40 years ago today this happened in Mayo
Monsignor James Horan in his distinctive hat on the day the first flight left Knock Airport in October 1985. Picture: Western People Archives
It’s 40 years ago today, October 25, that approximately 15,000 people turned up at Connacht Regional Airport – now known as Ireland West Airport – to watch the take offs of the very first commercial flights.
It was a Friday and more than 400 pilgrims boarded a trio of Aer Lingus charters headed for Rome.
It was the culmination of a bold and daring plan by Monsignor James Horan that would transform – and give unprecedented accessibility – to the West of Ireland.
Incredibly, 900,000 passengers are forecast to use Ireland West Airport this year alone while today’s anniversary comes in the very same week that Ryanair on its own confirmed it has had 12 million passengers travel through the airport in those four decades.
Although it’s 40 years today since those first commercial flights, the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the airport will not be marked until 2026.
