‘You couldn’t buy the publicity’ Pope’s visit will bring – Knock airport CEO

ALTERNATIVE ARRIVAL Pope Francis will be arriving at Knock Airport through a second apron, and not through the main airport building. Flights will operate as normal on Sunday, August 26.

Edwin McGreal

The story of Knock Airport will come full circle with the visit of Pope Francis to the airport next month.
Monsignor James Horan was the driving force behind Knock Airport opening in 1986 and he was also instrumental in the visit to Knock in 1979 of Pope John Paul II.
Ireland West Airport Knock CEO Joe Gilmore said the visit of Pope Francis into the airport ‘closes another chapter’ in the airport’s remarkable history with the next visit of the Pope to Ireland arriving at the airport instigated by the man who spearheaded the last visit of a Pope to the west.
Mr Gilmore told a meeting of Mayo County Council last week that ‘you couldn’t buy the publicity’ that the visit will bring to the airport.
“We are absolutely delighted that the Pope is visiting the west of Ireland and flying into the airport,” Mr Gilmore said.
Pope Francis will fly into Knock on the morning of Sunday, August 26. There will be, Mr Gilmore confirmed, a full schedule of flights that day but the Pope will be arriving via ‘a second, private apron’ at the airport.
“It is a tremendous opportunity to promote the airport and the region. We will have a captive international media audience for approximately two hours. It is massive in terms of exposure and we are working with Mayo County Council and Mayo.ie to maximise that,” said Mr Gilmore.
He praised all the work already done by Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary and Fr Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock.