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America, Countries, Deals, Flying, Ireland

Eiretale of New York

14th December 202514th December 2025 funtime65

And it’s an Eiretale of New York which is enough to get the boys of the NYPD choir singing Galway Bay.

With the Tourism Ireland team getting an early Christmas gift in the form of a Best Destination in Europe award for the 12^th year in a row.

Beating off heavyweight France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia at the New York bash.

Prize guys: Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe and Paul McDonagh

Subscribers to Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice who held their 23rd Awards in New York may not be aware or little care.

But the NYPD do not actually boast a choir.

Although they do have a Pipes and Drums band who played on the video.

And who mimed the words to the Mickey Mouse March because they didn’t know the lyrics to Galway Bay.

An Epic revision

You can only imagine Shane MacGowan took some artistic licence because boys of the NYPD Pipes and Drums band didn’t scan as well.

Of course, it’s a birthright of the Irish to lay claim to any number of truisms we now take for granted.

With St Patrick, actually a Welshman, the daddy of them all.

And it is in that rich tradition that Shane and Epic the Irish Emigration Museum have followed.

With the award-winning tourist attraction marking the Great Man’s passing two years ago by assembling their very own NYPD choir.

To sing Galway Bay, just before the bells on Christmas Day.

All on video as part of the They Gave the Walls a Talking exhibition to showcase the diaspora.

Which Shane of course did more to champion than most.

Singing Galway Bay

It was one-such Irish emigrant Dr Arthur Colahan, native of Fermanagh but reared in County Galway who wrote the much-loved song about the City of Tribes while living in Leicester.

While it was another Irish-American, Bing Crosby, whose mother Catherine Harrigan’s family hailed from County Cork who popularised the song.

Making Galway Bay at one point the biggest selling record of all time.

And you can’t get better Christmas cred than Bing and Shane a double act we’d have loved to have seen.

And we’ve even come up with the perfect collab… Eiretale of New York.

While Aer Lingus will fly you to the Big Apple with pre-clearance out of the Oul Country and we found a sample return flight from €566.76 for next month.

America, Countries, Europe, Flying

Aer Lingus is sticking it to the rest with its new routes

13th December 202513th December 2025 funtime65

WHEN did we stop parading our destinations on our suitcases… pah, Aer Lingus is sticking it to the rest with its new routes.

Ireland’s national airline carrier has six brand-new ones launching next year.

Taking off in time for summer 2026, the airline will commence five short-haul services from Dublin and Cork..

With the flagship transatlantic route four times weekly from May 25, Pittsburgh.

Where new friendships will be renewed following the historic NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.

Touchdown Pennsylvanians

Flying high: Steelers touch down in Dublin

The gridironistas will be back again in 2027 when the Pitt Panthers fly to Dublin to face the Wisconsin Badgers.

In the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Week Zero of the College Football calendar.

The new route brings the total number of routes Aer Lingus operates from Ireland to North America to 24.

Do the Continental

If you want to stay closer to home then the national airline carrier has expanded its options to continental Europe.

Customers departing from Dublin will have access to new destinations including Norway’s capital city, Oslo.

Majestic Montpellier in the south of France, and Asturias, a hidden gem located on Spain’s Galician northern coast.

And not forgetting Corkonians and the south of Ireland.

Who will benefit from services to Nice on the French Riviera.

As well as to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, offering convenient access to the Camino de Santiago.

And there will be plenty of space in the overhead cabins for those rucksacks and walking sticks.

Becherovka all round

Czech it out: On the King Charles Bridge in Prague

Furthermore, Aer Lingus is extending its Cork-Prague service to operate throughout the year.

Which will give Czechiaphiles the chance to stock up on their Becherovka.

Which I do after the Son and Heir drained my Czech licquer with his pals on one of the occasions we left him with a Free House.

And he defensively told me that he would replace it after thinking that I would be duped by him and his Daft Pals leaving just a dribble at the bottom.

So if it’s Pittsburgh or Prague, Montpellier or Santiago be sure to get on board and get those stickers on your suitcase.

To show off, of course, but also to ensure your luggage stands out on the carousel.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying, Skiing, Sport

Norway where the Aer is cleaner

3rd December 20253rd December 2025 funtime65

Let the snowbirds fly south for winter, Ireland’s national airline is heading for Norway where the Aer is cleaner.

Aer Lingus launched its inaugural Dublin-Tromsø service today, December 3.

Giving customers a new way to experience the magic of the Northern Lights.

Flights to Tromsø will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Sundays, until March.

With one-way fares starting from €101 including taxes, charges, and carrier-imposed fees.

Arctic awe

Won’t you ride my sleigh: Get in the festive spirit

Now the most popular spot to spot the Aurora Borealis, or Heavenly Dancers, is from atop Mount Storsteinen.

Which you can access on the Fjellheisen cable car to the summit of Mount Storsteinen.

Where you can see the city clearly lit up including Arctic Cathedral.

All white

Skiers too dot the Norwegian landscape at Tromsø Alpinpark, just 12 km from the airport.

