WATCH: Galway boy with cancer flies high over Shannon during air display

One young aircraft enthusiast from Galway was on cloud nine during the Shannon Air Display yesterday.

11-year-old schoolboy Stephen Reilly, who is bravely battling aggressive bone cancer, got an amazing experience over the weekend as he was lifted high into the skies overhead 40,000 people at the Shannon Air Display, during what he described as "the best day ever".

Stephen, from Eyrecourt, Co. Galway, was treated like a VIP throughout Saturday’s air show. He has bravely battled osteosarcoma since he was six and has had his right leg amputated.

His parents wrote to Shannon Airport last week ahead of yesterday’s hugely successful air display asking if there was any possibility he could get a helicopter ride.

Yesterday afternoon he got his wish as the ecstatic schoolboy was given a birds eye view of the vast airfield and the huge crowds before the action in the stunning five hour show began.

“It was the best day ever," Stephen said. "I didn’t think an air show could be such fun. The helicopter ride was fantastic. Just to see everything from way up there was great.”

He was accompanied on the Galway-based Executive Helicopter by his father Michael, mother Nora and brother Daniel.

“It’s just an incredible day for us," says Stephen's father Michael. "He has been through an awful lot over the past six years, more than you could imagine.

"He has undergone chemotherapy and leg salvage surgery. He then had his leg amputated in 2013 but he has been unbelievably brave. He has just gotten on with it.

“So when we heard about the Shannon Air Display in local media we just took a chance and emailed the people here at the airport and they arranged what has been an incredible day for Stephen and for all of us.

“The helicopter trip was the highlight. Just to see the smile on his face as we sat in and got up in the sky. It was great that Daniel got to come also. Moments like that just give you back so much.

“He also loved the tank display and other army stuff. There was just so much to see and do that it wasn’t possible to get everything in.

“But it was just great to be able to sit there and know he was having such a fantastic day after all he has been through.”

The show was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the first commercial transatlantic flight to Shannon.

Shannon Airport Operations Director Niall Maloney said that everyone at Shannon has been inspired by Stephen’s story. “He’s such a brave young man. We got the email from his family during the week and it was one of those moments when we said this just has to happen.

“Executive Helicopters rowed in and we’ve had one of the most magical moments we could have hoped for at the Air Display.

“We had over 40,000 people attend but there was no one more special on the day than Stephen.”

In addition to the air display, complete with aerobatics performers, parachutists, helicopters, het fighters and stunt fliers, attendees had plenty of field entertainment in the spectator zone, including 20 separate children’s attractions, 25 food operators, music entertainment.