Organisers of the Salthill Airshow are dedicating this year’s air spectacular to the four Irish Air Corps pilots tragically killed in a helicopter crash last year.  The Airshow next Sunday, which will be held on the anniversary of the tragedy, will include a minute's silence for the pilots who died in the Dauphin helicopter crash in Tramore County Waterford. 

Last year's event was cancelled after Captain Dave O’Flaherty. Captain Michael Byrne.  Sergeant Paddy Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne crashed into a large sand dune on Tramore beach in dense fog.  They were due to take part in the Salthill Airshow just two days later. 

Up to 100.000 people are expected to line the length of Salthill Promenade for the annual Airshow, which will feature a variety of highly sophisticated aircraft and daring stunt displays. 

Chief Event organiser Brian McGrath has secured an array of craft to take part in the air spectacular, including the world renowned Red Arrows display team. US Army Black Hawk helicopters, a Russian YAK 52 and the Irish Air Corps. 

The event will also feature the Garda Air Support Unit, the Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, the Army, Parachute Display Team, the Army Weapons Display, the Naval service. Aer Arann, an L29 Delfin Jet, the Lifeboat Service. 

A novelty element will be added to the show by the St. Ivel ‘Utterly Butterly’ girl wing-walkers display team and helicopter pleasure flights.  The Utterly Butterly Barnstormers are Europe’s only professional wing walking team and the performers will entertain the crowds at the Salthill Airshow 2000 with gymnastics on the wings of two 1940s Boeing Sterman bi-planes ... the two-seater open-cockpit aircraft are flying from Glouchestershire in England. 

Travelling at speeds of up to 150mph, the planes perform a stunning sequence of manoeuvres including loops, rolls and stall turns and low -level flypasts. 

The original ‘barnstormers’ were First World War pilots who put on flying displays in the 1920s and set up home in old barns.  As a way of entertaining the crowds and to keep them coming back for more, the barnstormers adopted more and more spectacular antics ... the ultimate daredevil act was transferring from one plane to another. 

The Utterly Butterly merchandising unit, which is a replica of the Utterly Butterly bi-plane, will be present at Salthill for guests of the Airshow to visit.  Also watch out for the wing-walking team who will be dropping in to meet and greet the public attending the Airshow 2000. 

Show organisers are in negotiations with the United States Navy to bring two Sea Stallion helicopters to Galway for the event the huge craft with its eight single rotor blades which are 92 ft long.  The craft has a range of 1,290 miles. 

Details of the Airshow can be found at the official Salthill Airshow site at .

The Utterly Butterly Barnstormers are Europe's only professional, all girl, wing walking team. They will perform a series of stunning manoeuvres including loops, rolls, stall turns and low level fly pasts at speeds of up to 150mph on the wings of two 1940s  Boeing Steersman bi-planes. The two seater open cockpit aircrafts will he flying in from Gloucestershire in England. The team was inspired by the original 'barnstormers', who were World War I pilots who put on flying displays in the 1920s and set up base in old barns. The Utterly Butterly merchandising unit will also be in Salthill for guests of the Airshow to visit. 

An exciting prospect to look forward to will be a display by the world famous Red Arrows. They will fly in from Perth in Scotland and will close the show at around 5:30pm. 

However Republican Sinn Fein have called on people to boycott the show as the Red Arrows art the display team of the RAF. Tomas 0’Curraoin, chairman of Republican Sinn Fein in Galway said the show was a "glorification of British and NATO military air power,' and "to remember the innocent people who had suffered at the hands of these forces in Belfast, Belgrade or Baghdad". 

The Airshow will be dedicated to the memory of Sgt Paddy Mooney, Cpl Niall Byrne, Capt Mick Baker, and Capt Dave 0’Flaherty, who were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Tramore, Co Waterford, on July 2 last year.  These men took part in many previous air shows where they demonstrated air sea rescue skills.  There will be a minute's silence for the men and a wreath laying ceremony by an Air Corps helicopter as this is the first anniversary of their deaths. 

• The Red Arrows
• Utterly Butterly Barnstormers
• The Air Corps
• The Garda Air Support Unit
• The Army parachute team
• The Navy
• The Coast Guard Shannon based rescue helicopter
• Aer Arann
• A Russian Yak 52 flown by Galway man Jim Griffin
• An Ex-Czech air force jet 129 Delfin, flown by Seamus 0’Cellaigh from Cork
• And the Lifeboat Service will also take part.
• There will also be helicopter pleasure flights
• And a weapons display by the Army

TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS DURING AIRSHOW 

The Gardai have announced there will be parking restrictions during the Salthill Airshow. From 1pm traffic will be diverted away from the Salthill area. 

