Navan man’s death in Achill air crash to be recalled in radio documentary

‘Plane Crash on Achill Island’ is due to be broadcast on Midwest Radio on Sunday morning 2nd January next at 9am.

This new documentary is about the plane crash which occurred on Achill Island on 16th June 1950, when an RAF weather recording plane returning to Belfast crashed into Croghaun Mountain in dense fog. The entire crew of eight died in the crash. The island, which is joined by bridge to the Co Mayo mainland, on the western shores of Ireland, was suddenly plunged into a major emergency and recovery operation.

The documentary draws from many archival sources as well as featuring interviews with members of the Achill Island community who still remember the shocking event from over 70 years ago. It features relatives of Airman Bernard McKenna from Navan who died in the accident and hear of his family’s visits to Achill in search of information about the crash.

On a visit to Achill Island radio documentary maker Joanna McNicholas encountered a number of islanders who had clear recollection of the plane crash. She decided to record their stories and chronicle the information before it was lost. After much research she also located relatives of Bernard McKenna.

The documentary can also be listened to live online on the Midwest radio website, midwestradio.ie.