Description

It was dismissed by politicians as an impossible dream, ridiculed by journalists as a white elephant, and fought by bureaucrats at every turn. Yet, against all imaginable odds, Ireland West Airport Knock opened its runway in 1986. On a Wing and a Prayer: The Story of Knock Airport by Terry Reilly delivers the definitive, thrilling insider account of this legendary triumph of community defiance and faith.

At the heart of the story is the unstoppable Monsignor James Horan, a visionary parish priest who refused to accept that the West of Ireland should be left behind. Reilly chronicles the high-stakes political backroom deals, the massive fundraising campaigns among the Irish diaspora, the engineering miracles required to pour concrete on a treacherous Mayo bog, and the pure grit of the local people who built it. Written with passion, humor, and extensive research, this book stands as an inspiring monument to what a community can achieve when they refuse to take “no” for an answer.

Why this is a premier Mayo Interest book:

• Inspiring Local History: A proud, definitive account of one of the greatest socio-economic victories in the West of Ireland.

• Legendary Characters: Captures the full charisma, wit, and determination of Monsignor Horan.

• Journalistic Precision: Written by an expert local journalist who witnessed the dramatic events unfold firsthand.