Abbeyshrule for decades was just another General Aviation airfeld. However, increasing protests against US Military use of Shannon Warport led to a search for a less obvious site. Abbeyshrule wasselected because its facilities were almost adequate for the job, and it has a low public profile, in an isolated part of the country.

During 2002, improvements were made to facilities to allow operation of STOL cargo aircraft at EIAB. Since then, mainly at night, aircraft have been using this airfield, mainly to refuel, but occasionally to collect or drop off cargo. The Irish government has been complicit in this fundamental breach of Ireland's constitutional Neutrality.