Ruth Hallinan

Ruth Hallinan: Pioneering Female Pilot in Munster

Every so often, the museum receives a donation that brings forgotten eras of Cork’s history to light. In early 2024, two objects were acquired that introduced us to Ruth Hallinan and her ground breaking achievements as the first qualified female pilot in Munster.

The items include an Art Nouveau-style silver trophy depicting a winged female figure on a globe made of Connemara marble, and a personalized silver cigarette case. The 36 cm-high trophy, weighing 5kg, was created in 1934 by the Chancellor of Dublin and later engraved by silversmith Edmund Johnson in 1936. The engraving shows the trophy was awarded by the Irish Hospitals Trust Ltd, with Hallinan being the first recipient in 1935. The cigarette case, crafted by Adie Brothers Ltd in Birmingham in 1934, is engraved “R F Hallinan, Fermoy Co. Cork,” with a second engraving simply saying “Ruth,” likely done by Hallinan herself.

Detail of Silver Trophy, won by Hallinan

Early Life and Inspiration

Ruth Hallinan was born in 1901 in Glandalane House, near Fermoy, Co. Cork. Her family had been involved in the milling industry for generations. Ruth contracted polio as a child, leaving her with a limp, but this didn’t prevent her from living an active life. Her interest in aviation stemmed from two key influences: her cousin, Charles Hallinan, a pilot in World War I, and the proximity of the Fermoy Aerodrome, which was used by the RAF and Irish National Army during the Irish Civil War.

The Start of a Flying Career

Ruth’s aviation journey began in 1934, when she became a founding member of the Cork Aero Club after a meeting at the Imperial Hotel. The club initially had no aircraft, so they borrowed a Gipsy Moth (EI-AAR) from the Irish Aero Club. Ruth’s training began in earnest on May 29, 1934, with her first instructional flight costing £1 2s. Less than two months later, Ruth made her first solo flight. By the end of the year, she became the first female pilot in Munster and the second in the Irish Free State to earn her ‘A’ Licence, following Jean ‘Shamrock’ Trench.

Ruth and fellow Cork Aero Club member, George Pennefeather, later purchased a de Havilland Gipsy Moth (EI-ABA). Between 1934 and 1938, Ruth undertook several journeys across Ireland, participated in airshows, and was involved in multiple non-fatal crashes. One of the most notable incidents occurred in July 1935 when she crashed her plane after striking an escaped sheep at Fermoy Aerodrome.

Major Achievements and Challenges

In 1935, Ruth won the Arrival Competition on Irish Aviation Day at Phoenix Park, Dublin, in front of 70,000 people. She was awarded the trophy now in the museum’s collection. Ruth also developed an interest in motor racing, winning the 1938 Leinster Veteran Car Run. Although she ‘retired’ from flying in 1938, she maintained her interest in aviation and mechanical work, often fixing her own plane due to the lack of trained mechanics.

During World War II, Ruth constructed a donkey-drawn vehicle, nicknamed the “Blitz Buggy,” from old airplane parts to navigate petrol shortages.

Later Life and Legacy

In the 1950s and 60s, Ruth opened her home to children with disabilities, offering them holidays between April and August. She continued this work for many years, motivated by her own experience with polio. Ruth passed away in 1987 at the age of 86.

At Cork Public Museum, we are proud to house mementos from Ruth Hallinan’s life, a woman who not only pioneered aviation in the south of Ireland but also inspired future generations. As a founding member of the Cork Aero Club, she contributed to the popularization of aviation in the region, paving the way for the opening of Cork Airport in 1961, located near the club’s original site.

Further Reading:
For those interested in learning more about other female pilots of Ruth’s time and the early history of aviation in Ireland, we recommend Michael Traynor's Petticoat Pilots – Biographies and Achievements of Irish Female Aviators 1909-1939.

The museum would like to extend its gratitude to the Weldon Family for generously donating the objects associated with Ruth Hallinan. The trophy, which was won by William Weldon in 1936, remained in the family until it was handed over to Cork Public Museum.

Ruth Hallinan – Munster’s First Female Aviator

Every now and then, the museum receives a donation that sheds light on a long-forgotten era of Cork’s history, bringing to our attention the amazing achievements of an individual or group no longer part of the public consciousness. In early 2024, the museum acquired two objects that brought us into the world of Ruth Hallinan and her pioneering efforts in becoming the first qualified female pilot in Munster.

These items include the stunning Art Nouveau-style silver trophy depicting a winged female figure with outstretched arms positioned on a globe set on Connemara marble. The second item is a personalised silver cigarette case. The trophy measures 36cms in height and weights about 5kg. The trophy itself was made in 1934 by Chancellor of Dublin, who traded from Grafton Street. The silver engraved band that can be seen at the base of the statue was a latter addition, having been made by silversmith Edmund Johnson in 1936. We learn from the engraving on the band that the trophy was presented by the Irish Hospitals Trust Ltd and only ever had two recipients, Ruth Hallinan in 1935 and William Weldon of the Irish Aero Club in 1936. The cigarette case was made in 1934 by the firm, Adie Brothers Ltd who were based in Birmingham. On one side of the interior of the case is engraved R F Hallinan Fermoy Co. Cork, no doubt done by a professional, while on the other side is, perhaps done by Ruth herself, is simply engraved Ruth.

