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\ ~ Che: l€~ _ .... .. -Vol. V - No. VII 'EIRE PHIlATELIC ASSOCIArIOJI \ Sept. - Oct. 1955

Whole (INTElUarIOrw.)

Number 29 Published B:1JaonthJ:r Neil Stack, Editor

SHANNON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

BV Nell Stack Editor ot The Revealer

The first indication that the traveler is nearing Ireland is the rotating beam of light from Shannon's control tower. Seem­ingly it beckons a C~ad Mile ~­ilte(A Hundred Thousand Welcomes of the Irish) as it flashes sky­ward in the early morning hours.

Soon your four-engined plane sets down on the runway in front of Shannon International Airport. You are really aware that you are on Irish soil when you are gree~ ed by courteous and friendly at­tendents whose pleasing voices

be remembered. If you intend to stop in Ireland you will be e~ corted to the health and custom offices. In-transit passengers are taken

the air.port lounge where they may rest while their plane is refueling. ose who desire may proceed to the di1fing room for breakfast or coffee;

others may while away their time at the free custom area and make purcha~ s which will be duty free when they reach their destination.

SHANNON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Sbannon International. Airport is located in southwestern Ireland, beside the RLver

IShamlon where it widens to meet the Atlantic. It is one of the world's leading airports is known to airlines as the Gateway to Europe. The big European tratfic centers of

JLolooe,n and Paris are near at band and it lies in a direct line with New York andMontreaJ..

The location of the present site of this fine airport was the result of considerable Mr. Juan Trippe, President of Pan American World Airways, and Colonel Charles

I ' Lindberg, together with higb ranking off1cers SmAMER CRUISES ON LOVELY RIVER SHANNON of the Irish Arar:r, bad been invited to help

in the task of finding the most suitable spot One of the most beautiful waterways in al.ong the west coast for an airport. i'hey

world, Ireland's RLver Shannon, is now gan at Clifden Galway, close to where Alcock l:LllU.J;Y accessible to visitors on Caras Iom- and Brown made the dramatic landing atter tm

Elreann steamer cruises. the first crossing of the Atlantic by air With the diesel powered ships, st. Bren- nearly twenty years previously. After look­

and St. C1aran, oplrating on the river, ing at mBlV possible locations alOng the heart of Ireland bas been Oplned for coast, the party was thinking of caJ..ling it

Itr'a'V'alllrs who enjoy cruises. a day as they approached Limerick. At a spat Day cruises depart daily from Atblone, near historiC Bunratty Castle they stopped to

ICarri,cko-on-5hLaIlllOn and Killal.oe. (Continued on p~ 234) 233 ),' , . 1_, "

c.P.~. OFlI'ICKRS* {f PRESIDENT -- Malcolm G. O'Reilly . 908-87th Street, North Bergen, N. J. .. VICE PRESIDENT-"'OP" F. Bannigan, Jr. Box ll-Vandeveer Station-B'klyn.10,N.r. s:.p.L SBCl!E!ARY JOM J. CIark 947 East 32M Street, Brooklyn 10, N.Y. TREASURER ------- RObert orq 2629 Mallel'l Street, Flint 4, Mich.... EDITOR--THE REVEALER - Neil. Stack (All}) .. 311 East 9th St., New York 3, New York ASSOCIA'l'ION ATTORNEY -- IDrin L. Kay Box 489 - Richland Cen~ Wisconsin E.P.A. EIlROPEAN DIRECTOR-MidiaoelOil'fney 22 East Road, Dublin C 10, Ireland PLANES FROM ALL PARTS USE THE REfUELLING FACILITIES

PACIFIC REPRESENTATIVE - IN AUSTRALIA .f.lRLINES BUY GASOLINE DUTY-FREE James B. Mannix --- 457 Kooy-ong Road'" During the past year about 24 million Elsternw:1.ck s.4., Victoria, Australia gallons of gasoline were sold to the a:i.r REVEAIER SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR NON-ME'LBERS lines patronizing Shannon International.

f-'l'U5.-=-..&l!.t.oo~...I.!!:~=ar~-~.J,I!!.lri~te~Se~c:.!.~Cl:::ar:::..:k~_-j Airport. A1J. of it is duty-free, but the Irish Government makes a concession charge

