Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum – Irish Coffee and Flying Boats

County Limerick is best known for its humorous verse, toe-tapping music and rich history. It’s also known as the home of Foynes…the world’s only flying boat museum and the home of Irish coffee. In fact, Irish coffee was created at Foynes.

A Step Back in Time

I’ve always liked the idea of being a time traveler. While visiting Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, I was transported to the glamorous days of the 1930’s and 40’s. The golden age of aviation…the flying boats of yesteryear.

Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum
Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum

Walking through the door, I stepped back in time. Tunes from the era played in the background. Helen, our guide, welcomed us to the glamorous past where women dressed up and men stood when a woman walked in to the room….an age of elegance. She said, “It is a past filled with romance, danger, and Hollywood stars. I think you will recognize them. The flying boats made history when they touched down in Foynes.” She had me at romance.

Crew Uniforms
Crew Uniforms

Helen escorted us to a small cinema right out of the 1940’s. Our introduction to Foynes would be via a short film ‘Atlantic Conquest’. The lights dimmed…original black and white footage filled the screen and sound from the 1940’s filled the room. We were time travelers.

The Village of Foynes Where Tradition Continues

Foynes sits on the Shannon River, the largest, deep water river in Ireland. With a population less than 500 when the flying boats came to call, Helen said, many of the town folk were employed by the air terminal. “Many of their descendants are employed by the museum. It has come full circle.”

Helen explained, “There were many proving flights to test the ability of the aircrafts and the routes they would take across the Atlantic. The flying boats were immense and the distance between New York and Ireland great. Remember, there was no radar…they flew between 8000 to 12,000 feet. You will see where bad weather can stop a flight and create history. But let’s continue our tour.”

A Diverse Collection

Walking through the collection of aviation artifacts brings an appreciate for the pioneers who paved the way. The Radio and Weather Room contain the original equipment used during the period. Helen shared, “The radio officers and meteorologists were constantly searching for news by picking up messages from ships and other radio and weather stations. Can you imagine using Morse Code?” I can not.

Radio and Weather Room Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum
Radio and Weather Room

Christened by Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper was the first to deliver transatlantic airmail from the United States. According to Helen, 14 bags of mail were deposited at Foynes in June 1939.

In July 1939, with 17 passengers and a crew of 12, the Yankee Clipper made history again by flying the first commercial transatlantic flight from the United States to Europe. Helen said, “The price was a staggering $337…the price of a house back then. Round trip was $675.”

The Big Three at Foynes

Pan American Airways (Pan Am), British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and American Export were the main commercial airlines that regularly flew into Foynes.
It was normal to have at least one flying boat either land or take off daily when weather allowed.

Operations Signage
Operations Signage

Crossing the Atlantic was challenging. They could not predict the exact time of arrival or departure. Weather conditions would dictate the route the flying boat would take and the length of time a flight took. With three airlines (sometimes more), the unknown times were daunting.

According to Helen, “Quite often the tower would receive a message in the middle of the night advising a plane was returning due to bad weather. This could occur up to 6 hours after departure. The airport hired a farmer with a horse to ride to the homes of the ground crew to tell them to come back to work. He was known as the ‘horseback crier’. His granddaughter Margaret is the Director of the Museum.”

Step Onboard the Pan Am Yankee Clipper B314

Stepping out of the terminal, the Boeing Pan Am Yankee Clipper B314 floats before our eyes. I stood there a few minutes before walking up the gangway, trying to visualize what it must have been like to fly in this marvelous machine. I was not prepared for its size or grandeur.

Tail End Yankee Clipper
Tail End Yankee Clipper

The full-scale replica oozes luxury. There is a 14 seat dining room complete with white linen, crystal, and china. Though small, seven course meals were produced in the galley. There’s even a spacious ‘Honeymoon Suite’ and berths for the rest of the passengers.

The Yankee Clipper Galley
The Yankee Clipper Galley

Bob Hope, Humphrey Bogart, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, and John F. Kennedy are just a few of the people who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Yankee Clipper.
The flight deck sits above the passenger deck. This area is roomy unlike what we see today.

