THERE is no piece of Irish infrastructure that provokes such extremes of emotion as Knock Airport, which today begins a three day celebration of its 10th anniversary.
Officially, it is known as Horan International Airport. Unofficially, the area where the jet airliners now land and take off is described as Mayo's black triangle, for it is boggy and wet around Barr na Cuige (which translates as "the top of the province").
According to the late Monsignor James Horan, even the snipe wear wellingtons there. But the inhospitable terrain and the project's detractors couldn't dampen the enthusiasm and drive of the local priest who was utterly convinced the airport would succeed. It was subsequently renamed in his honour.
After lunch with Monsignor Horan at Knock Shrine in 1980, the then Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, backed the airport idea and continued to do so through the political turbulence and fiscal rectitude of the following years, despite Opposition scepticism. He officially opened the airport in May 1986, and today he is to unveil a bust of Monsignor, Horan.
After a commemorative Masse at Knock Shrine tomorrow, the EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, will lay a wreath at Monsignor Horan's tomb. On Saturday, the Minister for Tourism and, Trade, Mr Kenny, will launch and international air rally.
Contrary to the gloomy predictions of the former Labour Party minister, Mr Barry Desmond, who said it would lose £20 million within a short time of opening, Knock Airport is now in profit and significantly busier than most Irish regional airports.
The airport's main traffic is with Britain and Europe. It is fulfilling the aim of being a gateway to Ireland west and north west with significant charter business from Switzerland and Germany mainly for golf and fishing holidays.
Other charter flights are to France and Spain, with a weekly connection to Lourdes. Scheduled flights are to London Stansted and Manchester, with a weekend connection to Birmingham. Ryanair is the main operator and Aer Lingus and, BA Express operate weekly services.
Passenger growth has been expanding at an annual rate of 18 per cent with over, 250,000 people using the airport in the past year. In that period record profits of £400,000 have been made.
