41st Irish Hot Air Balloon Championships
If you happened to be in the vicinity of Shannon airport this week, you may have noticed a number of hot air balloons flying around.
The reason for this is that it is the 41st irish Hot Air Balloon Championships, the longest running balloon meet in the world. There are a number of events during the week and attracts around 40 balloons from the USA, Netherlands, UK and Ireland.
It is sponsored by Shannon development, Failte Ireland and the Offaly Local Development Company and expected to attract large numbers of spectators to the launch site at Birr castle when the balloons take off in the evening.
This event has no doubt provided a boost to the regions tourist trade at the end of the summer season, with competitors and spectators need ing food and lodging for the duration of the event. There are several options, including the Park Inn Hotel, Shannon Airport, which is virtually right next to the terminals, or, to take in some sights of other parts of Ireland, the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin city centre.
Events include “Hare & Hound” where one balloon takes off, followed by the others after 10mins, and the winner is the balloon that lands closest to the ‘Hare’. there is also “Bog Hopping” which involves flying low and collecting bog cotton and buckets of water from the river Shannon.
Event info taken fron the Offaly Express.
