Direct Flights Between Shannon And Canada To Be Discussed By Nova Scotia Tourism Minister And Mayor

Mayor of Clare Councillor Flan Garvey will this week meet with Nova Scotia’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage to discuss the potential for establishing a direct flight between the West of Ireland and the Canadian province. Currently, there is no established direct link between Nova Scotia and the West of Ireland.

The Shannon-Halifax link was first proposed last August when the two public representatives met at the Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin, where both were engaged in separate tourism promotion campaigns. It is anticipated that this week’s meeting will lead to a submission being made to a transatlantic carrier regarding the proposed service.

Commenting on the suggested new service, Minister Goucher, a former employee of Air Canada said that the establishment of a direct flight from Nova Scotia to the West of Ireland would be of huge benefit to both regions.

"I would love to see a direct air link being established between our Provincial capital of Halifax and Shannon Airport. Air Canada currently flies from Halifax to London but it is my intention to push for a similar service directly into Ireland", he said.

Speaking ahead of his visit to Nova Scotia, Mayor of Clare Flan Garvey explained, "There are clear cultural links between Nova Scotia and Ireland with many Irish descendants currently residing in the Canadian province. A direct link between Shannon Airport and Halifax would not only serve to cement these ancestral links but would provide a platform to boost tourism on both sides of the Atlantic."

Nova Scotia is located on Canada's south-eastern coast and is the country’s second smallest province with a population on just under one million people. Thousands of Irish people emigrated to the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. Evidence of this emigration can be seen today especially in Nova Scotia music, which is heavily influenced by traditional Irish music.

Meanwhile, an estimated 500–1000 Nova Scotians are fluent in Gaelic. Most of these live in Antigonish County or on Cape Breton Island.

Mayor Garvey is scheduled to meet with Minister Goucher in the Nova Scotia capital Halifax on Friday 22nd June 07.

-ENDS-

Contacts:
- Mark Dunphy, Dunphy Public Relations, media@dunphypr.com, 086-8534900
- Mayor Flan Garvey, 00353868109449