President Mary McAleese will tonight honour 70 pilots who have recently retired from service in Aer Lingus, among them the Clarewoman who was the airline’s first ever female pilot.
Ennis woman Captain Gráinne Cronin, who now lives in Dublin, retired last May, 33 years after she was the first woman appointed to the role by the airline.
She will receive an award from the President later at a ceremony in Dublin.