SHANNON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT o£ one tenth o£ a penny per gallon which (Continued frcm page 233) on 1954's consumption meant about £10,000. look at the Shannon estuary. Then Hr. Trippe This petrol stop also means a larger reve said to the group, "This is the place." After nue for a:i.rl1nes. By stopping at Shannon numerous tests were made the necessary land to refuel, seven extra passengers can, in was purchased from the local farmers. A new normal condi tiona, be taken on to a Paris higbwa;)'" was built ignoring the old winding to-Nett York Stratocruiser (which burns road. Construction lias well under way in l.939 about 500 gallons o£ fuel. per hour) at when the war started. It was on an October Paris. This means additional. revenue of afternoon in 1945 that the first schedul.ed £1,050 to the Airline concerned. In poor l.and plalle set down on the new ~ at the weather condi tions, as maIly" as 25 extra airport. passengers can be taken on, meaning a

Today it is not only the most modern but saVing of £3,75° which would othendse have also, from a technical and meterological View- been lost on the trip. point, the best in western Europe. It is free THE FIRST CUSTOMS-FREE AIRPORT from natural and artificial obstructions be­sides enjoying. the best fog clear record of a:a:r maj or a:i.rport.

The latest modernization at Shannon consi of a ne.T system of refueling transient planes. No longer l-Til.l it be necessary for gasoline trucks .to Visit each plane. Esso, Ltd~ has just spent ~85.000 constructing ten hYdrants on the apron of the field. The aircraft llO1l parks at one of these hydrants where fuel can be pumped into the planes tanks at the rate of 600 gallons per minute. The main storage tanks, holding 500,000 gallons, are l.ocated about a mile distant, and fuel is pumped to the hydrant points on the apron. An elabor­ate system of pumps ensures that the correct pressure is alHa;)'"S availabl.e.

SHANNON CATERS TO ~vING TRAFFIC

THE DUTY.fREE SHOP IS IMPORTANT AS A SHOP· WINDOW FOR IRISH PRODUCTS AI.. THOUGH ITEMS SUCH AS fRENCH PERfUMES ARE ALSO MARKETED

Yearly, the ll1lI1lher of planesavajljng them- One of the big attractions of Shannon selves of Shannon's facilities increases. In is that in 1947 it was established as the l.954 over 8,000 a:i.rlillers paid the Irish Gov- first customs-free airport in the uorl.d. ernment a quarter of million pounds in land- In spacious warehouses, goods from al.l. ing fees. This is indeed a tribute to Irish over the Horl.d are stored and l.ater trans-industry for a job well done. (Continued on page 237) 234

IRELIND TREATED VISITORS ROYALLY

IN MEMORY OF '!WO E.P.A. MEMBERS

Word has been received by our secretary of the death of two of our IlleJllbers-Mr. C.J. Carmody, .3446 Caton Avenue, BaltlJncre and Mr. Thomas Barmigan, Sr., of Ruther­ford, New Jersey.

Mr. Carmody was active in E.P.A. and a charter member holding membership card #8. Mr. Bannigan, rnembsr iIl75, was the father of our treasurer, Tbomas Bannigan, Jr.

To both families E.P.A. sends its syrn-~.

GOOD-SIZED ISLE OF MAN

Good-sized Isle of Nan and its tiny" sa­telUt!.es lie in the Irish Sea, within easy reach of Ireland, England, Scotland and \-Tales. Here the Manx language, a feam of CeltiC, survives in written fom, alo \l1th assorted wee folk (a fairy queen's own cup is in the Harue Museum).

All T.P.O.'s are indicated (whether Up or own) except Derry and Portadawn, which is the aDIl type but with ofUces reversed.

GAELIC POSTMARKS FmsT USED IN. 19.30 Gaelic poe tmarks wre first used on the Mull­ar ani Sligo S.C. in 19.30 and at the other

Ir:l.sh offices (except in Northern Ireland) in 9.35 or 19.36.

