Foynes Flying Boat Museum

Location:

Foynes, County Limerick.

Description

The museum showcases a very odd and often overlooked moment in history, that of the flying boats. From 1939 to 1945, the town of Foynes became the center of the aviation world. It was selected as the water runway for the world's first transatlantic passenger flights from New York to Foynes. The massive Boeing B314, nicknamed the "Yankee Clipper," was designed to carry 35 passengers in a luxury ocean-air liner. For its brief years of operation, the Yankee Clipper carried passengers such as Ernest Hemingway and John F. Kennedy.

It is a fascinating collection of historical memorabilia, photographs, and newsreels. See the original transmitters, receivers, and Morse Code Equipment used by the pilot/sailors. Test your own skills piloting and landing a flying boat on the flight simulators. Tour the actual Yankee Clipper itself, which is located on the premises.

Visit Foynes July 6-8^th, 2007, for the Foynes International Flying Boat Festival. See website www.foynesfestival.com.

How to get there

By car:

• From Limerick, take N21 west to Foynes. Museum is located at the west edge of town, across from the pier.
• From Tralee, take N21 east to Foynes. Museum is located at the west edge of town, across from the pier.

By bus:

• From Limerick, take Bus Eireann #314. It runs Monday to Saturday. See www.buseireann.ie for all travel details and restrictions.

Opening times

Open daily, from March 31^st to October 31^st, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission fees

• Adults: € 8.00
• Seniors/Students: € 6.00
• Children under 14: € 5.00
• Children under 5: FREE
• Family Ticket: € 25.00
• (2 adults and up to 4 children)

Address

• Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Foynes, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
• Telephone: +353 (0)69 65416 Fax: +353 (0)69 65416
• Contact: Mrs. Margaret O`Shaughnessy

Written by Liz O' Malley - Summer of Travel 2007