Hundreds of people are expected to attend an event at Ireland West Airport in Co Mayo, to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the facility.
The brainchild of the late Knock parish priest Monsignor James Horan, the airport has expanded and developed from humble beginnings to cater for close to one million passengers each year.
The celebration will involve many of those who worked with the clergyman to realise his vision, as well as former and current staff and contractors who have contributed to its success.
Among them will be Tom Neary, a former chief steward at Knock Shrine and a man who was Monsignor Horan's right-hand man during his time there.
He recalls how he was approached by the priest soon after his arrival in the parish, on the basis that he was a columnist for The Western People newspaper and could assist with publicity.
"He struck me as being a lovely character and I agreed to give him a hand," Mr Neary said.
He added: "We made that connection and I was at his side for 23 years ... We met lots of people trying to get the airport off the ground."
The seed for the idea was sown following Pope John Paul II’s visit to Knock in 1979.
After securing the visit of the Pontiff, the focus soon turned to the possibility of having an airport that could serve as a hub for pilgrims visiting the Marian shrine.
So began a journey that, by today’s standards, was relatively fast.
In less than seven years, a site was cleared, a runway was constructed and an airport was opened.
"I think the successful delivery of the airport is due to a number of different qualities the Monsignor had.
"He was courageous, he didn’t mind a challenge and he was always looking forward to the future," Mr Neary said.
Above all, "he had determination and drive. He was convinced the west needed a good airport to have a link with Europe, so the region wouldn’t get left behind".
Mr Neary added: "He was hammering home that we had an inferiority complex and he did everything in his power to convince people that we could do things here [in the west of Ireland].
"His view was to dive in and make a start, always be two or three steps ahead of them, and then get them on side."
Those attributes stood to the small but dedicated group formed to drive the initiative and, ultimately, see the project to fruition.
At the end of May 1986, the then leader of the opposition, Charles Haughey, performed the official opening.
"From Barr na Caóige today, we send forth a message which is of significance to the entire nation. It is a message of triumph over adversity, of difficulties overcome, of critics confounded," he told those gathered for the event.
Four decades later, that triumph is being marked at the place where it occurred.
Mr Neary said it is a celebration of a vision. Monsignor Horan "wanted to future proof it, so the facility would be able to take all type of aircrafts and all types of flights".
"He knew there was no point in just having a small airport. He saw the potential that was there. And in that respect, he’s been proven right."
