Sir, - Among the forgotten women of achievement are the Irish women pioneers in aviation, such as Lilian Dillon, Sophie Pierce and Mary Bailey. Dillon's crowning achievement came in 1938 with her victory in the women's section of the 1,300 mile Egyptian air rally. Bailey became the first woman to pilot herself across the Irish Sea; Pierce made the first solo flight from South Africa to England in 1928.
My husband and I are compiling a book on notable Irish women and are experiencing difficulty in acquiring information on the lives of these women.
May we make use of the columns of your letters page in the hope that any of your readers might be able to assist us. Needless to say. any information received would be gratefully acknowledged in our book. - Yours, etc.,
Atlantic View House,
Lisdoonvarna,
Co Clare.