US jets cause row

The planned visit of US Air Force planes to Galway for the Salthill Air Show sparked a 'war of words’ on the national airwaves yesterday when Councillor John Mulholland, and Air Show Organiser Brian McGrath clashed with writer and critic Fred Johnston over what Mr. Johnston said was a visit by US warplanes to Ireland.The row erupted when Mr. Johnston told the Joe Duffy LiveLine programme on RTE 1 that he was just one of a number of people who were deeply upset by the prospect of US Air Force jets – known as The Thunderbirds – visiting Salthill .... especially as, he said, up to €15,000 was being provided to the Air Show by Galway City Council.He said this was the same city council which was not able to bring clean drinking water to Galway, but was prepared to spend €15,000 on US war planes, which might have been demonstrating their aerobatics over Iraq. He felt it was hypocritical to be opposed to the war in Iraq, but to support us warplanes flying over Galway.Former Mayor Councillor John Mulholland told Joe Duffy that he was proud to have voted for the funding for the Air Show in Salthill which was second only to Galway Races in its ability to draw a huge crowd into the city. People had estimated the crowds at maybe 100,000, but it certainly was in the region of 80,000 and the Salthill area was the perfect natural amphitheatre for such a display. There wasn’t a venue to compare with it in Europe, Councillor Mulholland said.Mr. Mulholland said that people who objected seemed to want to censor people’s ability to see planes. People could watch planes and not be in favour of the war in Iraq.