2007 Awards

The museum covers a significant period in Ireland’s history, when the first flights across the Atlantic took place between the Shannon River and Newfoundland from 1939 to 1945 during the Second World War. The museum tells a fascinating – and perhaps largely forgotten – story of both human interest and technical achievement. The flights were used by politicians, military personnel and film stars when the art deco style and glamour coincided with war.

The introductory film, using original footage, immediately captures interest and is set inside a 1930s-style mini-cinema. There are many highlights including the ‘piggy-backing’ of one flying boat on another which is familiar today with space shuttles. The scene was well set.

The judges were impressed by the re-creation of the ambience of the period – popular music and film snatches from the period as well as art-deco furniture, original artefacts from the planes, uniforms and other ‘exhibits’. The wider context of the Second World War was shown on a wall of excerpts from contemporary newspapers, telling of events outside neutral Ireland. Although it was ‘wordy’ – as was one introductory room – there were also distractions from the verbal with items aimed also at young visitors. The excellent flight simulator gave a very real impression of trying to control the lumbering flying boat and a full-scale mock-up of one of the planes (none survives) added greatly to understanding the technology, design and operation of the planes and the service.

If there were any criticism it would be that there wasn’t enough guidance about pursuing an interest in the subject beyond the museum itself, for example at Shannon Airport or other flying / transport museums. However, in nearly all respects, the Flying Boat Museum achieved award status for the quality of its interpretation of a unique period in flying history and its stimulation of interest. The staff, the shop and the bar, which sells the Irish coffee invented here, were all delightful adjuncts to the main areas.