Andrew Carey
SUCH was the downpour and grey cloud that covered this weekend, thousand flocked to the Fly Shannon Holiday show with organisers reporting that bookings were coming thick and fast at the event held at UL sports arena.
Thousands braved the almost incessant mist and rain to attend the two day free event, which was making its return to Limerick for the first time in nine years.
And, according to organisers, a bumper holiday season is ahead judging by activity at the show.
“The Show was a great success. It looks like we are going to have the biggest year for foreign and domestic holidays in a decade but it’s no wonder given how bad the weather has been here. People just seem to have had enough and just have to get away,” said Edmund Hourican, of event organisers Business Exhibitions Ltd.
“Exhibitors took an lot more bookings than they had anticipated. We’ve already agreed to come back and do this on the same weekend next year.
“Portugal, Spain, the US and UK were, as expected, very popular but we had a lot of interest also in breaks to the likes of the Oktoberfest in Munich, which had particular appeal for the 20somehtings.”
Shannon Airport Head of Aviation Development Declan Power said, “The rain is definitely good for holidays. We were thinking it was going to keep people from attending the holiday show but I think it might have been what got so many people to come out and book their holidays here over the weekend. There were loads of discounts so that was a big lure also.”
