Aerial View

Shannon Airport (or Warport), besides being a contentious pit stop for American military and intelligence flights, was once an essential link in all Trans-Atlantic crossings. But in recent times it has been relegated to the second tier in Irish aviational priorities. Consequently, when flying in and out of the western Ireland facility, travelers often have to take off and land first in Dublin before reaching their destination. The brief flight across the country, and stopover, adds an additional hour or more to arrival times, but in daylight hours yesterday it afforded me my last glimpses of the emerald green poblacht or republic. As West Cork fisherman and sheep farmer Michael "Mitey" McNally likes to say, "Ireland is made of small fields and small farmers."