No traffic will go to Salthill from the junction at Kenehan's Shop in Lower Salthill. 

Traffic will be diverted away from Salthill at the junctions of Dr Colohan Road and Grattan Road and at the junction of Dr Mannix Road and Threadneedle Road. 

Traffic will be diverted away from the prom at the roundabout at the end of Threadneedle Road. 

Traffic will also be diverted away from Salthill at the junctions of Dr Mannix Road and Galdands, Dalysfort Road, and Rockbarton Road. 

The Gardai are also asking people to remove all vehicles parked in the car park at the Promenade and along the main road by 11am on Sunday. 

Car parking will be available at St Mary's College, St Mary's Road, and St Enda's College, Threadneedle Road. 

Gardai will be on duty Threadneedle Road.  Gardai will be on duty, at traffic diversion locations and ask drivers to avoid the area if possible.

Organisers of the Salthill Airshow are to dedicate this year's air spectacular to the four Irish Air Corps pilots tragically killed in a helicopter crash last year. 

This year's Airshow -which will be held on the anniversary of the tragedy and will be the biggest in the resort to date will be held on Sunday, July 2, and will include a minute's silence for the pilots who died in the Dauphin helicopter crash in Tramore, County Waterford. 

Last year's event was cancelled, after Captain Dave O'Flaherty, Captain Michael Byrne, Sergeant Paddy Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne crashed into a large sand dune on Tramore beach in dense fog.  They were due to take part in the Salthill Airshow just two days later. 

Up to 100,000 people are expected to fill the length of Salthill Promenade for the annual Airshow next month, which will feature a variety of highly sophisticated aircraft and daring stunt displays. 

Already, Chief Event Organiser Brian McGrath has secured an array of craft to take part in the air spectacular, including the world renowned Red Arrows display team US Army Black Hawk helicopter, a Russian YAK 52 and the Irish Air Corps. 

Mr McGrath told the Tribune that the Airshow would be one of the biggest events ever in Galway.  "If the day is fine, this will be the biggest ever outdoor event to be held in Galway. We're expecting around 100,000 people and we have had crowds this size in 1997 and 1998," he said. 
The event will also feature the Garda Air Support Unit, the Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, the Army Parachute Display Team, the Army Weapons Display, the Naval service, Aer Arann, an L29 Delfin Jet, the Lifeboat Service. 

A novelty element will be added to the show by the St. Ivel 'Utterly Butterly' girl wing-walkers display team, and helicopter pleasure flights. 

Show organisers are still in negotiations with the United States Navy to bring two Sea Stallion, helicopters to Galway 

The Sea Stallion is absolutely huge - its has eight single rotor blades which are 92 ft long and has a range of 1,290 miles," said Mr McGrath.  The craft is generally used in aid relief situations, carrying heavy goods and lifting equipment.  If the appearance is approved, the two Sea Stallions would be flying from the US Navy base in Sicily." 

Mr McGrath expressed his delight at the line-up and said further craft could yet be announced to feature in the show.  "We are very happy with the line-up and we probably will be announcing more before the day," he said. 

He is no stranger to the organisation aspect of the event. "This will be the ninth Airshow that I have organised, although last year's did not go ahead because of the tragic accident.  It all started with a small air-sea rescue demonstration in 1992 and has grown on a massive scale since 

"There is an awful lot of planning involved in the event.  I sat down last August and started writing letters and making phone calls, checking with the Embassies, co-ordinating with Civil Defence and the Gardai and with Tony Gibson at Galway Airport. It takes a long time to thoroughly plan the Airshow," Mr McGrath told the Tribune. 

Meanwhile, Salthill Tourism and Development Association (STADA) Chairman, Ken Bergin expressed his regret that the traditional Salthill Festival would not be taking place this year. However, he said he hoped the Airshow and a newly-launched internet website for SaIthill would be a huge success. 

He told the Tribune: "STADA disintegrated last year and only recently reformed, so we can't officially get involved in a festival at this late stage.  However, we did make sure that the Airshow went ahead, and the newly-launched website will be of vital importance to Salthill. 

