Richard Crosbie was the first Irishman to make a manned flight. He flew in a hydrogen air balloon from Ranelagh, on Dublin's southside to Clontarf, on Dublin's northside in 1785.

Crosbie was from Crosbie Park, near Baltinglass, County Wicklow. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin.

Crosbie launched several balloons containing animals before attempting the first human flight on Irish soil. One of which, containing a cat, was seen passing over the west coast of Scotland, before descending near the Isle of Man. The cat and the balloon were both rescued by a passing ship.

References

• Rice, Eoghan (2006-12-17). First Irishman to take to the skies to be honoured. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
• Irish Ballooning Association

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