Laid off workers from Aer Lingus should be approached as part of such a move, he believed. Aer Lingus have "lost interest" in Shannon, he stated. "Shannon made Aer Lingus in the 1960s and 1970s but Aer Lingus has completely abandoned Shannon now," the former Mayor of Clare added. He said the setting up of a Ryanair hub would increase tourists to the county. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to see Italians, Germans, the French and Spanish as well as British and US tourists touring Clare all year round," the Turnpike resident added.