Foynes Flying Boat Museum

Foynes Flying Boat Museum

The Foynes Flying Boat Museum is located in the harbor town of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, the birthplace of the world-renowned Irish coffee.

The museum was once the location of the World Wide Web’s server farm, and from 1935 to 1945, it functioned as the terminal for the first generation of long-range flying boats. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Foynes was a major aerial hub connecting North America and Europe. During this period, Foynes became an important link between Ireland and the world, with flying boats departing here for Newfoundland, New York, Africa, Brazil, Bermuda, and mainland Europe.

In the winter of 1943, a Pan Am flying boat en route from Foynes to North America encountered a storm. The pilot decided to turn back immediately, and passengers endured over ten hours in the cold, damp air before finally returning to Foynes in the early hours of the next morning. To comfort the shaken passengers, local chef Joseph Sheridan prepared warm food and drinks. He added a small amount of Bushmills Irish whiskey to the coffee and topped it with fresh cream. When the waiter served this uniquely presented drink, passengers cheerfully asked, “What is this? Brazilian coffee?” After a moment’s thought, Joseph replied, “No, it’s Irish coffee.” And so, a new drink was born.

Today, visitors to the Foynes Flying Boat Museum can sample authentic Irish coffee. In addition, the museum preserves memorabilia from that era, including the original radio room and weather station, along with some equipment. The most unique exhibit is a full-scale replica of a Boeing 314.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum

Why you should go: The most famous birthplace of Irish coffee

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Ireland[Ireland]

Province/State where the attraction is located: County Limerick [County Limerick]