MATTHEW THOMAS
CEO of Shannon Group
Aviation / Ireland
“Investors have turned to Ireland’s west”
The gateway to western Ireland, Shannon Airport is the country’s third busiest and the main serviceway to Limerick. Matthew Thomas, the CEO of Shannon Group, explains.
What is Shannon Airport’s role in Ireland’s aviation network?
Dublin is Ireland’s undisputed hub; however, some businesses need more room to grow, and so investors have turned to Ireland’s west and midlands. Shannon is the airbridge from which these growth areas are accessed, thanks to direct services to the US, the UK and Europe’s mainland.
What attracts businesses to these growth areas around Shannon?
Counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, Clare and beyond have so much to offer. Businesses enjoy the reasonable rents, spacious business parks, thriving towns, and the proximity of several higher education colleges. The Shannon business park is a tax-free zone and has been a duty free airport for 70 years. We also see lower employee turnover, as local people want to work close to where they grew up.
What does Shannon offer tourists?
One hour after leaving Shannon, tourists can begin exploring the Ring of Kerry, a scenic circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula, or the famed Cliffs of Moher. On the way, they will see castles, many of which are run by Shannon Tourism Heritage, the oldest tourism organization in Ireland. The coast, mountains, and countryside are world famous, and we are proud to be the first port of call for many travelers to this bucolic land.