EXAMPLES OF T.P.O. OAN:lELIATI01!IS

235

IRISH FIRST FLIGHT COVERS

The Classic Firsts Do Not Malm a Long List.

by Perry Acialtls, E.P .A. #84

As otten when writing ot certain phases of the necessarily somewhat hectic Irish postal canvas, f1a t statements of fact have a way ot returning to haunt the originator. But if we say broadly, that practically all the classic Irish First Flights ware made before the coming of her special a:Unall stamps, the thought may strike close enough to the mark to stand as fact.

What list of those nClassics" is sufficiently inclusive to rank as a guide, yet select­ive enough to rule out the "unofficial wildcats"? Perhaps no two students of Irish ph:i.l­ateli.: history could be fcund who would agree one hundle d percent. However, by the hard test ot use, the list of these Firsts in the 1952 revision ot the Robson Lowe Encyclop­edia, Vol. I, which makes no claim to completeness, does seem a conrpUatian built along scund lines, to which one may turn with confidence. In following this list for the bem­fit of mE REVEALER readers, it should be borne in mind that nights to Ireland, and many originating at airports not upon Irish soU, which merely touched down in Ireland en r01ltE!, have been omitted. Some carried overprints, some a miscellany of the Irish General Issue, and, from 1929 on, m~ bore the early commemorative issues. There were combinations of these varieties, as well.

A Check-List of the. More Important Irish F'irst Flight Covers.

1924: 2~. Belfast to Liverpool.

1928: 24 Sept. to 4 Oct. Same as above.

1929: 26 Aug. Galway to Croytien (London).

1932: 18 Aug. Dublin to New York-the J.A. Mollison nigh t. The 1/- value of the regular issue was unofficially overprinted ATLANTIC/AIR MAIL/AUGUST!1932. Copies exist cancelled by favor.

1932: 22 Oct. Galway to Berlin via Dublin.

1934: 23 Mar. Special Air Mall edition of the Irish Independent flown from Dublin to Aintree for sale on the race course.

1937: 5 July. Foyms to Botwood. First Imper:lal Airways Flight per "Caledonia!'

1937: 16 July. Foyms to Botwood. First Pan-Am. return survey flight per "Clipper III."

1938: 4 June. Dublin to Isle of Man by Aer Lingus.

1938: 20 July. Foyms to Montreal to Ne'f York. Experimental "flight per "Mercury.'

19391 30 June. Foynes to Botwood to Shediac to New York by Pan-Am.

1939: 5 Aug. Foyms to Botwood to Montreal to New York by Imperial Airways.

1940: 15 Sept. B.O.A.C. Transatlantic flight by "Clare" ,doth O.A.T. (Overseas

(Continued on page 238) 236

Air Transport) cachet. Mails dispatched by air from Ireland. A war flight.

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,. .. SHANNON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

(Continued from page 234) shipped to various centers without custom formalities. However, it is from the duty­t'ree shops that Shannon has received much of' its fame, making this crossroads of two con­tinents a happy bargain-hunting ground. Irish whiskey at 10/6<1 per bott1e, gin at 8/ 9d, cigarettes at the rate of lOd per pack of tl-lenty are all avaUable to passengers for consumption outside the country". French perfumes are cheaper here than in Paris ,Ger­man cameras cost less than in Berlin, and SWiss watches can be bought at prices below those in the windO\1S of Geneva's RIle du Mont blanc . or Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse. The reason being that the shops buy at special export prices not available for home consumption in the country of origin. In August of 1954 10,500 bottles of' Irish whiskey were taken home by travellers. Apart from this, a wide variety of Irish handicrafts, tlreeds, linens, knitwear, men's 'and women's accessories, toys etc. are on display. These tl10 sliops and the catering department play a big part· in the Irish economy and 1ast year netted one mUllon dollars and a half million in sterling. The girls who work around-the­clock shii'ts, have all been picked for their abUi ty to combine good looks, charm and sales ability.

IT BEGAN AS A SHALL SHOP IN 1942 In 1942 it began as a small shop at the

~-boat base across the river, with a staff of t;relve and never taking more than £5 per ~ in sales. Now the department has a staft' of 400 and daiJ.y saIes amount to al­most £3,000. The latest development at ShanlDl Airport, is a mail order department. Not only is this a big dollar earner far the country", but it is serving as ·a medium of introducing traditional products of Ireland, many of ;rhich are unknown, to the great ma­jority of' Americans who have never been able to visit Ireland. Thirty five thousand cop­ies of a beautifully designed catalog have been sent to addresses all over the United states and Canada. It is hoped that this will eventually mean a $300,000 a year trade.

