The Shannon Development Collection

In 1957, The Shannon Airport Development Authority (SADA) was set up with the aim to make Shannon Airport more appealing through the promotion of freight traffic and the development of nearby tourist facilities. In 1959, SADA became the Shannon Free Airport Development Company (SFADCo). SFADCo would receive funding from the government and have the additional functions of establishing an industrial estate and housing for workers. In 2014, Shannon Development was amalgamated into Shannon Group (later The Shannon Airport Group), a conglomerate of aviation, property, and tourism businesses created to drive the economy of the west of Ireland.

The collection comprises approximately 250,000 photographic items, including press cuttings, reports, brochures spanning over five decades. Of particular significance are the photographs taken between 1959–1998, which visually capture the Shannon Development story, and provide unique insights into the life in Ireland in the latter half of the twentieth century. It chronicles the evolution of Shannon town, as well as the broader Shannon region from a large agricultural base to a leading industrial and tourism centre. There is also material relating to the wider Clare Region, Limerick, Tipperary, Offaly, and Kerry.

The photographs include images of the many people of renown that passed through Shannon Airport, coverage of the world’s first duty free zone and images of newly acquired aircraft. The early construction days of Shannon Town and people at work in associated industrial settings are also captured. There are many photos of events at Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle, Dromoland Castle, Cragaunowen and the Cliffs of Moher, which provide a valuable insight into the development of new tourist attractions in the region during the 1960s.
Besides offering a visual account of the development of the airport and its environs, the collection offers unique opportunities to consider a range of topics including life, culture, dress, and some of the social norms of Ireland in the latter half of the twentieth century.