Pictured after laying wreaths at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
On Saturday last, the annual commemoration took place of the first ever transatlantic east-west flight in which Portlaoise man Col. James Fitzmaurice took part on the same date in 1928.
Laois Heritage Officer Thomas Carolan was MC for the event, which happens every year in the Fitzmaurice Place, named after the famous local aviator.
There were speeches from Padraig Fleming, Cathaoirleach Laois County Council, Michael Rainey, Chief Executive Laois County Council, Rory O’Connor, Brigadier General Irish Air Corp, Andrew Coyne, a student CBS in Portlaoise (where Col. Fitzmaurice attended school, and Ralph James, Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee.
Councillor Fleming spoke about travelling to Bremen in Germany (where the famous ‘Bremen’ plane is now housed) with a contingent from Laois to mark the 90th anniversary of this famous first East-West transatlantic flight with representatives.
Councillor Fleming continued that “as Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, I believe it is important to foster these international links especially in these turbulent times, and that better outcomes can be achieved by working together… this is especially relevant when we reflect on the example of the great achievement being celebrated today, which was a partnership and collaboration between different nationalities”.
Michael Rainey, Chief Executive Laois County Council stated that “I want to affirm Laois County Council’s ongoing support for this annual commemoration event, and for the Col. Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee’s great work in keeping the story alive, and finally for the plans underway to celebrate the centenary of the famous flight in April 2028”.
He also touched on the inspirational aspect of the famous flight and Col. Fitzmaurice’s involvement saying: “One of the many reasons it is important to remember the achievements of people like Col. Fitzmaurice, not least because of their historic importance, is because they can inspire other people to do great things”.
For the second year in a row this commemoration event had a contribution from a student of CBS Portlaoise, the alma mater of Col. Fitzmaurice.
Student Andrew Coyne gave a passionate and well researched account of the life of Fitzmaurice and its influence on him.
He finished his speech by quoting Fitzmaurice’s inspiration line: “the only limits that exist are the ones we impose upon ourselves”.
During the event a flyover was provided by Limetree Airfield Flying Club.
After the speeches, wreaths were laid at the Fitzmaurice monument and music was provided by a piper and bugler.
Photographer Alf Harvey captured some great images from the event and you can check them out below:
Irish UN Veterans Association Post 27 members at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Teddy Fennelly and family at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Emily Meegan playing at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Teddy Fennelly from the committee lays a wreath at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Cllr Padraig Fleming cathaoirleach of Laois County Council laying a wreath at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Piper Anthony Byrne at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Irish UN Veterans Association Post 27 members at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Andrew Coyne from St. Mary’s CBS speaking at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.A fly over by Limetree Airfield at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Laois Heritage officer Thomas Carolan speaking at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.A fly over by Limetree Airfield at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Patrick McEvoy and Patrick Hayes from the Irish UN Veterans Association Post 27 at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Barry Murphy former Air Corps cmdt.; Marie Murphy, Rachel Burke and Brian Warren, Federation of Philatelic Societies of Ireland at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Michael Parsons, Liam. Byrne, Brendan O’Donoghue, Ralph James and Teddy Fennelly at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Jimmy Shiels from the Irish UN Veterans Association Post 27 lays a wreath at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Guests with the Irish UN Veterans Association Post 27 members at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.Pictured after laying wreaths at the Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society in cooperation with Laois County Council wreath laying ceremony at Fitzmaurice Place, Portlaoise, to mark the 97th anniversary of the first transatlantic east to west flight. Picture: Alf Harvey.