POST OFFICE IS OPEN DAY AND NIGHT h Post OCfice is the only one in Ireland

that is open day and night. Here one can send hane a card that maybe purchased in one of the shops. Each card ShOl-lS a beauti­.f'ul Bcene of Ireland.

The Bank of Ireland maintains a branch office that remains open until the early hours ot' the morning for full banking busi­ness. Visitors are thus afforded an oppor­tunity to change their currency.

LITTLE EHIGRATION FRON THIS PART OF CLARE OVer a thousand workers keep this great

modern industr;y manned and near~ £700,000 in salaries f'inds it way into local Irish homes ever;y year. The 1ocation of' the air­port in a great rural area between the town of' Ennis, County Clare, and the ancient Oi of Limerick is something of' an economist's dream. viorkers spUled out of the large cities and have set up their homes in the neighborhood. There is little or no emi-gration from this part of' Clare and the riage rate of Limerick reported an upward trend over the past nine years. .

A PLEASURE TO STOP AT SHANNON I have a1ways looke~ forward to the stop

at Shannon Internatiorial. Airport. My first step is to renew acquaintance with IV old friends Pat Quinn and Jerry Fielding, mem­bers of TWA's ground crew. It is like old home lieek when we meet--there never seems time enough to finish our visits. I LEAVING IRELlUID WITH }ITXED E140TIONS

Ever;y tlJne that ~ plane leaves for the good o1d U.S.A., I leave Ireland ldth mixed emotions. It seems that I am saying au re-voir--not goodbye. As I 100k backward through the early morning hours I still see the beacon, slowly turning around atop the airport control tower f'lashing,"Cl3ad Mile Fii.ilte. (The End)

SHANNON AIRPORT OPERATES DAY AND NIGHT 237

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ruSH FIRST FLIGHT COVERS (Continued from page 236)

As already noted, all these flights took place before the advent of Irish airmail stamos, which had fi{.st days of issue as follows:

3d & 6d l.d & 1/-8d & 1/3

First Day First Day First Day

7th AprU 4th AprU

13th Dec.

1948 1949 1954

-HORB ON THIll IRISH SPOON CAmiLLA.TIONS-

Through the courtesy of Mr. Thomas E. Field, President of The Postal History Society and the foremost authority on Irish ph:iJ.ately, an jextention may be made to the list of "Spoon" cancellations which appeared in the Ma;y--Juns issue of THE RE!VEAIER. See Whole Number 27, ~age 219.

Mr. Field has forwarded the results of his studies as t,ell as those of Messrs. R.M. & R.W. Willcocks of East Molesey, Surrey. The

First day cavers franked With these air Messrs. WiJ.lcocks are professionals who spec-values have already begun to advance, and, ialize in "British Adhesives and Postal Hist-like the classics listed, are decidedly warth ory." They have dam conaider~le research buying-ii' and where you can. (End of art.) on "Spoons" in an attempt to clearly define

1m. CBIIDEHS DES~S HEW PERMANENT ISSUE. too period of use of each type of this canee],. lation.

The additional lis tings are: Our European Representative, Mr. Michael O1'fice Type I Type II

G11'fney received word on May 3rd relatiVe to Ballinasloe x Type III

Mr. Ernest Kehr's article in the March~pril Clonmel issue of THE REVEALE:R. The text of Mr. Chilo Dalkey der's letter was received too late for pub- Ennis lication in our last issue. We now give it Killarmy

x x

x x x

to you as received by Mr. Gi1'1'ney. Mallow X· Dail E:l.reann Hullingar x Dublin Oranmore x 3 Ma;y- 1955 Strabane x

Dear Mr. Gii'fney: In l'eply to yenr letter of

AprU 2, I agree with most of what Mr. Kehr says but I want the permanent issue to be i'u.lJ.:y replace d.