So, who is Ruth Hallinan?

Ruth’s family had a long history in the Irish milling industry, dating back to the early 19^th century. Ruth’s grandfather, Timothy, had owned several mills in Munster before purchasing Clondulane Flour Mill, near Fermoy, Co. Cork, in 1863. The mill was attached to a large residential property known as Glandalane House, and it was here that Ruth was born to parents, Joseph and Muriel Hallinan (nee Bell) in 1901. Ruth had three siblings but tragically her brother Donough died in 1911, aged just 11. Ruth herself would contract polio as a young child, leaving her lame in one foot for the rest of her life. However, she never let this hold her back as she led a full and active life. This is clearly highlighted by the enthusiastic way she took to flying, despite how dangerous aviation was, or the fact it was an activity not traditionally practiced by women.

So, what made Ruth Hallinan so interested in aviation? It seems there were two contributary factors behind her passion. The first was that her younger cousin, Charles Hallinan was a pilot with the Royal Naval Air Service during the Great War, later made a Captain in the RAF. His experiences were no doubt a source of inspiration for the young wannabe aviator. Another influence on Ruth’s flying career was the fact she grew up very near to the Fermoy Aerodrome. As a teenager, Ruth would have witnessed plenty of aviation activity, especially as the Aerodrome was first used by the RAF and later by the Irish National Army during the Irish Civil War.

Ruth’s flying career literally took off in 1934 when, following a public meeting at the Imperial Hotel on April 28^th, she became a founding member of the Cork Aero Club. The Fermoy Aerodrome was the closest available airfield to Cork City. Though there was an airfield in Ballincollig at the time, it was officially licenced. However, the Fermoy Aerodrome was little more than an unlevelled field, half of which was given over to a golf course, complete with grazing sheep to keep the grass trimmed. Later that year, the club was gifted a field near Rathnacullig, Farmers Cross, on the outskirts of Cork City to use as a landing strip. The Cork Aero Club also had no aircrafts available to them and needed to borrow a plane (Gipsy Moth EI-AAR) from the Irish Aero Club so they could begin pilot training, chartered flights and joyrides for members. Typically, an Aero Club had flying and ground members, whose annual subscriptions would fund instructors and other necessary facilities.

Ruth began her training in earnest, taking her first instructional flight on May 29^th. It was a thirty-minute trip beginning at 12.30pm and cost £1 2s. She took another flight on the same day at 3pm and would attempt to fly daily when possible. Less than two months after her first flight, Ruth made her first solo effort. Soon after, Ruth became the first female pilot in Munster, and the second in the Irish Free State, to earn her ‘A’ Licence. The first was a pilot named Jean ‘Shamrock’ Trench. Ruth purchased a de Havilland Gipsy 60.G Moth, EI-ABA, with her fellow qualified Cork Aero Club member, George Pennefeather. Ruth would log an impressive amount of flying hours between 1934 and 1938 when she finally decided to sell her plane and retire from piloting. In these four years, she undertook some impressive journeys across Ireland and attended numerous airshows and events. She was also involved in several non-fatal crashes, including one occasion in July 1935, when as she attempted to land her plane at Fermoy, she struck an escaped sheep, flipping the aircraft upside down.

Her biggest achievement in an aircraft came on Irish Aviation Day in 1935 when she won the Arrival Competition in front of 70,000 people at the Phoneix Park, Dublin, for which she was awarded the trophy now in the museum’s collection. She also developed a taste for motor racing, taking part in several races and even winning the 1938 Leinster Veteran Car Run that went from Donnybrook to Dun Laoghaire. Though Ruth ‘retired’ from flying in 1938 she never lost her interest in aviation and displayed a knack for all things mechanical. When she was a pilot, she was often required to fix her own plane due to the lack of suitably trained mechanics. During the Emergency, she built a donkey-drawn, nicknamed the ‘Blitz Buggy’ buggy out of old airplane parts which she used to get around, especially with scarcity of petrol.

During the 1950s and 60s, Ruth opened her home to 24 children with disabilities (6 per month between April and August) and continued to do so for many years after. Her own experiences with polio had given her great understanding and sympathy for the children and she spared no effort in ensuring they enjoyed their ‘holiday’ with her. Ruth died aged 86 in 1987.

At Cork Public Museum, we are thrilled to have such important mementos from the life of a fascinating and inspirational woman. As a founding member of the Cork Aero Club, she and her fellow enthusiasts helped popularise aviation in the south of Ireland, paving the way for the eventual opening of Cork Airport in 1961on a site located across the road from the original home of the Cork Aero Club.