Residents of Portmarnock in north Co Dublin are preparing to celebrate "Portmarnock Day" tomorrow. They will be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first east-west transatlantic flight, which took off from the Velvet Strand in Portmarnock.
On June 24th, 1930, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, an Australian, flew his aircraft, the Southern Cross, from the Velvet Strand to Newfoundland in Canada. He continued on to Oakland, California, completing the first circumnavigation of the globe by aircraft.
Several years later his aircraft, the Lady Southern Cross, disappeared somewhere off the coast of Burma on another marathon flight.
As part of Saturday's commemoration there is to be a three-way telephone link-up between Portmarnock, Brisbane and Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. This is to take place at 4.25 a.m. the exact time that Charles Kingsford-Smith began his flight. At 3 p.m. a plaque will be unveiled at the site.
Kingsford-Smith also founded Australian National Airways, the world's first commercial airline. Sydney international airport bears his name.
The flight from Portmarnock created much excitement at the time, says a local resident, Ms Alison Sexton, herself an Australian.
"Thousands of people camped in the sand dunes overnight and farewelled him."
Ms Sexton says Charles Kingsford-Smith is a very significant figure in Australian history. "He is as famous as Ned Kelly. For many years he appeared on the Australian $20 bill." she said.
"I was walking along Portmarnock beach and I saw a faded plaque saying something about the Southern Cross. I mentioned it to the Australian ambassador, and he agreed that we should do something to commemorate the event."
The Irish Ambassador to Australia, Mr Richard O'Brien, and the leas-cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council, Ms Sheila Terry, are to take part in the commemoration. Irish Australians in Perth, Western Australia, and Bendigo in Victoria are also hosting aviation events to celebrate Portmarnock Day.
After a competition, a sculpture to mark the event is currently under construction and is due to be unveiled next year.