Salthill airshow cancelled

The mayor of Galway, Tom Costello, has expressed surprise at the decision by the organisers of the annual Salthill airshow to cancel the event due to lack of funding.

The decision was welcomed by Independent city councillor Catherine Connolly, who had boycotted the event as Labour mayor of the city, and by the Galway Alliance Against War.

Mr Costello, who also missed this year's event over the use of military aircraft, said organisers gave no indication a €15,000 grant was insufficient.

This summer's event was marred by an accident, when a panel fell from an RAF Merlin helicopter shortly after take-off, injuring three people.