Sponsored by
The Leader Questionnaire: Margaret O'Shaughnessy, Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Margaret O Shaughnessy the Director of Foynes Flying Boat Museum has brought it from its infancy to where it is now county Limerick's biggest tourist attraction outside the city.
Where do you have your origins?
I was born in London where my parents had emigrated to for work. We moved back to Foynes when I was a baby and lived in Loughill West for some years and then Foynes. My parents are from Loughill and Foynes. My father was reared on a farm in Loughill and mother was born in Foynes, but reared in Loughill by an uncle and aunt who had a pub there. I have two brothers, Pat and Liam.
What is your educational background?
I was educated at Foynes National School and Sisters of Mercy Stella Maris boarding school in Mount Trenchard, eventhough it was only back the road, but it did not take day pupils at that time. I went on to Mrs McNamara's High School of Commerce in Limerick and later did a Diploma in Social Studies via UCC. I also did a course and received a Certificate of Professional Competence in Passenger Transport – this at the time was for my father's business where I acted as Transport Manager.
Outline your general business curriculum vitae?
My first job was with the Bank of Ireland in Newbridge, Co.Kildare and later in Dublin. I resigned as I didn't like city life and I missed my river Shannon and came back to Foynes and started with Lombard & Ulster Banking in O'Connell Street in Limerick. After getting married in 1975 the tax man was very heavy at the time on married women so I left and went to work with my mother in her ladies fashion shop in Newcastle West. My parents later purchased Ard Na Coille House in Foynes and transformed it into a guesthouse which I helped run as well as driving a hackney car for my father when he was busy. Foynes was booming at the time with the construction of Alcan and the servicing of the offshore oil rigs out of Foynes Port. In 1987 with support from the County Manager, Richard Haslam and Jim Beary of Shannon Development, a small group was established to look at the possibility of founding a Flying Boat Museum in the original terminal building. The museum opened in 1989 and I an still there. It has grown from 4 staff to 12 and last year 40,000 visitors passed through the museum doors. The first year we had 3,000. The majority of our visitors come from overseas. We have won several awards including the Interpretate Ireland and Britain awards.
Where do you live today?
I live in Leahies, Foynes with my husband Tom in the same house since we got married in 1975 looking down on the Shannon Estuary. A beautiful location, I hope to stay there until they take me to my final resting place in Loughill.
What are your pastimes and hobbies?
I love travelling, looking at other tourism products and getting ideas. I enjoy listening to music anything and everything and reading history. I keep promising myself to start walking or playing golf, but I never seem to get the time to do it. That's my excuse anyway.
Do you travel or stay at home for holidays?
We would take a foreign holiday each year, different countries, but we both like Portugal. I would do a certain amount of travelling that would be work related mostly to the USA. We would also do the odd weekend away in Ireland – mostly Cork/Kerry.
Are you guided by any particular motto?
I suppose my motto would be to have a pride of place. By this I mean be proud of where you come from and if you can do anything to promote it or improve it then do it. Foynes has such potential for tourism that it is a pity we don't have a registered hotel or guesthouse. Foynes has everything else, community/sports centre, yacht club and marina, swimming pool, lots of walks, library and every service you could want except accommodation.
Who do you regard as a most outstanding person?
I always looked up to the late Dr Brendan O'Regan and I don't know anyone else that lives up to him. He was an extraordinary man of vision, but also a very humble man. He was a man who dreamed dreams, but also had the ability to fulfill them. He always gave credit to those who worked around him and with him and always encouraged people to keep going no matter what they were working at. He was a constant source of encouragement for me personally and always supported my work at the museum. A few years ago he wrote to me about the Beijing Olympics – he thought it would be a great opportunity to promote Irish coffee just like back in the 50s in the USA when Irish whiskey sales went through the roof because of the popularity of Irish coffee. This was when he was 88 years old – still thinking and planning. A great Irishman. Movie star Maureen O Hara the wife of Capt. Charles Blair of Flying boat fame has become a personal friend and is patron of the museum and has given great encouragement to its development.
Do you deal in the stock market?
No, never tried it.
Have you any general comments about Limerick city and the region?
The city has improved enormously over the past few years. However, I think we have a lot of work to do in the county. Limerick county is seen as a place to drive through on your way to and from Kerry or use the Tarbert-Killimer Ferry and bypass us altogether. We have enormous potential for both leisure and business. We have the river Shannon, a great resource totally underutilised. I would love to see two things happen:- (1) develop cruise ship business into Foynes Port like other ports have done. This would bring huge business not just to Foynes, but to the entire county. Passengers could also join or depart from the cruise here and that would mean great business for Shannon Airport. It can be done if all organisations and State agencies work together. (2) What a waste to see a rail line from Limerick to Foynes deteriorating year by year. Irish Rail are replacing tracks in some areas of the county and we have it just to develop it. It could be used for leisure, commuter and cargo to and from the Port. From even a road safety point of view look at all the cars it would take off the N69 morning and evening travelling to Limerick from West Limerick and North Kerry. The train could service Askeaton, Rathkeale, Adare, Patrickswell and Raheen. We could offer the tourist the ultimate visit travelling by steam train through the county. So come on Irish Rail show us you have some vision.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Garda Ombudsman launches investigation after man dies in shooting incident
- Woman escapes injury in County Limerick road crash
- Gardai appeal for information following County Limerick collision involving garda vehicle
- Valentine’s rock: The Cranberries for Jay Leno show appearance
- Convicted Limerick murderer sentenced for false imprisonment
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
