Flying Fitz 1928
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Flying Fitz 1928
@flyingfitz1928.bsky.social
A personal tribute to a great Irish aviator, Colonel James C. Fitzmaurice and the "Bremen" flight of 1928.
Some information on his life here: web.archive.org/web/20151204...
1965-Death of Aviator Col James Fitzmaurice | Halla Mór
web.archive.org
February 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
In April 2023, and again in 2024, a public wreath laying ceremony was held in Portlaoise to remember the flight in April 1928. The wreath was laid at the "Bremen" memorial in Fitzmaurice Square. ✈️ 97
January 26, 2025 at 7:37 PM
As part of Heritage Week 2022, an American flag that had been brought back to Ireland by Fitz after the flight, and bequeathed to the benefactor, was donated to Laois County Archive. The well attended event was another opportunity to remember the aviator with some philatelic ephemera. ✈️ 97
January 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM

In 2022 Laois County Council awarded a Civic Reception to Teddy Fennelly, chairman of the The Col. James Fitzmaurice Commemorative Society, and author (in 1998) of the Fitzmaurice biography "Fitz and the famous flight". 97 ✈️
January 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Portlaoise, known as Maryborough in Fitz's time, has developed a great affinity for its long lost son, and has in recent years held numerous events in his honour. In 2021 Martin Tourish composed an orchestral piece to honour the flight, and a Festival of Flight was held in 2022. ✈️97
January 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Until he was 16, James Fitzmaurice attended school in Portlaoise. It was during his time at St. Mary's Christian Brothers School that he met the Aldritt brothers and it was they who introduced him to flying. Aldritts' Monoplane is now back in Portlaoise and undergoing conservation.
January 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
At the age of four, James and his family moved to Maryborough, now Portlaoise, when his father got a new job as a warder in the prison there. Bord Fáilte erected this plaque on the wall of Paddock National School in Portlaoise, to remember his early education there.
January 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
James C. Fitzmaurice was born in Dublin on 6 January 1898. His parents Michael Fitzmaurice and Mary Agnes (O'Riordan) lived at 35 Mountjoy Cottages on Dublin's North Circular Road. A plaque, erected by Dublin & East Tourism, stands at the spot once occupied by the cottage.
January 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM