What began as a bold vision by Monsignor James Horan in the early 1980s has grown into one of Ireland’s busiest regional airports. Ireland West Airport, near Charlestown, Co Mayo, is now approaching its 40th anniversary, having welcomed a record 946,000 passengers in 2025.
The airport’s origins can be traced back to 1981, when Monsignor Horan, then Parish Priest of Knock, began work on what many considered an improbable project on a “foggy, boggy hill.” His vision was clear: “An airport is something like a road. You build a road to give a service to a community. And you build an airport to give service to a community,” he told RTÉ in 1986.
Horan, who had previously overseen the construction of the Knock Basilica and facilitated the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, brought a reputation for turning ambitious plans into reality. Early projections suggested the airport would serve 250,000 passengers annually. Last year, numbers were nearly four times that, reflecting decades of steady growth.
Terry Reilly, former editor of The Western People, chronicled the airport’s development in his 2006 book, On a Wing and a Prayer. He described Horan as a “doer,” whose fundraising and determination helped overcome obstacles in both finance and planning. Political support also played a role, with then Taoiseach Charles Haughey providing permission and initial funding. The first commercial flights departed in late 1985, primarily for pilgrims traveling to Rome, and the airport officially opened months later with Haughey performing the ceremonial launch.
The early years were challenging. Aer Lingus showed limited interest, and the airport struggled to attract sufficient traffic. Ryanair’s arrival in the 1990s proved transformative, connecting the west of Ireland with Britain and continental Europe and providing vital weekend travel for workers returning home. This partnership has driven expansion and diversified the airport’s destinations, particularly to Spain.
Today, the airport is operated by the Connacht Airport Development Company, with local authorities holding a stake in its development. Its 2025 figures show 732,000 passengers traveled to and from Britain, while the remainder used flights to Europe. Chairman Arthur French described the year’s record numbers as “a testament to the continued strong support for the airport.”
Looking ahead, plans for a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) around the airport aim to create over 95,000 square metres of commercial, business, and aviation-related space, including conference and hotel facilities. The project has been designated of “strategic national importance” and could drive further economic development in the west, northwest, and midlands.
As Ireland West Airport nears its 40th anniversary, the airport continues to build on Monsignor Horan’s original vision. “Those who carried the torch lit by Monsignor Horan have seen his dream through,” Reilly said, highlighting the airport’s enduring role as a gateway to Ireland and a lifeline for the region’s connectivity.
