The History Hour The priest behind a new airport and Agatha Christie
Jan 24, 2026
Roger Morgan, an amateur historian who probed Operation Mincemeat, and Pierce Concanon, a long-serving firefighter who helped build Knock Airport. They discuss a daring WWII deception and the making of an international airport in rural Ireland. Short, vivid recollections bring wartime sleight-of-hand and grassroots community effort to life.
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Priest Built An Airport Against The Odds
- Monsignor James Horan rallied locals and global donors to build Knock Airport from boggy land without initial government approval.
- The airport opened in May 1986 after creative fundraising, then-massive public interest, and flights from Aer Lingus.
Local Fireman Became Long-Term Airport Staff
- Piers Concanon joined Knock's fire service on an April 1986 training course and stayed working at the airport for decades.
- He still marvels at seeing jets arrive from around the world and hosted visiting dignitaries over forty years later.
Airports Evolved With Tech And Demand
- Airports evolved from military airfields to complex public transport hubs shaped by technology, security, and demand.
- Jet noise, larger aircraft and access needs forced airports farther from city centers and into integrated transport plans.
