Foynes is a village and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The population of the town was 606 as of the 2006 census.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, land-based planes lacked sufficient flying range for Atlantic crossings. Foynes was the last port of call on its eastern shore for seaplanes. As a result, Foynes would became one of the biggest civilian airports in Europe during World War II. Surveying flights for flying boat operations were made by Charles Lindbergh in 1933 and a terminal was begun in 1935. The first transatlantic proving flights were operated on July 5, 1937 with a Pan Am Sikorsky S-42 service from Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador on the Bay of Exploits and a BOAC Short Empire service from Foynes with successful transits of twelve and fifteen-and-a-quarter hours respectively. Services to New York, Southampton, Montreal, Poole and Lisbon followed, the first non-stop New York service operating on June 22, 1942 in 25 hours 40 minutes.
All of this changed following the construction and opening in 1942 of Shannon Airport on flat bogland on the northern bank of the Estuary. Foynes flying-boat station closed in 1946. A college for the learning of the Irish language was opened in the former terminal in 1954. The Port Trustees purchased the building in 1980 and the Foynes Flying Boat Museum leased a portion in 1988.
Once you get to the village, the place is well signposted

At the entry area, a model of the Boeing 314 sits atop a globe

Inside the building there is a small theatrette showing a film of the 1940s operations, and the usual collection of charts, radio gear, nav equipment and uniforms.
Some of the period posters are a bit exagerated - but that's quite normal for travel posters!

The only genuine aircraft bit seems to be this rescued relic off a crashed Sunderland.

Centrepiece of the musum is this mockup of the Boeing 314. It looks the part.


You can tour the interior, they seem to have done it quite well.


No economy class seating here - all first class, and at a first class price.

The old control tower is open, and gives a view of the mockup as well as the harbour.

The Irish Coffee legend.
One of Foynes's main claims to fame is the invention there of Irish Coffee. This came about, it is said, in order to alleviate the suffering of cold and wet passengers during its aviation days in the 1930s and early '40s.
They serve it, but I was too dosed up on antibiotics at the time to be allowed such a treat.

Foynes harbour, still a busy place for freight and fishing boats.
The trees on the left are on an island. The flying boats alighted on the other side of this island and then taxiied into the harbour to moor in the area to the right in the photo.

The museum is well worth a visit if you are planning atrip to the Emerald Isle.