A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Shannon commercial flights marked
Shannon airport has marked the 60th anniversary of the first commercial transatlantic flight to arrive at what was then known as Rineanna, meaning "the point of the marshes", writes Arthur Quinlan.
On October 24th, 1945, two American Export Airlines Skymaster aircraft arrived from Boston. The first was piloted by Capt Charlie Spencer, who had flown one of the first of his company's flying boats into Foynes on the other side of the Shannon estuary three years earlier.
Assisted by an 80 mph gale, it took eight hours and 20 minutes for the 1,800-mile flight from Gander, Newfoundland, on the final leg of the journey.
There was only one fare- paying passenger on board, a Boston businessman who insisted on paying his way. The rest were senior company officials and guests.
One of the guests was Jerry Dempsey, then manager of Aer Lingus, who had been attending the Montreal air conference.
Hundreds of sightseers made their way to Rineanna on that beautiful afternoon on bicycles, pony and traps and some on horseback. Then taoiseach Éamon de Valera was there to welcome the guests.
Waterford library community award
Waterford city's central library has won a Heart of the Community award at the Public Libraries Group Building awards.
The library, recently refurbished and extended by Waterford City Council, was one of 10 shortlisted from 69 British and Irish entries to be considered for the award.
The annual awards, in place since 1995 and organised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, recognise new and refurbished library developments in Britain and Ireland.
Kerry Film Festival under way
The biggest Kerry Film Festival to date got under way at Siamsa Tire, Tralee last night. Screenings are taking place in the main towns as well as in Killorglin, Dún Chaoin, Caherciveen and Waterville. On Thursday in Kenmare there will be a screening of Icelandic films.
Now in its sixth year and regarded as Ireland's premier short-film festival, 153 films from 18 countries at 13 venues throughout the county will be screened over the next six days.
The festival is organised by the county's arts organisation Samhlaoícht Chiarraí Teo and supported by Ardmore studios.
This year there is to be a special focus on Palestine and Charles Asprey, a co-founder of Art School Palestine. Samhlaoícht artistic director Maurice Galway said 13 films along with six directors from Palestine were in Tralee with a range of material from features to shorts, documentary and drama.
The educational programme is designed to increase student appreciation of film. A special showing of a Japanese animation film, Spirited Away, aimed at primary schools, is almost sold out.
Awards are for best director, best Irish short, best experimental, best documentary, best animation and best international short. There is also a scriptwriters competition.
The festival concludes next Sunday.