In a show of solidarity, councils from Limerick City and County, Clare and North Tipperary are joining forces to organise the rally with help from the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) and the Shannon Action Group.

Mayor of Limerick Cllr Ger Fahy said that “the Government has shown a clear bias against the mid-west by appointing two people to the board of Aer Lingus to protect the connection of Dublin and Cork to Heathrow Airport”.

Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Cllr Kevin Sheahan said that local people will have an opportunity to speak out.

“I am confident that people power will win the day and I am asking everyone in each community in County Limerick to demonstrate their support for the future of Shannon Airport and the Heathrow slots,” he said.

ACA spokesman Tony Brazil said the “rally is an opportunity for people to show their solidarity with our campaign” while Shannon Action Group spokeswoman Gráinne Healy urged people to “stand up and fight” .

The motion suggested that in light of the negative reaction from so many different groups and interests in the region, an “urgent positive response from the Government on the issue” was needed..

Speaking ahead of last night’s meeting, Deputy Power said that he hoped that mid-west TDs would re-ignite the debate and express the seriousness of the matter to their colleagues across the country.

“I intend to seek a majority of the my party colleagues in the Dáil to support our campaign in the mid west to protect the current service and reverse this flawed decision by Aer Lingus. This debate will drive home the message that the decision by Aer Lingus must be reversed.”

In another development, the ACA lodged an application for slots at Heathrow in collaboration with charter and scheduled service provider, Astraeus Airlines.

John Brassil, ACA chairman said that “the alliance is intent on doing everything possible to ensure continuity of a Shannon Heathrow air link and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this objective”.

“We have been working closely with Astraeus and the alliance has formed a special limited company – Shannon Air Link Ltd. – to enable management contracts to be entered into with Astraeus should we be successful in securing the slots at Heathrow.”

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