A funeral director has begun the mammoth task of transporting a jet to Sligo by sea

He purchased the plane previously owned by Russian airline Transaero from Shannon Airport for €20,000 but has run into quite a bit of trouble transporting it back to Sligo.

McGowan, who has a funeral home in Ballina, spoke to the Anton Savage Show today, describing the obvious difficulties in transporting the plane which is 159-feet long, weighs about 70 tonnes and has a 140-foot wing span.

While they had originally planned to go by land, crossing four counties with a Garda escort, a mile of red tape, telephone wires, high costs and the small matter of two impassable bridges in the way meant they had to look for alternatives.

While they entertained the idea of a blimp (not built yet) and a helicopter that lifts 40 tonnes (too expensive and would have to divide up the plane), they’ve finally decided to go by sea rather than air - specifically by a barge that's coming over from Liverpool.

And today’s the day the big move begins as they transport the plane from the airport to the barge. Now, the barge is 155 ft so as McGowan says, “there would be a bit of her sticking out at the end”.

But sure look, what can you do?

A 500-tonne crane, costing €25k for the day, is needed to move the plane to the barge using a custom-made cradle. That cradle is the only one of its kind in the world and cost €55k to build. But he’s hoping he may be able to sell it or rent it out in the future.

And, of course, once it’s on the barge they’ll have to navigate the tides and get it there in one piece, without, as McGowan says, having the plane topple off and block the estuary.

All going well, they’re aiming to have the plane in Enniscrone by the first week of May.

To be honest, you really have to listen to the man himself describe the feat.

Skip to 21 minutes in:

McGowan has also bought a load of secondhand taxis from London which arrived in Sligo earlier this week.

But that’s not the end of it as he’s also on the lookout for ten double decker buses AND he is in the running to buy a famous train from England.

It’s 180 foot long and weighs about 100 tonnes so he's going to have a hell of a job getting it over the water.

He’s also plans to build a coffee shop in a giant teapot with “the cooking equipment by the spout so the steam can get out.”

Yup.

Reaction to his interview have been glowing - the word’s ‘mad’ and ‘genius’ have been thrown about.

David McGowan on the Anton Savage show has me in stitches

— James Gallagher (@jamesjgally) April 8, 2016

Anton savage show, today fm . Guy from Sligo moving planes and trains around should be bottled , he's fantastic.

— Donegal Daily (@DonegalDaily) April 8, 2016

If anyone can pull this off, we have a feeling David McGowan can. We’re behind ya all the way to Enniscrone!