Note: Although not clearly defined this 1'igure is probably Type II. (x·)

NEW TYPE OF UNIFORM FOR mISH POSTMAN

I increased the publicity After Sept.lst a new type of unii'orm will for ,thespeciaJ. issues but I was waiting for be issued to postmen in the republic. It ,the new permanent issue to make special pub- Will be made from a makrial of better finish licity plans. Many of the designs are in- and appearance than here-to-fore. The coat nuanced by late English victorian art fash- Will be a close fitting garment With a vent ions. For example the arch of the map stanp in the back and will be fitted ldth a waist is neither an arch nor a design. The prov- belt, chromium-plated buckle and chromium­inces stamp has a mass of invisible floral plated buttons. A welted top pocket Will be decoration. fitted on the left side of the coat which

Yours faithfully, Will lave two bottom pockets and Will be pi~ signed ErsJd.ne Childers. (T.D.) on the collar and lapels only. The waistcoat

BEIFAST GIVES PRISONERS STJ!ItER VACATIONS

The prison administrations of Ballast and Armagh jails are giv.l.ng prisoners S'Ol1ll1Ier vacations this year.

Prison authorities revealed that seven­day paroles are being given prisoners who have served 12 or more months of tems of three years or more. ~Jith a record of good Ibehavior.

The plan is an extent ion of a program under which good conduct prisomrs are per­mitted to go home for Chrisi211as. They have all re turned in the past the re cord shows. 238

Will be of slightly altered design and will be fitted with black buttons. There will be no change in the cut of the trousers.

The cap will have a oemi-stiff crown, bev­elled edge and without wires or springS.

ANGUJ-IR]sH AIR CAR FERRY PLANNED

Preliminary plans for a car ferry service between British ports and Dublin have been canpleted by Silver City AirWays, the British concern. Final plans wUl be linda after the Anglo-Irish air taJ.ks ~Thich h!J.ve been carried on for months between the two governments.

Service is now in operation in Northern Ireland, between Bellast and London.

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APPLICANTS ADMITTED TO E.P.A. MEMBERSHIP No. 251 Redford H. Dibble

No.

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•

108

188

247

630 Auburn Avenue Tulare, California

CHANGES OF ADDRF.SS

W. n. Flemming 5128 Oliver Avenue, South Minneapolis 19, Minnesota Robert Rase 820 West 9th Street Corona, Cal:!.1'ornia Capt. Thomas I. Clunn:I.ng 3rd. AAA-JUi8R (Sp) Camp lejuene North Carolina

SCOTTISH PIPERS TO GATHER IN WNDON

A clan gathering consisting of the cream 0

Scotland's pipers and dancers, and a briJll­ant pageant in historic London, are two of the events listed among many fall attract­ions announced by the British Travel Associ­ation ••

the October-November issue of THE REVEALER. Resul.ts to date indicate that the follow.Lng have been e~ected: President-Mr. MaJ.coJJn G. O'Reilly, Treasurer-Mr. Robert Gray, and Mr. George) Stevens for Secretary.

The candidate for Vice President and the members of the Board of Directors has not been ascertained as we are going to press.

Our European Representative, Mr. Michael P. Gif£ney, has been active~ promoting the interests of E.P.A. on the continent as well

The name of E.P.A. has become " known to the public press and to the matIiY ph:iJ.atelic organ­izations throughout Europe. It has been through his 6£­forts that we are now listed with the 1eading stamp socie­ties and "trade organizationS" in Europe.

Michael has recruited mem­distant lands as Australia and

Africa. We or E.P.A. feel that we :!.ncleed owe him a debt of gratitude.

A sea of purple heather, golden bracken fresh green tur:r proVide the setting for the Royal Braemar Gathering, September 8th, at Braemer, Scotland. Dressed in glowing tar-tan, cJ.ansmen will eanpete in sword-dancing iHHlCLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGII** and tests of strength and endurance called RATES----MINIMUM RATE-----J.O WORDS----$.35 •• highland games, said to date back to the DITIONAL HORDS @ $.04 PER WORD .......... .. reign of King MalcoJJn of Scotland (1040) who DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES GIVEN ON UEST staged s:Uni1ar contests to test the fitness -FOR SALE-5TAHPS AND COVERS-of his warriors. FOR SELECT MATERIAL AND BETTER IRISH STAMPS

