I was delighted to welcome An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to County Clare yesterday, where he visited Loop Head lighthouse. An Taoiseach’s grandfather, James McGinley,  served as lighthouse keeper at Loop Head in the 1930s. The lighthouse opens to the public from today until September 3rd and is well worth a visit.

There are large potential in the whole of the Loop Head peninsula in terms of attracting tourists to the region and a renewed Shannon Airport, coupled with our commitments to keeping VAT for the tourist industry lower, will I believe impact positively on the region.