AIRBORNE IN KILDARE: Leinster Gliding Centre takes to the skies near Naas
The Leinster Gliding Centre has been launched outside Naas.
The entity replaces the Dublin Gliding Club, which operated out of a site closed to Punchestown Racecourse and has been in existence since 1952.
The new name reflects the wider role it plays for gliding in Ireland.
The LGC is a centre of excellence in /in Ireland for gliding and is a unique training centre that has long been located in Kildare. It also reflects the role played at regional level.
Minister of State Martin Heydon launched the LGC and was joined by Cllr Fintan Brett, cathaoirleach of Kildare County council.
The club has an interesting history and its founders included two former foes - one being a former Luftwaffe pilot and another an RAF pilot, both having flown through the war. “It is wonderful to know that, following the war, they soared peacefully in Irish skies while being among our club’s founders,” said Trevor McHugh DGC chairman.
Having used various locations, including Baldonnel, for many years, the club moved to its present home of Gowran Grange Airfield, in the 1980s and for historic reasons, retained the name of Dublin Gliding Club despite being firmly located in County Kildare.
“However, the time has come for this to change. Our name needs to reflect our community base, our wider membership and the crucial role that we play in the sport of gliding here in Ireland. We are the centre of expertise for our sport in the Irish republic and are a declared training organisation with the Irish Aviation Authority,” said Mr McHugh.
The IAA was also represented at the event.
Mr McHugh believes this is a crucial step in a redevelopment programme designed to attract more members to participate in the sport, which avails of natural elements to soar great distances just as a sailboat does on the water. Sailing and gliding are very similar sports as they both use the winds to achieve their goal.
“Inclusivity is at the centre of what we do. Our mission as a sporting organisation is to do whatever we can to encourage more people, male and female of whatever age, to participate in this sport and unique aviation skill,” he added.
The centre operates a cadets programme that brought transition year students through a structured programme that included basic flight training and visits to Baldonnel Aerodrome and the Dublin Air Traffic Control Centre.
The LGC was recognised at the national aviation awards scheme in 2019 and a past member from Naas, who learned his basic flying skills there, is training to be a commercial pilot with a leading airline.
It is also involved in outreach initiatives intended to enable more young people to gain access to the world of aviation.
More women are needed to take up the sport so they’re keen to attract more female members and this will be a central focus of a development plan.
“We look forward to the day that one of our female members represents Ireland at world championship level, but to get there we must first train more women to be pilots. We have engaged with Trinity College Dublin who are carrying out a research programme on women’s experience in gliding.
The hope is that this will lead to a woman representing Ireland in the sport at world championship level - as some of our other members have done in the past."
The centre has a fleet of five gliders and two tow planes