Media

The IAA is delighted to have secured a prestigious award jointly with Carr Communications in recognition of the promotional work carried out for “FlightFest: The Aviation Gathering” at the 2014 PR Awards for Excellence.

There were 136 entries for this year’s awards with 65 entries making the shortlist. A total of 19 awards were presented by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to a range of public relations consultancy firms, companies, state bodies, and NGOs. FlightFest was recognised by the Judges  as the “Best Event” and was deemed to have been a tactical, integrated, multi-layered communications approach. The judges commended the professional, high impact event in terms of the branding and positioning which was created for the event organisers, and for its amazing success in reaching its target audiences.

'FlightFest: The Irish Aviation Gathering’ was led by the IAA in very close cooperation with Dublin City Council, with superb support from An Garda Síochána. It was the largest free public event of The Gathering Ireland 2013 and successfully took place on the 15th September 2013. FlightFest was a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime international fly-past involving more than 35 aircraft flying at low level following the path of the Liffey right through the centre of Dublin.  

Speaking about the Award, Donal Handley, Head of Corporate Affairs at the IAA said, “We set about a goal to celebrate Ireland’s contribution to the global aviation industry and raise public awareness. Along with our partners, we delivered FlightFest in less than six months and, as this was a one-off event, getting the message out there to the general public presented a huge undertaking. We worked closely with Carr Communications and fortunately we did succeed in meeting our PR goals. We are really delighted with this recognition and grateful to the Public Relations Consultants Association, the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and the judging panel. FlightFest brought the Irish aviation industry together for one day and was watched by over 150,000 spectators who enjoyed the unique event and generated over €11m for the local economy. It was a tremendous result all round.”

See details of FlightFest at 1.07 in the video above from the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presenting the ‘Best Event’ Award for FlightFest to the Irish Aviation Authority and Carr Communications at the 2014 PR Awards for Excellence at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Pictured (l-r): An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Judith Kieran, Account Director, Carr Communications, Donal Handley, Head of Corporate Affairs, Irish Aviation Authority, Nigel Heneghan, Chairperson, Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). 

Pictured (l-r): Judith Kieran (Carr Communications), Dave Curtin (Carr Communications), Peter Kearney, Director ATM Operations and Strategy (IAA), Deirdre Forrest (IAA), Donal Handley, Head of Corporate Affairs (IAA) and Donal Cronin, Director (Carr Communications).