"The commitment from STADA is that we get the Airshow and website right.  We didn't want to take on too much too late in the year.  We have committed ourselves to the Airshow and it is going to be a great success," said Mr Bergin. 

He added that there would be a social fundraiser for STADA at some stage on the weekend of the Airshow, the details of which were to be finalised. 

Airshow organisers have also pointed out that donations from businesses around Salthill are very welcome, to cover losses incurred by the cancellation of the event last year.  "There is no sponsor for the event this year, so any businesspeople who wish to help out and more than welcome to do so.  A large-amount of money was spent on the brochure produced for the Airshow last year.  It was planned that the brochure could be sold on the day, but because the event was cancelled due to the tragedy, we were at a loss," said Mr McGrath. 

The new Salthill website -which is nearing completion is located at . 

Details of the Airshow can be found at the official SaIthill Airshow site at . 
 

Up to 100,000 people are expected to fill the length of Salthill Promenade for the annual Airshow next month, which will feature a variety of highly sophisticated aircraft and daring stunt displays. 

This year's Salthill Airshow - which will be the biggest in the resort to date - will be held on Sunday, July 2, and will be dedicated to the Air Corps pilots who died in the Dauphin helicopter crash in Waterford last year.  The show coincides with the first anniversary of their deaths. 

Last year's event was cancelled, after Captain Dave O'Flaherty, Captain Michael Byrne, Sergeant Paddy Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne crashed into a large sand dune on Tramore beach in dense fog.  They were due to take part in the Salthill Airshow just two days later. 

Already, Chief Event Organiser Brian McGrath has secured an array of craft to take part in the air spectacular, including the world renowned Red Arrows display team, US Army Black Hawk helicopters, a Russian YAK 52 and the Irish Air Corps. 

Mr McGrath told the City Tribune that the Airshow will be the biggest event ever in Galway. "If the day is fine, this will be the biggest ever outdoor event to be held in Galway. We're expecting around 100,000 people - and we have had crowds this size in 1997 and 1998," he said. 

The event will also feature the Garda Air Support Unit, the Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, the Army Parachute Display Team, the Army Weapons Display, the Naval service, Aer Arann, an L29 Delfin Jet, the Lifeboat Service. 

A novelty element will be added to the show by the St. Ivel 'Utterly Butterly' girl wing-walkers display team, and helicopter pleasure flights. 

Show organisers are still in negotiations with the United States Navy to bring two Sea Stallion helicopters to Galway for the event. "The Sea Stallion is absolutely huge - it has eight single rotor blades which are 92 ft long and has a range of 1,290 miles," said Mr McGrath. The craft is generally used in aid relief situations, carrying heavy goods and lifting equipment. If the appearance is approved, the two Sea Stallions would be flying from the US Navy base in Sicily. 

Mr McGrath expressed his delight at the line-up and said further craft could yet be announced to feature in the show. "We are very happy with the line-up and we probably will be announcing more before the day," he said. 

He is no stranger to the organisation aspect of the event. "This will be the ninth Airshow that I have organised, although last year's did not go ahead because of the tragic accident. It all started with a small air-sea rescue demonstration in 1992 and has grown on a massive scale since then. 

"There is an awful lot of planning involved in the event. I sat down last August and started writing letters and making phone calls, checking with the Embassies, co-ordinating with Civil Defence and the Gardai and with Tony Gibson at Galway Airport. It takes a long time to thoroughly plan the Airshow," Mr McGrath told the Tribune. 

Meanwhile, Salthill Tourism and Development Association (STADA) Chairman, Ken Bergin expressed his regret that the traditional Salthill Festival would not be taking place this year. However, he said he hoped the Airshow and a newly-launched internet website for SaIthill would be a huge success. 

He told the City Tribune: "STADA disintegrated last year and only recently reformed, so we can't officially get involved in a festival at this late stage. However, we did make sure that the Airshow went ahead, and the newly-launched website will be of vital importance to Salthill. 

"The commitment from STADA is that we get the Airshow and website right. We didn't want to take on too much too late in the year. We have committed ourselves to the airshow and it is going to be a great success," said Mr Bergin. 

He added that there will be a social fundraiser for STADA at some stage on the weekend of the Airshow, the details of which are to be finalised early next week. 

The new SaIthill website - which is nearing completion -is located at . 

Details of the Airshow can be found at the official SaIthill Airshow site at .