Rose Conway-Walsh: 40 Years of Knock Airport, Calls for Rail Links
Rose Conway-Walsh marks the 40th anniversary of Knock Airport and urges the Taoiseach to improve connectivity by delivering the Western Railway corridor. She congratulates staff and the board, praises Monsignor James Horne's vision, and highlights the airport's economic impact for Mayo and the wider Western region.
Anniversary congratulations
Rose Conway-Walsh opens by congratulating Joe Gilmour, the staff and the board of Knock Airport on the 40th anniversary. She underlines the milestone for Mayo and the Western region and acknowledges the local leadership that brought the airport to life.
Vision and political credit
Conway-Walsh credits Monsignor James Horne for the original vision and determination to build the airport when many thought it impossible. She also raises the issue of political recognition, noting Fianna Fáil's role and the historical contribution of figures such as Charles Hyde.
Economic impact and connectivity
The speaker details the tangible outcomes: thousands of jobs, increased tourism opportunities and vital international connectivity for the region. She frames these gains as reasons why transport links must now be upgraded.
Call to action: Western Railway corridor
Conway-Walsh directly asks the Taoiseach to prioritise improving transport links around Knock Airport, specifically the Western Railway corridor, as the next step to secure long-term regional benefits.
Parliamentary exchange
The address concludes with a sharp parliamentary exchange over credit for the airport's construction and a reminder that time-limited contributions do not diminish the need for action on infrastructure.
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This week Knock Airport will celebrate its 40th anniversary. It's a huge milestone for Mayo and the wider Western region and I want to congratulate Joe Gilmour there and all the staff and the board of Knock Airport. At a time when many thought it was impossible, Monsignor James Horne showed extraordinary vision and determination to make Knock Airport a reality. He took the build it and they will come approach and history has proven him right. Thousands of jobs, tourism opportunities and vital international connectivity have all come to the region. What I'm asking you to do Taoiseach is to improve the connectivity around the airport, the Western Railway corridor. Deputy Darno Roarke, Taoiseach, we're having time, Deputy Darno Roarke. Conway Walsh. I'm sorry, it's fine, you never mentioned Fianna Fáil? Fianna Fáil built Knock Airport, everybody knows that, with Monsignor Horne and you couldn't mention Fianna Fáil, you couldn't mention Charles Hyde. I mean Monsignor Horne embraced him when he went down there to dig the old site, build the airport and everyone said we were stupid, all the media, all the opposition, they all said this was nonsense, how bad and how stupid can you get and lo and behold 40 years later it's still doing very well and you couldn't mention Fianna Fáil. 30 seconds to do seven deputies.
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