Irishman donates world's largest model aircraft collection
A man looks at part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, as it is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - When Irishman Michael Kelly was a boy, he loved nothing more than gazing at planes taking off and landing at his nearest airport.
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.
Michael Kelly poses for a photograph as the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by him, goes on display at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
"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 model of the Queen of England's former private aircraft is seen as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, as it is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
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.
The world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
"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)
The world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
(Writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
The world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA 1957 Aer Lingus route map is seen on display as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneMichael Kelly poses for a photograph as the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by him, goes on display at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA British Royal Navy helicopter model is displayed as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA old Irish International Airlines plane is displayed as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA British Airways plane is displayed as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA model of a NASA space shuttle hangs among the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft owned by Michael Kelly unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA Shannon airport guestbook is displayed alongside the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA model of an old American Airlines plane is seen as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA KC Tankard US Airforce army model plane made by Skyline, one of 10 in existence, is displayed as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft owned by Michael Kelly is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneModel pilots are seen in a model plane as part of the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft, owned by Michael Kelly, unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneMichael Kelly holds a Lockheed Martin Tristar 500, an Aer Lingus model aircraft that is part of his collection, the world's largest, of diecast model aircraft unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneA model of a British Airways plane hangs among the world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft owned by Michael Kelly unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneMichael Kelly poses for a photograph. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneThe world's largest collection of diecast model aircraft owned by Michael Kelly is unveiled at Shannon airport in Shannon, Ireland, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoynePieces in the collection. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
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