Skydive Ireland "forced out" says MD

Skydives will not be offered at Birr Airfield this year as a result of Skydive Ireland being “forced out”, its MD said this week.

Last year as part of the company’s charity jump programme in Birr €320,000 was raised for good causes. This year that figure will be zero, while Birr will also lose out on visitor numbers provided by the organisation.

Speaking at Birr Town Council this week Independent councillor John Carroll called for council support for any initiative that would “assist in resolving the impasse” that led to Skydive Ireland transferring its Birr business to Galway.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent Skydive Ireland MD David Byrnes said the company came to Birr Airfield almost three years ago on the invitation of Ormond Flying Club.

It remains on the best of terms with the flying club, Mr Byrnes said, but left because of difficulties in its relationship with the owner of the land Birr Airfield is situated on and an unwillingness to risk any breakdown in relations between the flying club and landowners.

“At this point in time we have no plans to operate out of Birr Airfield,” Mr Byrnes told the Offaly Independent, adding that as a result Birr is “losing out significantly on tourism”. “We did not want to leave Birr at all,” he continued. “It was not a business related decision. We were forced out.”

Cllr Carroll told the Offaly Independent he raised the issue at this week’s council meeting to make people aware of the situation and look to see if there was any way Birr could offer the service once more.

“I felt it raised the image of Birr in a positive light,” he said, adding that skydives taking place in the town created a buzz around the area. Five houses leased in the area for Skydive Ireland staff was also “a plus”, he said.

Skydives were offered at Birr Airfield from March 1 until October 31 each year. In 2012 jumps raised €320,000 for charity, while in 2011 €280,000 was raised.

A group of approximately 25 signed up for a charity jump to raise money for Birr First Responders to buy difibrillators before Skydive Ireland’s departure from the town. Next week they will carry out their jump in Galway instead however.

Phone calls to one of the members of the family who own the land Birr Airfield is situated on were not returned, while another family member said they have no comment to make on the matter.