Basking under glorious summer sunshine, the 2025 Bray Air Display delivered a picture-perfect day of aviation magic on Saturday, August 2nd. With clear blue skies overhead, Ireland’s most iconic free family festival turned Bray’s seafront into a hub of high-flying thrills.
From the Aer Lingus Airbus A321XLR’s majestic flypast to the jaw-dropping daredevil wingwalkers of AeroSuperBatics, every display ignited gasps and cheers from the tens of thousands who lined the promenade.
The day was packed with crowd-pleasing moments — the Garda Air Support Unit’s tactical flybys, the nostalgic charm of the Irish Historic Flight Foundation, and the breathtaking formations from Team Raven were met with waves of applause.
The critical services of the Irish Coast Guard – particularly important at this time of year as people enjoy summer weather on and in the water – were showcased during the air display. A newly-built AW189 helicopter, which operates from Weston Airport to service the East coast, flew alongside the new Coast Guard Fixed Wing Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft, which operates from Shannon Airport.
On the ground, families flocked to the Seafront Funfair, sampled artisan delights at the Food and Craft Village, and explored the future of aviation at the innovative “Future of Flight” Tech Zone, a new partnership with the Drone Innovation Partnership (DIP). Spectators also got up close to an impressive collection of model aircraft showcased by the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland, celebrating the craft and creativity of Ireland’s model aviation community.
Local cafés, restaurants, and hospitality businesses enjoyed a welcome boost, with visitors filling outdoor terraces, supporting local eateries, and experiencing Bray’s vibrant seaside atmosphere. The festival not only brings the skies to life but also plays a vital role in sustaining the town’s businesses during the busy summer season.
The Black Knights Parachute Team wowed the audience with precision displays, while vintage legend P-51 Mustang Marinell roared back to life, reminding all of aviation’s rich heritage.
A standout moment came with the Silver Swallows, the aerobatic display team of the Irish Air Corps, who epitomised precision, skill, and national pride. Their exhilarating performance, set against the dramatic backdrop of Bray Head, captivated the crowd and reaffirmed their place as icons of Irish aviation excellence.
Sé Pardy, Flight Display Director, said: “Today was Bray Air Display at its absolute best. We had clear skies, world-class pilots, and a crowd whose energy and enthusiasm were incredible. It’s a celebration of aviation, but also a celebration of community. I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved together.”
The Bray Air Display continues to be a highlight of the #SummerInBray tourism campaign, reinforcing its economic and cultural importance by attracting visitors from across Ireland and beyond. An estimated €3.5 million boost to the local economy underscores the festival’s significance to the community.
The Official 2025 Souvenir Programme is now available as a free digital download at brayairdisplay.com, packed with articles, aircraft profiles, and more.
The Bray Air Display 2025 line-up included:
- Aer Lingus Airbus A321XLR
- AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers
- Black Knights Parachute Team
- Eddie Goggins
- Emerald Airlines
- Garda Air Support Unit
- Irish Air Corps
- Irish Historic Flight Foundation
- P-51 Mustang Marinell
- Richard Goodwin
- Search and Rescue display
- Strikemaster
- Team Raven
In addition, the event team was honoured once again to welcome the Irish Defence Forces Naval Service, with LÉ Samuel Beckett anchored offshore, providing a majestic maritime backdrop.
The #BrayAirDisplay is managed by the Bray Summerfest Committee, with thanks to our partners bray.ie, Irish Air Corp, Weston Airport and Wicklow County Council.
The #BrayAirDisplay is part of the #SummerInBray tourism campaign, a collaborative effort involving the Bray and District Chamber of Commerce, Bray Municipal District, Wicklow County Council, and bray.ie. The campaign aims to support the local economy and promote Bray as a vibrant, family-friendly destination.
- The Bray Air Display is one of Ireland’s largest free events, attracting the largest single-family audience. It’s estimated that the event contributes €3.5 million to the local economy*.
- It is a fantastic community-organised event that is the lead tourism event in Wicklow.
- In addition to being a fantastic free family event, the festival aims to inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts to pursue careers in one of Ireland’s leading industries.
- The event takes place along Bray’s iconic Victorian promenade with the magnificent Bray Head as the backdrop.
- The line-up includes the very best Irish and international aerobatic display teams and vintage aircraft. Previously featured RAF Red Arrows, Italy’s Frecce Tricolori, the Breitling Wingwalkers and our very own Irish Air Corps.
- Family entertainment includes an amazing funfair, helicopter pleasure flights, corporate hospitality, as well as superb artisan street food – all in all, a great family day out.
- The event experience is enhanced with live commentary.
- Our official souvenir brochure is packed with fascinating articles and information about all aspects of the festival and is available as a free download.
- Transport infrastructure enables easy access to the event.
- The festival makes a very significant, positive impact on the town of Bray, the surrounding region and wider Irish society from a social-cultural perspective.
- It was recognised as ‘Best Festival / Event Experience over 50,000 people’ at the prestigious, national Irish Tourism Industry Awards 2017, in 2018 and 2019 we won Silver in the ‘Best Tourism Initiative’ category at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards.
- We continue to create a better, stronger event year after year, ultimately giving sponsors access to a massive national audience from the following categories: ABC1, C2 & D.
- In 2024, our social media reach was 760,000, with over 94,000 website visits and 9,000 digital downloads of the Official Souvenir Programme.
- The festival was featured extensively in the media, resulting in 370 stories across TV, radio, print, and online platforms, including RTE News, Virgin Media News, Ireland AM, 2FM, RTE Radio One, Today FM, Newstalk, and other commercial and independent radio stations.
* Economic evaluation is an estimate based on data compiled via a survey, hotelier/business insight analysis, and corporate ticket sales.
About the Drone Innovation Partnership Project (DIP)
The Drone Innovation Partnership (DIP) is an initiative dedicated to shaping the future of drones and urban air mobility in Dublin. This two-year collaboration, launched in October 2024, brings together expertise from Dublin City Council, Maynooth University, Lero (the Research Ireland Centre for Software), and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The DIP aims to prepare Dublin and Ireland for the regulated and widespread use of drones in both commercial, public services and civic life, ensuring that these innovative technologies can be integrated and scaled up safely and orderly within urban environments, benefiting cities.
For more details on the Drone Innovation Partnership, visit https://droneinnovationpartnership.com or email dip@mu.ie.
#BrayAIrDisplay dedicated digital info:
w: https://brayairdisplay.com/
x: https://twitter.com/brayairshow
f: https://www.facebook.com/BrayAirDisplay
i: https://www.instagram.com/brayairdisplay/
Learn more about other #SummerInBray festivals and events at https://bray.ie/summer2025
Join the conversation – Campaign hashtags are #BrayAirDisplay #SummerInBray #LoveBray #Bray
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