It is expected that Queen Elizabeth will Write Perry Adams, Port Hurray, R.D., N.J. review the march past the re"F.i.ew.Lng stand that a crowd of more than 40,000 will w:!.tnes St. Patrick's day covers posted in Irel3nd the event. may be secured by writing Irish Cachet CO'\leI'S FOREIGN INDUSTRY IN IRELAND WORRlES BRITAIN 947 East 32nd Street, Brooklyn 10, New York. - -

The announcement that the Irish Government E.P.A. Labels--40¢ per 100 or 300 for $1.00. will welcome the establishment of German and Back copies of The Revealer ••• 35¢ per eqIY. other foreign industrial interests in Irel Gaelic-English Town Cance11ation Listing--A has given the British manuf'acturers food for l:i.m:!.ted supp~ on haIJd--$l.5o each--Wh:!.le thought. " the supn~ lasts.

These foreign industrialists, locating in Map of Ireland--small supp~--only OlE to a Ireland, could behefit by "the Imperial Pre- member. Send 10¢ in coin to cover handJ.ing. ference System-a possibility which has been All above miscellaneous items ~ be obtain­described in the London Press as a "backdoor ed by writing to Secretary Clark at 947 E. threat" to British Industries. 32nd Street, Brooklyn 10 New York.

A Board of Trade spokesman is reported to have stated that, under their trade pact, Ireland could export goods duty-free to Bri­tain and that Britain had no polrer to pre­vent Ireland's seeking capital investments

" rom abroad.

E.P.A. ELECTION RESULTS

E.P.A. election results will appear in

'Cite Spil1l1il1ff qalteei SO CZ,{pper ~eor"e'6 Street

':DUM £aoCiJhaire eo. ':Dubll ..

The Irish Souvenir you have searched (or I TWEEDS, RUGS, STOLES, SCARVES, TIES

239

BRITISH & IRISH STEAM PACKET CO., LTD.

R.. D. HEAR.D, GENERAL MANAGER, 8. & I.

~ (~

t OUR PRESENT standards of living are only rendered possible by the miracle of modern tr:lI1sp,or,t, i~ f~c t the. transport of a .c~ur,ltry may be deemed to be a f:1!r ITldlcatlon of Its degree of ciVilisation. Transport is no mushroom growth, however, and though for millenia, the pa~tcrn remained unchanging-sailing vessels and pack ammais-SITlCC the Industrial Revolution improvement on improve lllent ha~ followed in rapid successio n. It would appear that the mo re and ben er the-facilities that arc offered. the greater the demand.

Ireland is indeed fortunate in that its transport is abreast oftoday's requirementS and that it can thereby not only maintain a high standard for its population and suppl y the needs of co mmerce, but it is able to offer the visitor an unequalled standard of comfort (or the jo urney in and out.

The British & Irish Stea m Packet Co., Ltd., has a history dating back to sail and to the earliest steamers. Although they have records of steamers used in 181 5 and 1826, it was only in 18)6 that in present name became firmly identified with its trade. The Company's present-day prc~mincncc is based. therefore, on a tradition of service to the public over many years.

Since the war the Company has spent nearly three million pounds on three new Passenger vessels. Such an expenditure caUs not only (or courage, but faith in the (uture, a faith which is being justified. In formulating their plans (or Beet replacements the B. & 1. Line has had to bear in blind the suiubility of vessels fae man y different types o(trade, Passcnger, Cargo of various types and catde. Today's traveller expects quite rightly a standard of comfort and equipment of the highest order to be at his disposal. To mention :I few of the many :lnd varied ways in which his needs arc catered for :-

Overnight travel with luxurious single and double cabins enables the traveller to start his visit fresh and without loss of v,1luable time.

The Company's own 800 odd acre farm at Carrollstown pro­vides at all times fresh ag ricultural and dairy produce of the hi ghest quality.

Wireless telephone enables the passenger to speak during the voyage to any subscriber in Great Dritain or Ireland, It is by numerous insta nces such as these that the B. &- I. has

established its name for comfort, cuisine and weU being amongst the travelling public.

AT YOUR SERVICE . ..

BRITISH & IRISH STEAM PACKET CO.,LTD.! CITY OF CORK STEAM PACKET CO"LTD. 16, WESTMORELAND STREET, DUBLIN , 112, PATRICK STREET, {ORK

it t' I

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