Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland Annual Awards for 2017.Margaret O’Shaughnessy, Helen Enright, Brian Cullen, Gerry Guihen and Eleanor Cullen of the Foynes Flying Boat Museum are presented with their award by Jim Dollard, Executive Director, ESB.
On Wednesday 14th March at a function in ESB Head Office Gateway hosted by Jim Dollard Executive Director Business Services Centre and Electric Ireland the Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland presented their annual awards which were sponsored by ESB.
In his welcoming address Jim Dollard Executive Director Business Services Centre and Electric Ireland representing ESB who sponsored the Awards stated;
“IHAI was created by people of vision and commitment and the fruits of your earlier efforts are now slowly but surely creating an awareness of our rich past. The approach you are taking to progressing your aims is to be admired. Essentially it seems to me, that your organisation is trying to foster and develop connections between different sectors, diverse professional organisations and voluntary groups and this is actively forging a consensus that we should not only have a sense of shared ownership for our past but it is something we strive to safeguard and celebrate.”
Michael Grace President of IHAI stated that “IHAI are delighted with the continued and invaluable sponsorship of these Awards from ESB which seek to give recognition to individuals and organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to promoting and safeguarding industrial heritage on an all-Ireland basis. It is important that we both recognise and celebrate achievement.”
The recipient of the Best Museum Award 2017: Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum
The story of the role played by Foynes in the establishment of passenger flights across the Atlantic is excitingly captured in the Museum. The famous flying boats were frequent visitors, carrying a diverse range of people from celebrities to refugees. The award winning Flying Boat Museum recalls this era with a comprehensive range of exhibitions and memorabilia. The Maritime Museum portrays the history and personality of the River Shannon from Limerick City to Loop Head. The River Shannon is a huge feature in the history and mythology of Ireland and this museum features some of that history which includes the world’s only Flying Boat Museum and the world’s only full-size replica of a Boeing B314 Flying Boat.
Mr Brian Cullen, Chairman, Margaret O’Shaughnessy, Director accepted the award on behalf of the Museum. Brian Cullen thanked the IHAI for the Award and said it was nice timing to receive it at the start of the 2018 season. We join a line of wonderful museums that have received this Award – 2016 Titanic Belfast. Great to get recognition from such a prestigious organisation and we will add it to our many other awards on display at the museum.