By Fiona, AvCon
On Sunday, June 15th, we had the absolute privilege of meeting one of the most iconic astronauts of our time — Col. Chris Hadfield — during his Journey into the Cosmos tour at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin.
AvCon was honoured to be among a small group of lucky attendees at an exclusive Meet & Greet before the show. Personally, it was a moment I’ll never forget. I’ve admired Chris for many years — not only for his inspiring presence but also for his extraordinary career that took him from engineer, to fighter pilot, to space shuttle commander. His journey shows exactly what passion, discipline, and curiosity can achieve. In person, Chris is as engaging as he is accomplished — warm, humble, and completely down to earth (even after being way out of this world).
Of course, I couldn’t resist asking him a question:
“What’s your favourite piece of space tech — something you miss or wish you still had back on Earth?”
His answer was beautifully unexpected:
Weightlessness.
More specifically, the weightless sleeping bag.
Chris described the sensation of floating to sleep — no need for pillows or a mattress, just drifting into complete relaxation. “It’s not really space tech,” he said with a grin, “but it’s something I really miss.”
Throughout the event, we were surrounded by curious minds of all ages, but one young boy and his mam truly stood out — not just to us, but to Chris himself.
Kyron Murphy, age 11, from Drimnagh, attended the Meet & Greet and show with his amazing mum, Audrey. Kyron asked thoughtful questions about becoming an astronaut, and made such an impression that — as if the day couldn’t get any more incredible — he was later asked to join Chris on stage during the show.
Together, Chris and Kyron helped the audience understand what happens to the human body in space. As Chris explained the science, Kyron helped demonstrate the effects — adding fun and energy to a moment that clearly inspired everyone in the room.
We were so impressed, we invited Kyron to attend AvCon — where he can explore even more of the aviation and aerospace world. His excitement and curiosity are a perfect match for our motto:
“The Sky is NOT the Limit — it’s Only the Beginning!”
Chris Hadfield didn’t just inspire an 11-year-old that day — he reignited the sense of wonder in all of us. As he shared during his talk, “everyone has something special to offer — and we should give it our best, while helping others do the same.”
The evening ended on a powerful note, as Chris performed his rendition of Space Oddity, reminding us that even in the vacuum of space, music and creativity have a place. After all, there’s a guitar aboard the International Space Station — because NASA understands that science and art are partners in exploration.
What an unforgettable day — and for Kyron, and all of us at AvCon, this is just the beginning of something even greater.
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