Many ‘Firsts’ and a ‘Forever Link’ Foynes to Hollywood

In 1942, Captain Charles Blair was the first pilot to fly transatlantic with passengers and mail. He departed from Foynes in an American Export Excaliber NC41880. 25 hours and 40 minutes later he landed in New York.

He broke the record for the fastest transatlantic flight in 1944…New York to Foynes in 14 hours, 17 minutes. Captain Blair was the last pilot to fly out of Foynes when the airport closed in 1945. He flew to New York, slept, flew back to Shannon Airport making him the first pilot to land in Shannon.

The Captain was married to actress Maureen O’Hara who later became the Patron of the museum. Helen said, “We are working on a special wing dedicated to her. She was a lovely woman and enjoyed visiting Foynes.”

Maureen O'Hara's Oscar Gown and Award
Maureen O’Hara’s Oscar Gown and Award

A Drink for a Cold Night—Irish Coffee

Like many airports, Foynes had a restaurant. Helen said, “One night the tower received word that a flying boat was returning due to bad weather. The ‘horseman crier’ notified the staff to come back. Chef Joe Sheridan was asked to prepare something hot for the returning passengers. When they came in to the restaurant he handed everyone a cup of coffee which was laced with Irish whiskey. A man asked, “Is this Brazilian coffee?” Joe replied, “It’s Irish coffee.” It was such a hit he decided to work on a special drink for the restaurant. We can thank Joe for Irish coffee.”

How to Make Proper Irish Coffee

Helen led us to the Irish Coffee Centre where she demonstrated the proper way to make Foynes Irish Coffee. After indulging, I’ll never deviate from this recipe.

You’ll need brown sugar, coffee, Irish whiskey, and lightly whipped cream
1. Heat a glass with hot water…add a spoon to prevent breakage
2. Add one teaspoon brown sugar to the warmed glass
3. Add coffee leaving room for the whiskey. Stir to dissolve the brown sugar
4. Add one jigger of whiskey…they use Powers Irish Whiskey
5. Pour the cream over the back of the spoon so it floats on top of the coffee

Helen Demonstrating How to Make Irish Coffee
Helen Demonstrating How to Make Irish Coffee

Helen advised us, “Don’t stir but drink the coffee through the cream.” It was the perfect way to end our tour of Foynes on a chilly, windy day.

When You Go to Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum

Admission: Adults €11, Seniors and students €9, Children 14 and under €6, under five free.

The village of Foynes is located along The Wild Atlantic Way which spans 1500 miles along Ireland’s western coast. Save some time to drive along the coastline. With jaw dropping scenery, you’ll be glad you did.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Failte Ireland and Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum. All opinions, as usual, are entirely my own.

Barb Harmon
Barb Harmon

Barb Harmon is a freelance travel writer and blogger. Her love affair with travel began as a child on family vacations throughout the United States and Canada. It blossomed when she became an exchange student in The Netherlands in high school. Several years later she moved to Luzern, Switzerland which allowed her to travel extensively throughout Europe...a dream come true. Moving back to the United States she took a position in the Cosmetic industry which involved a great deal of travel. As empty nesters, she and her husband travel as often as possible looking for the next adventure. They have a dream of moving back to Europe (or elsewhere) part time and plan on making that dream a reality. She is a member of The International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance.

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One comment

  1. THIS IS A GREAT POSTING WEBSITE OVERVIEW OF FOYNES MUSEUM,LIMERICK IRELAND☘️
    I CALL IT A BUCKET LIST ITEM FOR FOLKS THAT HAD A PAN AM CONNECTION IN LIFE
    A FANTASTIC ENJOYABLE DAY TRIP FOR SURE.
    M.C. ROSIE ROSENSTEIN PAN AM 1958-1991
    AND A REAL IRISH COFFEE IS A MUST ON YOUR VISIT☕️

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