Lady Bailey aka The Hon. Mary Westenra (1890 – 1960) was the first woman to fly across the Irish Sea and one of the best-known aviators of her time.
Born at Rossmore Castle (just outside Monaghan town) she spent most of her childhood in Ireland until she ran away in 1906 to volunteer as an aviation mechanic. She started a sporting career as soon as she was awarded her pilot's licence.
On 5 July 1927, she set a world record for flying to a height of 17,283 ft (5,268 m) in a light aircraft. In 1929 she won Britannia Trophy. Lady Mary Bailey was also able to use her talents for aviation to take aerial photographs of important archaeological sites such as the Kharga Oasis project in Egypt in 1931.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Dec 1890 | |
| Date of Death | 29th Jul 1960 | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mittie Naylor | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Derrick Westenra, 5th Baron Rossmore (1853-1921) | |
| Townland born | Rossmore | |
| Names of Siblings | ||
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Sir Abraham "Abe" Bailey m.1911 | |
| Names of Children | Mittie Mary Starr Bailey (1913 – 1961) | Sir Derrick Thomas Louis Bailey, 3rd Bt (1918 – 2009) | Ann Hester Zia Bailey (1918 – 1979) | James Richard Abe Bailey (1919-2000) | Noreen Helen Rosemary Bailey (b. 1921) | |
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