Aer Lingus announce partnership with Mayo astronaut Dr Norah Patten

Aer Lingus have announced a partnership with proud Mayo woman and future space explorer, Doctor Norah Patten.

Doctor Patten is aiming for history as she gears up to be the first Irish person in space.

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The Ballina native has already achieved plenty as she endeavours to achieve the historic feat, and this two-year deal will see her become one of the faces of the Irish airline.

Norah is a trained aeronautical engineer and is currently going through intensive training to prepare herself for the voyage at the National Research Council station in Ottawa, Canada.

Norah’s passion for space exploration came at the tender age of eleven, when she visited the NASA Glenn Research Cleveland Centre in Ohio.

Now, with Aer Lingus routes available to Orlando International Airport, less than an hour’s drive from the Kennedy Space Center, where you can watch rocket launches, as well as Washington’s Dulles International Airport, just over half an hour from the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum, there are plenty of opportunities to explore space travel.

Doctor Patten expressed her delight at the partnership.

"This partnership with Aer Lingus will enable me to travel seamlessly to North America to continue my practical preparation and research, with each step bringing me closer to making this dream a reality,” she stated.

“Together, I hope we can ignite the imaginations of young dreamers, encouraging them to undertake their own adventures, wherever they may be.”

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The Aer Lingus CEO, Lynne Embleton, echoed those sentiments.

“We are immensely proud to support Norah as she embarks on this historic journey over the next two years,” said Embleton. “This is a once-in-a-generation milestone for Ireland, and we have no doubt that her mission will inspire people across the nation and beyond to pursue their own aspirations.

“Norah is a true trailblazer, paving the way for Irish women in STEM and leaving a legacy that will resonate for generations to come.”