Frank Harrington – the quiet man behind the building of Knock Airport
IRELAND WEST AIRPORT 40TH ANNIVERSARY: "A man of few words, Frank let the blood and sweat of hard work do the talking"
by Aiden Henry
WHEN we speak of Knock Airport (now known as Ireland West Airport), the name of the late Monsignor James Horan continues to crop up, and no doubt will continue for generations to come.
From day one it was his dream to build the airport.
Today, thousands and thousands of people are reaping the rewards of this unbelievable facility on a weekly basis.
However, for Monsignor Horan to make his dream become a reality, he had to go through Heaven and Earth.
And as he admitted on numerous occasions, he had a handful of great people who backed him from day one.
Among those handful of people was Frank Harrington of Harrington Concrete & Quarries, who built the airport.
A man of few words, Frank let the blood and sweat of hard work do the talking.
Through thick and thin, Frank backed Monsignor Horan to the last and played a massive part in what the magnificent airport we have here in the west of Ireland today.
It was way back in 1973 that Frank and his wife Patrica established the Harrington Company.
One of first major projects was the building of Knock Basilica. However, his biggest challenge was yet to come – the construction of Knock Airport.
Despite plenty of knockers surrounding the project, Frank and what he has referred to on many occasions his great band of employees never flinched when considering taking on such a project.
He had the courage to tackle the project in this wild area with little or no monies and the understanding of the hard work ahead of him and his dedicated workers.
This enormous undertaking, and the unreal success it has become, was due in no small part to Frank’s courage, tenacity and, like Monsignor Horan, his extraordinary vision.
Today, 40 years on from the opening of the airport, Frank Harrington is still as proud of the airport as the day it first opened.
“Watching the plains flying in and out of the airport on a daily basis still gives magnificent pleasure,” said Frank.
He continued: “It was the dream of Monsignor Horan to improve access to the west of Ireland from all over the world by building an airport. Not many thought it was going to be possible.
"But, as we all know, anything was possible with Monsignor Horan at the helm. It was just a pity that great man didn’t last another 10 years. God only knows what else he would have achieved for Mayo and the west of Ireland had he done so. He was just a powerful man.”
When asked what it was like to work with Monsignor Horan, Frank said they did what they were told.
“We knew from working with him on the Knock Basilica project that as long as the work was progressing, he was happy. Whatever he said went, and you didn’t say no.
“But he had great time for his workers and looked after them well. Once he saw the working going on he was happy.
“However, he had a lot to contend with from day one. As we all know, critics regarded the idea of an airport on a 'foggy, boggy site' in Mayo as unrealistic.
"But that didn’t stop him and once he got funding approved by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, it was all systems go.
“Even when the funding was cut due to a change of government, that didn’t stop him. He set about raising the shortfall himself. It was no small shortfall.
"Indeed, it was a shortfall of IR£4,000,000. In today's terms that would be at least IR£40 million. Even thinking about this now, it was a massive amount of money to raise. But he did it by travelling all around the world for his jumbo draw.
“In the end the airport was built against all the odds. But I never doubted it for one minute at all because the great Monsignor Horan was at the helm.”
Frank Harrington was indeed the quiet man behind the building of Knock Airport.
Today, Frank Harrington of Harrington Concrete & Quarries continues to operate one of the most successful sand and gravel companies in the country.
In 2008 he received the Mayo Man of the Year Award – an award that Monsignor Horan himself had won previously.
On the night of the presentation of the award by the Mayo Association Dublin, many tributes were paid to Frank.
In accepting the award – flanked by his wonderful wife Patrica, who even today still works in the company, sons Brian and Frank, who are following in his footsteps, and daughters Imelda, Sharon and Andrea – Frank said that it was easier to build Knock Airport than stand up there and address the crowd!
That is Frank to a tee. Actions speak louder than words. He is a man of unlimited kindness and as has been said on numerous occasions, the words ‘no' or 'it can’t be done’ do not belong in his vocabulary.
* Ireland West Airport celerates its 40th anniversary tomorrow evening.