My Life with hot air balloon pilot Mark O’Neill: I got my flying licence shortly after my driving licence

Third-generation balloonist Mark O'Neill reflects on his fondest memories from the sky

Third-generation balloonist Mark O'Neill on a balloon ride with his son Liam, who hopes to follow in his father's footsteps.

In many ways I’m just like any other person going to work every morning. The only difference is that my office is in the sky.

It’s been 24 years since I began working as a commercial hot air balloon pilot for Sundance Balloons in Canada but my experience dates back a lot further than that. My childhood in Cavan never felt unconventional even though it probably was. Some of my earliest memories are of me being out with my mum and grandfather who both flew hot air balloons.

I can remember playing around, sitting on the tanks and getting tipped off them. I don’t think the other kids at school knew too much about it so they didn’t really care. Back, then we didn’t have the digital pictures to show people what we had got up to over the weekend. The ballooning meant I was always with a lot more adults than kids anyway. I’ve been around balloons since I was a kid running around in Lough Key, but I got my licence in 2004.

One of my fondest memories is my first landing with mum. I remember her talking me through it before we touched down at the beautiful Markree Castle in Sligo. I was probably around 16 or 17 at the time. As a third-generation balloonist I must have got my flying licence shortly after learning to drive a car.

My first real job was as a mechanic. I wouldn’t say it went it hand and hand with the ballooning but my skills did come in handy if repairs ever needed to be carried out on the chase cars or vehicles.

After moving abroad I spotted an ad for a job in Sundance Balloons in Canada. Back then I didn’t have a lot of experience but I knew this was something I really wanted to do. I was delighted to get the role. At 43 years old, and entering my 21st season, I continue to love what I do.

Mark O'Neill after delivering a letter to his mother Carol (right). He had been tasked with the challenge while competing in a hot air balloon event.

The most passengers I can have on board at a time is 12. In a lot of cases you are giving people a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing that joy on people’s faces is truly amazing. It leaves you with that feeling that you have given someone a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We get a lot of bucket lists. Unfortunately, we come across people for whom a balloon ride is their last wish. There are a lot of people coming to us for proposals and birthdays too. The proposals in particular can be tricky because you are trying to fly and secure a video of them proposing in the air.

Luckily, I haven’t experienced any hairy moments. Sometimes we fly in places where it’s quite hot. If the heat gets too much and the passenger faints we will land the balloon and get them into the van where the air conditioning is on. This happens from time to time but it’s really just part and parcel of what I do. All you can do is land safely where you can. You don’t do anything crazy because you’re not going to risk it to get them down super quick. It might mean coming down a little early or just dropping the person off and leaving with the crew so the flight can continue.

There are lots of aspects to what I do. For example, I recently took part in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiest. This is the world’s largest hot-air balloon festival which is held annually in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was doing passenger rides. This is an amazing event to be a part of because there are 600 balloons and 700 pilots in total.

Flying is something I’m very passionate about, whether I’m just flying solo or with my family. My own two kids had a similar childhood to mine. This is my full-time career now, so that’s all they have ever known really. My daughter Megan, who is 17, and my 16-year-old son have both expressed an interest in getting a licence. I’m hoping I can train both-or even one of them-this year. They will have to really commit in order to be able to juggle ballooning with their studies and schoolwork. However, the hope is that we can have our first fourth-generation balloonist in the family.

I have my own balloon at home that holds a pilot plus one which we often take out for fun. It’s not quite as simple as going for a Sunday drive, but not far off. We love to take the balloon out if the weather is good.

The last time I took my son out to learn how to fly, my daughter was below us learning how to drive with a trailer which was kind of neat.

Flying with my mum when I’m home in Ireland never gets old. I love getting into the smaller balloons, rather than the big passenger balloons. It’s far more personable and also a lot easier.