This article is from page 19 of the 2014-02-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
A UNIQUE insight into Clare’s intrinsic role in the development of aviation in Ireland will be broadcast onto RTE screens over the next two Thursdays and will make for fascinating viewing for anyone who is curious about Shannon’s impact on Irish aviation.
The documentary was commissioned by Dublin based Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company founded by Domhnal Slattery, the Ennis native who is also Chairman of The Clare People . Pioneers and Aviators tells the story of the remarkable individuals whose vision, passion, successes and failures helped forge Ireland’s unique aviation landscape. The documentary charts Ireland’s aviation history, from its beginnings with the first transatlantic flight landing in the west of Ireland, through to the present day and the role Ireland and the Irish play in the global aviation industry.
Of course Shannon is an integral part of that story and it features heavily in the documentary, both from the airport’s genesis itself and of course its location as birth of the aircraft leasing industry, through Tony Ryan’s Guinness Peat Aviation.
The documentary was written and directed by Alan Gilsenan, an award winning Irish film-maker, writer and theatre director. His work has appeared on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, RTÉ, the History Channel and CNBC among others. The music score for the film was composed by the renowned composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.
The Clare connections are many. Contributors to Pioneers and Aviators include Avolon CEO Domhnal Slattery, who began his career in aviation with GPA in Shannon, former employees at Shannon Airport like former Airport GM Liam Skelly and the well known Michael Collins, who along with his brother Paddy, was a barman at the airport for over forty years.
The documentary was produced by Newgrange Pictures and Clare woman Jackie Lavin. From her storm hit Kilbaha base last week Jackie told The Clare People that putting the documentary together was something of a labour of love:
“It was a labour of love as all the fond memories of visiting Shannon airport as a child came flooding back and the excitement of getting on that outdoor viewing platform being so close to the runway, something that could never happen in today’s world.
“Of course the story we are telling has never really been told in this format. In particular I think people will be amazed to see the role Shannon has played in the history of aviation. It really has been a heavy hitter and I think that does come across in Pioneers and Aviators . I know I was very proud to see Clare play such a prominent role in a worldwide industry,” Jackie told us.
Complete with archive footage dating before World War Two, Pioneers and Aviators traces the introduction of the airplane into Ireland, from Alcock and Brown’s landing in Clifden to the establishment of the flying boat facility at Foynes, right up to the present day and the development of Shannon.
Along with an in-depth look at Tony Ryan’s rise to prominence through Aer Lingus to GPA and on to Ryanair, the documentary interviews many former and current key players in the aviation industry. These include former minister Des O’Malley, former Aer Lingus head Willie Walsh, current Boeing CEO Ray Connors, who attended the official premiere of the documentary in Dublin three weeks ago. Pioneers and Aviators airs this Thursday on RTE 1 television at 10.25pm. The second part of the doc- umentary will be shown on Thursday week, February 27th at the same time.