First Flights to Ireland, April 1912
Readers may be interested to know that there are three related Irish aviation anniversaries coming up soon. 110 years ago, in April 1912, three aviators set out from England and Wales to fly to Ireland. Who would be the first to land here?
Damer Leslie Allen, from Limerick, took off from Chester racecourse on 18th April. He was observed near Holyhead around 8 am heading west. He and his aeroplane were never seen again.
Denys Corbett Wilson, from a Kilkenny family, flew from near Fishguard on 24 April and landed safely near Enniscorthy. He was the first to fly from Britain to Ireland. His achievement was celebrated in Wexford on its centenary ten years ago.
On 26th April, Vivian Hewitt of Rhyl in North Wales flew from Holyhead to Dublin and landed elegantly in the Fifteen Acres, Phoenix Park. He was the first to fly into Dublin from outside our island. His achievement has not been publicly celebrated here.
An illustrated talk about the three flights will be given by Peadar Slattery on 18th April, Easter Monday at 2 pm in the Visitors Centre, Phoenix Park. Note: Seats are limited. For further information, phone Phoenix Park Visitors Centre at 01-6770095. Peadar Slattery is a historian, whose illustrated article on the three aviators will be published next year.
