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24 Oct 2025

Novel idea for a new airplane sculpture to fly high on Laois roundabout

'Portlaoise is actually the birthplace of Irish Aviation'

Novel idea for a new airplane sculpture to fly high on Laois roundabout

A photomontage of the Portlaoise Plane sculpture.

Reporter:

Lynda Kiernan

19 Jun 2024 8:52 AM

Email:

lynda.kiernan@leinsterexpress.ie

A Portlaoise native who describes his town as being "the birthplace of Irish aviation" has a flier of an idea to bring tourists.

The Laois town was home to Colonel James Fitzmaurice who co-piloted the Bremen in the first East West transatlantic flight.

However it is also the place where the first plane was handbuilt and flown in Ireland a century ago, with Fitzmaurice himself inspired to learn to fly having watched the exciting Adritt family project.

Joe Rogers whose father William also worked on the famous timber Portlaoise Plane, suggests a replica sculpture should fly high above Market Square, and created this photo montage to depict how it might look.

Writing to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the UK resident set out why he thinks the idea can fly.

"Portlaoise might benefit from having a permanent Replica of the Portlaoise Plane (first Plane to fly in Ireland as reported in the King's County Chronicle 4th Nov 1909) on general view in the Market Square. When I inquired on a Portlaoise Facebook page, 110 people indicated that they were in favour of a Plane Sculpture in the Market Square.
"Replicas of historical aircraft can be beneficial to a town in several ways. They can help preserve the town’s history and heritage, attract tourists, and provide educational opportunities for visitors.  Additionally, replicas can be used to commemorate important events or people associated with the town.
"For example, a Replica of the Wright Brothers’ plane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, attracts thousands of visitors each year and helps to promote the town’s aviation history. Similarly, a Replica of the Spirit of St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, celebrates Charles Lindbergh’s famous transatlantic flight and honours the city’s aviation heritage.
"Replicas outside on show in a public place 24/7 day in, day out, year in, year out, they are a very visible reminder of the town’s heritage in contrast to a machine kept indoors in a museum that is seen only infrequently. 
The committee who oversaw the return and restoration of the actual Portlaoise Plane to Portlaoise. Teddy Fennelly, Sean Murray, Michael Parsons, chairman of The Heritage Council; Louise Cahill, Alan Phelan and Catherine Casey, pictured at its official return on September 12, 2021. Picture: Alf Harvey.
"The Harry Ferguson first flight took place on 31st December 1909, a full 8 weeks after the Portlaoise Plane and sure enough there’s an eye-catching Replica of the plane airborne over the Dual Carriageway at Hillsborough. 
"It would be great to see a Replica of the Portlaoise Plan on show perhaps in the Market Square to celebrate the bravery and skill of the men from the town who made and flew the first plane to fly in Ireland," Mr Rogers writes. 
Mr Rogers had rediscovered the original Portlaoise Plane in a little English aviation museum back in 2012. It was later shipped back to Portlaoise where it was restored locally and will soon go on permanent indoor display in the Fort Protector.
"The Cadogan Holiday Guide to Ireland printed that Portlaoise had nothing much to recommend it. Nothing to recommend it? The most famous town in Ireland – the actual Birthplace of Irish Aviation. But the plane had long ago disappeared from Portlaoise and out of sight, out of mind. Few people remembered it and hence that terrible entry in the Cadogan Guides.
"With a Replica on show in the town it would never be forgotten and would certainly pay for itself again and again and would put Portlaoise permanently on the World Aviation Map - tourist guide books could never again say that the town has nothing to recommend it.
"And of course nowadays there is the added capability of creating Digital Interpretation Video which will add story and interest to the sculpture project," Mr Rogers adds. 

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