Saturday 30th April 2016 at 5pm – The Story of Knock
It was a Parish Priest in the west of Ireland who first came up with what seemed at the time to many as a crazy idea – building an airport at Knock.
Building Knock International Airport was the brainnchild of Monsignor James Horan, who believed that the airport could help to bring employment to an isolated and impoverished part of Ireland, as well as to assist in bringing pilgrims to visit the Shrine of Knock.
It was 1980s Ireland – a time of economic stagnation and mass emigration from the west of Ireland.
The building of the airport was the subject of much public debate and media attention, and it seemed extraordinary that this dream by a parish priest would be realised.
However, the first flight out of Knock, destined for Rome, departed on October 24th 1985. Monsignor Horan said that it was “the greatest day in the history of Connacht for a hundred years”.
This documentary tells the story of Knock Airport and what it brought to the west.
Two months after the official opening of the airport, Msgr. Horan went on pilgrimage to Lourdes with members of his family and friends. He died unexpectedly on that pilgrimage on August 1st. His body was flown from Lourdes to Knock and was the first funeral to fly into Knock airport.
Produced by Pat Leahy.
Presented by Jim Fahy.
First broadcast 26th October 1985