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Now 67, after more than half a century building
what he believes is the world's largest private collection of
model aircraft, he has donated the lot to Shannon Airport, where
his lifelong passion for aviation began.
"I always used to love the noise of the aircraft going over my
house in Limerick city and I was very curious," Kelly said after
cutting the ribbon on the airport's new aviation gallery which
now houses his collection in rows of display cases.
"When I made my first holy communion I asked my mum and dad to
take me to Shannon airport. So I got to see the beautiful
aircraft and from that day on I was hooked."
While he would have loved the opportunity to have become a
pilot, sourcing rare model aircraft still took the Limerick man
around the world. None of his 2,300 planes were produced in
Ireland.
A friend said Kelly has spent 10,000 euros ($12,000) a year
amassing the record haul.
The collector's favorite? A Boeing KC Tanker, one of only 10
made around the world.
Living alone in his renovated farmhouse, Kelly said there were
exhibitors on the other side of the world "that would do
anything" to have the collection. Instead, he donated it closer
to home.
"I think it's testament to the work he's done over the last 60
years and we are delighted that he has entrusted us to look
after it for the next 100-years plus," said Niall Maloney,
operations director at Shannon Airport.
($1 = 0.8499 euros)
(Writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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