Foynes Flying Boat Museum hosted the official launch of the splendid publication ‘Rising Stars’ at the weekend.
Written by Vincent Power and Peter McGarry, the book celebrates the golden age of flight, with which Foynes was so closely associated.
The launch was hosted by the authors, after an interesting opening address delivered by Dr. Matthew Potter, curator of Limerick Museum and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
There was also a fascinating audio-visual presentation in the museum’s new premium cinema.
The book will be available to purchase in the museum gift shop once launched.
Separately, it shouldn’t be forgotten either that between 1946 and 1961, in the fledgling years of Shannon International Airport, over two hundred lives were lost and countless others changed forever in a series of fatal air crashes.
With his book ‘Falling Stars’ (Lost Stories From the Shannon Airport Crashes) author Peter McGarry sets out to bring new light to details almost lost in the corridors of time.
Both publications are available at pilot.ie, and from the museum gift shop in Foynes.
Meanwhile, a custom-designed Pan-Am Jet (which ceased operations in the 1990s) – with 50 well-heeled travellers on board – will touch down at Shannon in June. It’s the final leg of a 12-day trip, costing €55,000 per person sharing, and guests will stay at Adare Manor and also visit Foynes. The trip will have started out in New York, which is also the return point.
Foynes reopened last year after a €5m upgrade, with a revamped aviation museum, a flying boat replica, cinema and flight simulators. It also houses an exhibition celebrating actress Maureen O’Hara’s life and times (1920-2015), and connection (through her husband Captain Charles Blair, an American aviation pioneer) with Foynes.