I'm trying to figure out which airline program would best allow me to collect miles (and perhaps work my way to elite status). I'm based in West Ireland (so either fly out from Shannon, or fly aer arran from Galway to Dublin and then onwards on other airlines). I anticipate having around 8 trips a year to various destinations, including other European cities, Israel, North America, and possibly further.

Any suggestions for which airline programme to choose?
Thanks.

Welcome to Flyertalk, sambalgado!
Do you expect to mostly fly economy/expensive economy or business/first?
If you frequently travel to the UK, look into the bmi programme. Otherwise, I'd choose a Skyteam one (OK+ or Flying Blue) and connect in PRG or AMS or even CDG instead of chancing it with London. 8 trips by four segments (for example one trip DUB-PRG-XYZ-PRG-DUB counts as four segments) will net you Gold in either programme, which means lounge access.

thanks. I usually fly regular economy - most of my flights are paid for by work, and i have some flexibility in influencing airline choice, but cannot choose something very expensive when there is a significantly cheaper option...
I'm often stuck with long connections, and would really like to have lounge access, however I can't be sure of doing more than 20-30k miles a year. I noticed that aeroplan/aircanada allow prestige members (25k) to buy maple leaf membership for $400 - is it worth considering this even if I don't live in Canada? I guess I'd be able to collect miles on star alliance, though as you pointed out for being Ireland based the flying blue probably has better connections. Is tere a skyteam way to get lounge access with my amount of miles?
Thanks

Flying Blue Gold gives you lounge access before any Skyteam flight (apart from N. American domestics). As I said in the previous post, you can get it if you fly 30 segments, irrespective of the amount of miles flown.
OK+ Gold is the same, although you also get space-available upgrades when flying Czech Airlines.

Skyteam are definitely the best represented alliance at SNN, with DL and CO both flying to NYC from there and AF having just introduced a new SNN-CDG route (twice daily).
In *A, only US flies to SNN (PHL-SNN) and there is no OW presence in SNN (although AA codeshare on EI's tatl routes).
That said, the future of US airlines presence at SNN long-term after the Shannon stopover is completely phased out is not entirely clear. AFAIK, DL is giving up on the SNN-ATL and I am not sure whether the other routes are year-round or seasonal.

On balance, I would imagine that ST would probably make more sense. OTOH, if you do a lot on LON flying, then BD might make sense and you would get access to BD lounges with a silver card, for which the threshold is low (16K) but only when flying BD themselves and only BD-operated business lounges (not those of other *A partners).

Something else worth considering if you want lounge access but don't fly enough to make it to elite is prioritypass. It may or may not work for you depending on the airports you tend to use and priority pass lounges are often sub-par generic ones but it normally still beats hanging around in the public areas of the airport.

With bmi and its Diamond Club you are part of Star Alliance.

Good suggestion, NickB. AIB do a Visa Business card that includes annual membership of Priority Pass (where you only pay for guests, not yourself) and a year�s AA membership too ... cost 200 euros p.a.

Welcome, sambalgado. After being based in Ireland for several years, SNN is about to die a slow and horrible death except for European routes. Personally, I would go with ST and *A - specifically Air France Flying Blue for ST and BD Diamond Club for *A.....they are relatively easy to get status for lounge access but are not as generous in bonus mileage and status points as the US based members of ST and *A. So it is a bit of a toss up. I stopped using my UA card only 6 months ago and easily got *A Gold with BD on my LHR flights. Even get free drink and snack when I show the card on BD flights.... Had to work to keep that status on UA, but got more in bonus miles....but no freebies in coach....ever.....

I would think that lounge access is important and none of the European programs are that good, but those two are the best. In relation to OW, the only way to go is AA. Would not bother with BA program, as it is getting worse by the day unless you are paying for J.

Hope this helps.