Through his vision determination and dedication Monsignor James Horan accomplished many great achievements. In 1944 Fr Horan was appointed curate in Tooreen and built the famous Tooreen Hall Ballroom of Romance. Later he developed Knock Shrine and Knock Airport both which are only 15 minutes from Ave Maria Nursing Home.
While stationed at Knock, Horan oversaw the building of a new church for Knock Shrine, which was dedicated in 1976. The shrine was the stated goal of Pope John Paul II‘s visit in 1979. The pope travelled to Knock as part of a state visit to Ireland, marking the centenary of the famous Knock apparitions. Horan worked with Judy Coyne to organise the papal visit. He was responsible for the refurbishment of the church grounds, along with the construction of a huge church, with a capacity of 15,000. This newly constructed church was given the status of basilica by the pope.
Critics regarded the idea of an airport on a “foggy, boggy site” in Mayo as unrealistic, but funding was approved by then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, who performed the official opening in May 1986, five years after work commenced. Although Horan had secured IR£10,000,000 in funding from Haughey, following the Fianna Fáil party’s defeat in the general election of 1982, his funding was cut, with the airport unfinished. Horan raised the IR £4,000,000 shortfall by holding a “Jumbo Draw”. This large lottery succeeded in raising the required revenue, but only after a painstaking tour of several countries, including Australia and the United States. This took its toll on the ageing Horan and led to his death shortly after the completion of the airport. The airport was originally known as Horan International Airport, but is now officially referred to as Ireland West Airport Knock.