‘Portlaoise Plane’ TV Special with special guests Alan Phelan and Michael Parsons

Live in Laois: ‘Portlaoise Plane’ Special

The ‘Live in Laois’ crew get to chat to Alan Phelan (Co-Chair of Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee) and Michael Parsons ( Chair Heritage Council, Vice-President of Laois Heritage Society, member of both Portlaoise Plane and Fitzmaurice Commemoration committees) about the amazing achievements of the Aldritt family (Frank, the father and founder of the business, and his sons, Louis, Frank and Joseph) in constructing the first plane and flying in the first powered flight (in what is now the Republic of Ireland). Alan and Michael go on to talk about how the amazing story of the ‘Portlaoise Plane’ was forgotten about for decades until the plane itself was discovered in England. The story of how the plane was returned to Portlaoise is fascinating as is how the famed aviator and Portlaoise native Colonel James Fitzmaurice helped the Aldritts on the ‘Portlaoise Plane’ when a schoolboy. Alan and Michael run through the schedule for today’s ( September 12 2021) official showcasing of the plane to the public which will include a ‘Fly Past’ by the Irish Air Corps. We finish off our chat discussing the suggestion that the ‘Portlaoise Plane’ should be the centrepiece of a new County Laois Museum.