'A Wing and a Prayer' - The Story of Knock Airport

'A Wing and a Prayer' - The Story of Knock Airport 1986 Directed by John Blackman

We're building an airport!

"We're building an airport", Monsignor James Horan tells Jim Fahy of RTÉ News, in 1981. The bold story of a 'simple' country priest, with a dream to build a 7500ft runway for an international airport, on a "foggy, boggy hill" in and around Barnacahoge and Barnalyra, Co. Mayo. A feat few thought possible. It began as a one off news item, and develops into a charming documentary, written by Fahy and directed by Blackman over the years. The changing governments, all get caught up in the chaos, and almost nobody in power wanted it to go ahead. This controversial campaign to put Connacht on the map, faces setback after setback. But none great enough, to stop this "old man in a hurry" from getting his airport for the province, opened to the public by 1986.

Country Ireland

Production Country Ireland

Language English

Gneres Documentary , History , TV Movie

Production Company RTÉ

Release Date 16 September 1986

52 mins