When, the other day, I was asked the question: "Who first crossed the Irish Sea by air?" I was confident that I was giving the correct answer when I said "Loraine, in 1910." I was wrong, however. Loraine failed when he tumbled into the sea within 200 yards of Howth Head, and an acquaintance who ventured "Hewitt" also was wrong.
It is 18 years since Vivian Hewitt made his flight from Wales to Dublin. He, as our informant told us - and I have since verified it - was just 95 years too late to be accorded the honour of having made the first crossing by air.
The first aeronautical voyage across the Irish Sea was from Dublin to Anglesea, and this was made by Mr William Sadler, in 1817.
During the century that preceded the advent of 'planes ballooning was quite a usual spectacle in Dublin. There were, indeed, frequent ascents at the Ranelagh and Portobello Gardens - then places of public amusement - the first ascent being made at the latter place in 1785.
The Irish Times, October 21st, 1930.