Ireland West, Airport, Knock

One of most controversial developments in the west of Ireland, the building of an international airport near the Marian Shrine of Knock in east Mayo, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the end of May 2016. The airport was built after a long and controversial campaign under the leadership of the great Monsignor James Horan (1912-1986), Parish Priest of Knock, on schedule and within budget. He displayed great resilience in overcoming numerous obstacles. The airport plans to carry about 750,000 passengers in 2016, including its 10 millionth passenger, and to grow to 1.5million by 2026, thus becoming a major catalyst for regional development in the north-west and midlands of Ireland.

With the help of a small group of committed friends, like Cathal Duffy, Frank Harrington, Michael O’Malley, Ulick McEvaddy, Tom Neary , James and Mary O’Donohue, Jim Ryan and others, Monsignor Horan undertook the erection of an international airport near the junction of the N17 and N5 national primary routes in and around the townland of Barnalyra between Knock and Charlestown. They moved quickly to secure an option on about hectares of land from 27 local farmers. After approval of the project, a new government, facing a crisis in national finances, withdrew support after a commitment of £9.6m. Monsignor Horan and his supporters had to overcome numerous obstacles, and raised nearly 4 million pounds in private subscriptions in the west of Ireland, the USA and Australia to complete the airport. This was a huge undertaking by a small group of people on a voluntary basis. However, after trojan work, the airport was completed and officially opened by Charles J Haughey on Friday May 30, 1986. The story of the origin and building of the airport as well as the people involved is told by Terry Reilly in his book On a Wing and a Prayer: the Story of Knock Airport, now known as Ireland Airport Knock (2006). It also inspired a song by Christy Moore, and a musical, On a Wing and a Prayer, directed by Tommy Marren of MidWest Radio in collaboration with Terry Reilly in 2010.

Situated 5.6km SW of Charlestown and 20km from Knock, Ireland West Airport Knock is an international airport and the gateway to the west, north–west and midlands regions of Ireland. It was first used on October 25, 1985, for 3 Aer Lingus charter flights to Rome. In 2006, its name was re-branded to Ireland-West airport, Knock. By 2015, it had on average 22 flights per day and a network of 22 destinations across the UK and Europe, carrying almost 700,000 passengers, which was a huge achievement. In 2016, the airport had over direct flights to and from key airports in the United Kingdom, servicing London Luton and Stansted with Ryanair, London Gatwick with Aer Lingus, as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh with Flybe, and East Midlands and Liverpool with Ryanair. Ireland West Airport Knock has organised charter flights during the summer to popular European destinations, including Alicante, Barcelona, Croatia, Faro-Algarve, Lanzarote, Milan and Tenerife. Contrary to the initial expectations, commuter and tourist passengers represent most of its traffic. Religious pilgrimages have been few, but there was one from New York in 2015 and another planned from Boston in 2016. Passengers like the convenience, value, parking facilities and hassle free nature of using Ireland West Airport Knock. It is a major amenity for the west and midlands of Ireland and its recent growth, during a very severe recession from 2008, is very impressive. (www.irelandwestairport.com )

Bernard O'Hara's latest book entitled Killasser: Heritage of a Mayo Parish is now on sale in the USA and UK as a paperback book at amazon.com, amazon.co.uk or Barnes and Noble

It is also available as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).

An earlier publication, a concise biography of Michael Davitt, entitled Davitt by Bernard O’Hara published in 2006 by Mayo County Council , is now available as Davitt: Irish Patriot and Father of the Land League by Bernard O’Hara, which was published in the USA by Tudor Gate Press (www.tudorgatepress.com) and is available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. It can be obtained as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).