Shannon a newly developed town in County Clare, as seen through the eyes of the people who have come to make it their home.
The doctor at Shannon Airport has seen tremendous changes since he moved to the region in the 1940s. In the last ten years in particular these changes include a new runway, the establishment of the Shannon Industrial Estate and new housing and community services.
The Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited was established in 1959
With the objective of ensuring the future development of the Airport.
The industrial estate was built to attract employment to the region and has there is now a thriving community of over 2000 people living in Shannon.
Jim Parry from Manchester in England came to Shannon in 1962 and plays an active role in the community. He is Chairman of the Shannon Community Association, a member of the Parish Committee and involved with the Shannon Junior Club.
Gus Barrett, originally from Waterford moved to Shannon in 1960. He is Secretary of the Parish Committee and helped to set up Club na Sionna which became a branch of Conradh na Gaeilge.
Being in Shannon revived my interest in the Irish language and in Irish things generally.
A Dutch man working in Shannon is happy to raise his family in the region.
I think community life is very good here in Shannon.
The new town of Shannon is still part of the Parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus and Fr Eamon Gaynor busies himself is dealing with problems relating to community and parish development. However the people of Shannon play an active role in the development of their own community.
The development of the Parish Committee is an example of how the community fulfils its own needs.
‘Horizon: In Search of a Community’ was first broadcast on 28 January 1968. The writer and producer is Colm O'Laoghaire.
