Around Ireland Airborne hero

By Patrick Markey

An Irish pilot and his crew narrowly averted disaster recently when two propellers on their aging aircraft disintegrated, leaving them with only two engines and a deep hole in the aircraft’s fuselage.

The Dublin Examiner reports that astonished motorists looked on as the Channel Express aircraft flew over the main Shannon to Ennis road at Smithstown clearly in difficulty and trailing black smoke.

Shannon Airport’s fire and rescue service was scrambled.

"Just after 9 a.m. I saw the white plane land very heavily on the runway and noticed that it was missing two propellers. I first thought that I couldn’t see them because they we going so fast, but then I realized that they were gone," one witness said.

The Lockheed Electra aircraft, which, according to a Channel Express spokesperson, is over 30 years old, was on its daily cargo run from Dublin to Shannon when the trouble started. The spokesperson would not comment on the cause of the incident until the investigation has been completed.

But, he said, "I can say that this is a serious incident, but we are delighted that the pilot managed to get the plane on the ground safely and there were no injuries."

The wake’s the thing

The traditional Irish practice of holding a wake after a funeral is finally getting the official recognition some believe it has always deserved.

According to the Connacht Tribune, a recent survey carried out in the West of Ireland has shown that a wake can be potentially "very valuable" as part of the grieving process.

The waking process has been found useful when compared to how other nations worldwide deal with grief, according to the report compiled by a Galway-based clinical psychologist.

Although many believe the wake can be an imposition on the bereaved, the study claims it can actually become a positive method of expression. The report questioned 26 men and 27 women after the loss of a spouse. Each was interviewed six months, 13, 20 and finally 30 months after their loss. Twenty-two percent said they thought a wake at home allowed them more control over the grieving situation.

Cinema censure

In the country’s latest accusation of traveler bias, three young women from Limerick’s traveling community claim they were refused entry to a local city cinema because of their background.

Cousins Nora, Ann and Roseanne Casey say they were "humiliated" and embarrassed" after they were refused entry to the Omniplex Cinema in Limerick recently.

"We weren’t allowed in because we are travelers," claimed 18-year-old Roseanne. "We were given no other explanation, so what else are we to think?"

The three girls who attend the cinema "every weekend" claim they were queuing for a film, but were told that there were no tickets available. After the manager was called to the scene, the girls allege that he refused to give them an explanation and asked them to leave the premises.

The three girls in question have now sought legal advice. "I think it’s an outrage, especially if the cinema are not willing to explain what happened," their attorney said. "All these people want is an apology or a gesture of regret. If not, they will issue legal proceedings."