Planes, waves and automobiles

CELEBRATION The decommissioned Boeing 767 is pictured before it started it’s journey up the west coast to Enniscrone from Shannon Airport. Deirdre Whitney, Property Manager, Shannon Airport and Mary Considine, Acting CEO, Shannon Group presented Sligo businessman David McGowan with a bottle of champagne as the barge was ready to set off its journey with the plane from Knockbeg Point Shannon. Pic: Alan Place/Fusionshooters

Thousands gather to watch Boeing land on Enniscrone beach

Anton McNulty

IT’S a story of determination and downright daring that has captivated the country. After months of planning, Ballina undertaker David McGowan did the impossible and landed a Boeing 767 in Enniscrone.
The eyes of the nation were on the seaside Sligo town on Saturday as the decommissioned Boeing 767 made its way, by barge, from Shannon Airport along the wild Atlantic waters of the west coast, eventually entering Killala Bay.
After the barge was successfully landed on Enniscrone beach, the 767 was lifted onto a lorry and brought through the streets of the town in the early hours of Sunday morning, on its final journey to the Quirky Glamping Village.
McGowan’s plans to make the 767 the centrepiece of his transport-themed ‘glamping’ village in Enniscrone caught the imagination of the public, and thousands of spectators headed to the seaside town over the weekend.
“I have learned an awful lot about the power of people working together on this project,” McGowan said. “The community spirit has been fantastic. From the tremendous help I got from Shannon Airport to the many, many people who turned out to see us off, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Big Yoke no joke
Christened ‘The Big Yoke’, the 767, which was formerly owned by Russian airline Transaero, was bought by Mr McGowan last year for €20,000 and stored in Shannon Airport. After all prospects of transporting the plane by land were ruled out, it was decided the only way to bring the plane to Enniscrone was by sea.
The wings of the 159-foot-long aircraft were removed before the 50 tonne plane was loaded onto a barge on Thursday and sailed down the Shannon Estuary. Towed by a tug, the barge made its way up the west coast, passing by Achill Head on Friday afternoon and arriving in Killala Bay on Saturday morning.
Unfavourable weather conditions delayed the unloading of the plane, but it was eventually unloaded and brought ashore – and the whole process was streamed live on the internet.