A BALLOON LAUNCH was held in Ranelagh Gardens to mark the
225th Anniversary of Irelandʼs first hot air ascent by a Mr Richard
Crosbie from the same spot on January 19th 1785, when the intrepid
Crosbie crossed Dublin, landing in Clontarf. He really was a pioneer
of ballooning, making his first manned ascent just two years after
the famous Montgolfier Brothers. Crosbie launched several balloons
containing animals before attempting the first human flight on Irish
soil.

One of these, 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.

On this occasion however, the current adverse weather conditions
prevented this balloon from taking flight.