft. Formation aerobatics give him the added factor of confidence in his leader and other members of the team. 

The RAF use the Hawk 100 as its trainer and the Red Arrows consists of 10 red Hawks led by Sqn Ldr Simon Meade.  On Sunday they are perfoming in Belgium and are expected to slip into Shannon early that afternoon.  They will leave for Galway at 5.l5pm and should be over the city and Salthill by 5.30pm  "It's unbelievable," said Brian, "un-be-liev-abIe". 

Editor

Seven years of campaigning by the Salthill Air Show are set to pay off on Sunday week when the world famous RAF Red Arrows fly over Galway Bay as part of the annual air spectacular.  The arrival in Salthill of the most famous air display team in the world, is a direct result of the increasing co-operation between the British and Irish Governments since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement last year. 

Nine Royal Air Force planes will fly across the Bay on the afternoon of Sunday, July 4, for a 30-minute show which is seen as a huge coup for the organisers of the Millennium Air Show. 

The distinctive Red Arrows will participate in a show in Belgium earlier the same afternoon, before flying on to Ireland for a refuelling stop prior to the Salthill spectacle. 

“It has taken seven years for us to get the Red Arrows to Galway and it should guarantee the biggest crowd ever seen at an outdoor event in Galway," said Brian McGrath, the chief organiser of the show. 

Formed in 1964, the Red Arrow team are renowned for their diamond nine' and synchronised formations - they are expected to attract up to 100,000 spectators to the seafront in Salthill.  They have performed thousands of displays throughout the world and their synchro pair' routine includes crossovers as the aircraft pass each other at a speed of 650 mph and a distance of just 30 feet. 

With careful manipulation of the throttle and flying controls.  The team members change the shape of the formation throughout the routine. 

Their elite team of RAF pilots have already put on displays in Jordan, Greece. Cyprus, Italy, and Norway this year.  The aircraft are used for display purposes only and are not armed. 

To mark their visit to Galway, the Salthill Tourist and Development Association has produced a glossy programme priced at £2) which has features on an array of participants in the Air Show. 

Half of the proceeds from the sale of the programme will go to Croi, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation. 

Also confirmed for Sunday week are the Irish Air Corps, the Garda Air Support Unit. the Irish Army Parachute Display Team, the Irish Naval Service, Aer Lingus, and Aer Arann. 

Among those taking part from overseas are a Russian YAK 52, a former Czech Air Force jet, and US Army Blackhawk helicopters. 

The British Embassy confirmed this week that the first ever visit of the Red Arrows to the Salthill show was another example of the increasing co-operation between the two countries since the Good Friday agreement last year. 

“The team themselves are delighted to have been invited to participate.” said a spokesman. 

* The Salthill Millennium Air Show takes place on Sunday, July 4 at 3 pm.  It can be viewed from anywhere along the promenade.

ALTHOUGH THE Salthill festival has been reduced to one day, this year should be one of the best yet, as details of the air show were unveiled earlier this week. 

At a reception in Davey's locker in Salthill, Brian McGrath, organiser of the air show, announced the different units that will he flying.  For the first time in history, the world renowned Red Arrows from the British royal air force will undertake their nine plane display over Galway Bay on Sunday July 4. 

Speaking at the reception, McGrath emphasised the importance of getting the Arrows for the display. It has taken nine years of constant requests, and only now are they willing to undertake the task. 

The press and information officer of the British Embassy in Dublin, Andy Pike, explained why the Arrows have never flown here previously. 

"In the past there has never been great relations between our two islands.  Things have changed though, and this is a sign of changing times, when we can he confident in flying in this Irish show.  The security wasn't there in the past." 

Brian McGrath, one of the main organisers of the event, is delighted to have the Red Arrows in the display. 

"It's a major coup for the Salthill Air Show to have these flying.  They flew in Baldonnell in 1982 and 1997, but this is their first public display in Ireland.  It's amazing the amount of interest this has generated.  I've had phone calls from as far away as Cork from parents telling how excited their children are." 

In addition to the Arrows, there is a huge line up of aircraft already confirmed, with some more possibilities which may appear by the time the show goes ahead. 

Taking part on the day will he the Air Corps CASA maritime patrol aircraft, Marchetti section, a Dauphin air sea rescue helicopter, the Garda air support unit's A5355N Squirrel 
helicopter, the PBN Defender 4000 aircraft, the Naval Service, a L29 Delphin jet, the St. Ivel Utterly Butterly Barnstormers display team with wing walkers, the Irish army parachute display team, the Aer Arann Islander aircraft,  The US defence forces (TBA), an Irish owned Russian Yak 52, the Aer Lingus 'lolar', the Galway City and  Aran Lifeboats, a weapon display by the Irish army, the Doolin coast and cliff rescue service, the Irish Marine Emergency Service with a S6lN helicopter air sea rescue demonstration, and helicopter pleasure flights. 

