A Wing and a Prayer – The Story of Knock Airport

Directed by John Blackman, "A Wing and a Prayer – The Story of Knock Airport" chronicles the drive to establish an international airport at Knock, County Mayo, in the early 1980s. Drawing on a 1981 RTÉ News report, the film follows Monsignor James Horan’s campaign to secure a full-length runway in a remote rural setting, capturing the political pushback, changing administrations, and a cycle of setbacks that culminate in the airport’s opening in 1986.

Director(s)

John Blackman

Cast & Crew

Morley Safer

Self - CBS '60 Minutes' Reporter

Monsignor James Horan

Self - Knock Parish Priest

Charles Haughey

Self - Fianna Fáil (four time) Former Taoiseach

Pádraig Flynn

Self - Fianna Fáil Minister of State Department of Transport, 1980-81

Albert Reynolds

Self - Fianna Fáil Minister for Transport 1979-81

Jim Mitchell

Self - Fine Gael TD Minister for Communications 1984-87

Jim Ryan

Self - Airport Design Consultant

Michael O'Malley

Self - Mayo County Manager

Joe Murphy

Self - Jaycees International, 1981

Paddy O'Toole

Self - Fine Gael TD, Mayo East 1977-87

Barry Desmond

Self - Labour TD, Minister of State Department of Finance 1981-82

Frank McCullogh

Self - Airport Action Committee

Mary Donoghue

Self - Airport Fundraising Volunteer

Maurice Buckby

Self - Airport Director, British Airports International

Danny Higgins

Self - Managing Director, Celtic Air

Sister

Self - Nun

John Blackman

Details

GenresDocumentary, History, TV Movie

Runtime52 mins

Released on16 Sep 1986

Languageen

Produced InIreland

Media engagement

On a wing and a prayer - The story of Knock Airport