The Irish Airmail Society was founded in 1989, following interest in Irish airmails shown by several philatelists, some resident in Ireland and others in Great Britain, Switzerland, Canada and USA. The Society had over 30 members within its first year. Coincidentally, it was formed in the year of the 50th Anniversary of the first regular passenger and airmail service across the North Atlantic to Foynes. The current membership stands around 50 members.
The main objectives of the Society are to study Irish Airmails in all its aspects, Early Flights, Rates, Routes, Recent Irish Flights, Aerogrammes, Airmail Stamps and Etiquettes, etc.
The Society publishes a bulletin, O.E.78., named after the Airmail etiquette identification number. The bulletin contains very varied information and articles about airmails. Material determines its frequency, though the intention is to publish two issues per year.
The first substantial publication was the 1st edition of Irish Crash Airmails, by Ronny Vogt that detailed all known Irish related mail carrying crashes. In 1998 Ronny produced a substantially expanded and updated 2nd edition. It is over four times the size of the original: a very high quality publication with many fine illustrations. It is one of the best value philatelic publications ever and it too is entitled Irish Crash Airmails.
In June 1996 we produced our second book, Irish Airmails 1919-1990 by Bill Murphy, a joint publication with the Éire Philatelic Association. This extensive reference work gives details of all known mail-carrying flights to and from Ireland.
The Society is a Patron Founder of the Foynes Flying Boat Museum which entitles members to lifetime free entrance to the Museum and also access to its archives. It is also a member of the FPSI, Federation of Philatelic Societies of Ireland and FISA, the International Federation of Aerophilatelic Societies.