This year there will he a brochure available to buy for a fee of £2. The funds raised by this brochure will he jointly distributed between the Salthill Tourism and Development Association and Croi.  The air show is due to begin at approximately 3pm. 

The arrival of the Red Arrows is not being greeted with anticipation by everybody.

The display by the Arrows at Salthill will be part of their European tour that this year will see them perform at over eighty air shows.  The display will last twenty five minutes and the public will see the most spectacular formation flying by the nine hawk jet aircraft trailing multicoloured smoke and will include Daredevil passes by two aircraft. 

The team organisers visited Salthill on Thursday the 11th of march where they met with Tony Gibson air show director, Brian McGrath air show organiser, Carolyn Shiels treasurer of S.T.A.D.A., John 0 Sullivan S.T.A.D.A., Jarlath Feeney Galway Chamber of Commerce, Mary Hurney Galway Airport Manager, and Terry Brennan Chairman of S.T.A.D.A. and Manager of the new Galway Bay Hotel who hosted lunch for the visitors. 

After this visit the team confirmed that they would take part in this years show they are very excited about their first ever visit to the west of Ireland.  The team will be displaying at an air show at Koksijde in Belium on the same Sunday and, after the display they will refuel and head for Ireland where they will gain one' hour due to the time difference, after again refueling at either Baldonnell or Shannon they will then head for Salthill for their display, and will return to their base in UK afterwards. 

As their contribution to the new millennium it has been decided by the organisers that this year’s show is to be called "The Millennium Air Show" plans for this year’s air show are well advanced already confirmed are the Irish Air Corps, the Garda Air Support Unit, the Irish Army Parachute Display Team, the Irish Naval Service, the St Ivel Utterly Butterly Display Team, who will also be bringing an aircraft simulator, the I.M.E.S. marine rescue helicopter, Aer Arann, Aer Lingus, a Russian YAK 52, an ex Czech Air Force Jet, U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters, The Lifeboat Service, and pleasure flights by helicopter. 

The huge success of this air show could never have been possible without the wonderful help that we have received from the business people in Salthill the Garda, The Civil Defense, The Lifeboat Service, The Red Cross, Galway Airport and the Ambulance Service, we hope to announce further aircraft as we get nearer to the display date said Brian McGrath.

The RAF are coming to Galway . . the world famous Red Arrows will fly here for a spectacular display during the eighth annual Salthill Air Show on the first Sunday in July. 

Seven years of campaigning by the Salthill Festival finally paid off this week when the most famous display team in the world confirmed that they would take part in the annual show on Sunday, July 4. 

Nine Red Arrows will fly across Galway Bay, displaying some spectacular formations before thousands of onlookers along the promenade. Their arrival is seen as a huge coup for the organisers of the air show. 

"This is a great boost for us," said organiser Brian McGrath yesterday. "It has taken seven years for this to happen and it should guarantee the biggest crowd ever seen at an outdoor event in Galway." 

The distinctive bright red RAF aircraft will participate in a spectacular show in Belgium earlier the same afternoon, before flying on to Ireland for a refuelling stop at either Baldonnell or Shannon.  Following their Salthill display, they will return to their base in Britain afterwards. 

Formed in 1964, the Red Arrow team are renowned for their 'diamond nine' and synchronised formations and they have added many wonderful formations to their manoeuvres over the years. 

Their average display lasts for up to 25 minutes and incorporates numerous formations which are timed to continually engage the attention of the audience. They are expected to attract anything up to 100,000 viewers to Salthill. 

This year so far the Red Arrows have put on displays in Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Norway, and their team of pilots are considered to be among the elite of the RAF.  Their aircraft are used for display purposes only and are not armed. 

Mr. McGrath said that this year's display would be the 'Millennium Air Show' and he promised that it would be the most spectacular to be staged in Salthill since the first display seven years ago. 

Also confirmed for this year's show are the Irish Air Corps, the Garda Air Support Unit, the Irish Army Parachute Display Team, the 
Irish Naval Service, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus. 

Participants from overseas include a Russian YAK 52, a former Czech Air Force jet, and US Army Blackhawk helicopters. 

Mr. McGrath said that the air show could never have been possible without the "wonderful help" the organisers received from the business people in Salthill, the Garda, the Civil Defence the RNLI, the Red Cross, Galway Airport, and the ambulance service in the city.