Now our Tromsø venner (or friends) have put on a wide and varied range of ways to see the Northern Lights.

Of course, standing still and waiting is an option, with a warm gløgg mulled wine.

Get there how you can

But it looks more fun letting the Norwegians take you to the best vantage points on any numbers of Arctic transport.

Some of which even include whale as well as star watching.

Including night reindeer sledding with dinner, and don’t worry Rudolph is not on the menu. Or husky.

Seafarers will hone in on sailboats, catamarans, cruises, vintage vessels or if it’s your thang, kayaking.

For those who like to get somewhere on foot then you can even ski or snowshoe to your destination.

Or minibus, or whisper it Tesla it.

America, Asia, Countries, Flying

Avoid air tax hikes and fly through Dublin

29th November 202529th November 2025 funtime65

It’s music to the ears. Avoid air tax hikes and fly through Dublin.

With British travellers feeling the pinch of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ money grab for their air pounds many are looking to their neighbours.

Just like they did when there was a rush on Irish passports after Brexit, Britons are looking to cash in on Ireland’s easier relationship with the world.

Particularly when they are flying transatlantic.

Which we’ve been advising here for all Bandanini and Bandanistas to do since we moved back from Ireland.

Because, of course, as well as being exempt from the tax, unique to the UK, Ireland boasts pre-clearance for visitors going to North America.

Dublin for the night

Catching up with friends: With Teresa, Eoghan Corry and Sharon Jordan in Dublin

It’s a route I know well and confession time here there is a right way and a stressful way of doing things here.

And you won’t be surprised to hear that your Accidental Tourist has more often than not chosen the stressful option.

Through on the day connections from Edinburgh to Dublin and then the States.

Only however many hours you think you have on your side ‘domestic’ flights will usually let you down.

And you may well find yourself rushing through customs and finding yourself still catching your breath on board for your connecting flight to Chicago.

Even if your lemon suitcase takes another four days to join you.

So you might consider a stop-off in the Irish capital the night before and what’s not to like about that option.

Particularly as you’ll still be in pocket through the money you would have spent on those extra Rachel Reeves surcharges.

Turk an overnighter in Istanbul

So you’re going long-haul the other way to Asia or Australia and New Zealand.

Travel expert Simon Calder of the Independent, advises, as we do, Istanbul as your stop-off point.

Where again you can take advantage of the rules by taking a 24-hour plus break in your journey to avoid those extra costs.

Which you won’t regret as you cross continents on a boat trip on the Bosphorus, count your blessings in the Blue Mosque.

And detox from your kofti and Antalya wine in the Cagaloglu Hamam, just like Florence Nightingale, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey et al have done.

So while all these Rachel Rates have been taxing Britons this week and for years to come, stick with us.

To avoid air tax hikes and fly through Dublin and the jewel of Turkey.

And we’ll keep you straight and with more cash in your pocket through our Holidos and Holidon’ts tips.

America, Countries, Flying

Rock me mama to Wagon Wheel to Raleigh

24th November 2025 funtime65

Nathan Carter has done more for Irish and North Carolinian relationships than anyone, so we expect the inaugural Aer Lingus flight will rock me mama to Wagon Wheel to Raleigh.

Raleigh becomes the 26th Aer Lingus North American route when it takes off from 13 regional British airports through Dublin next April.

We’ve yet to hear a song around that odyssey so there’s an opening there for us.

There is one though famously out of Maine in New England and on to Raleigh, North Caroline.

Which Nathan and Carolinian Darius Rucker popularised.

With stop-offs in Philly and in Roanoke, Virginia.

Up in New England

And all because the lovelorn hitchhiker wanted to run from the cold and poker losses in New England.

Though we can’t understand that because we’d run to it.

Although he is clearly missing his baby.

Now as romantic as it all sounds, a banjo-playing wannabe fiddle player going to these lengths to get to his guitar-playing baby.

A Breeze of an alternative

He could always have flown with Breeze Airways (no, us neither).

From £132 from Portland and be in her arms in just over two hours.

But then it would have been a very different song, and maybe Boeing Wheels doesn’t have the same lyrical sound to it.

Sweet Caroline

Now while our hero clearly had a warm welcome waiting for him with his baby you’ll more than likely need your own billet.

Our friends at Rome2Rio have kindly pointed us in the direction of a range of hotels and Black Friday deals.

And their three sample nights in March at the Raleigh Marriott City Center has grabbed our eye at £574 for two, down from £820.

Rock me mamma

Now you’ll want to know what you and your loved-one can do in Raleigh.

So we’ll fill in the gaps, or rather Getyourguide will.

As American history buffs we’re clearly all over the full-day Historian Guided City and Raleigh African American History tours.

While of the ghoulish, fiendish or downright criminal can choose between ghost and crime tours.

But our interest is piqued most by the four-hour Raleigh/Durham: Mystery Date Night in the Triangle Area.

Which our pals in the song would doubtless of availed of, particularly after the long hours of hitching.

Countries, Flying

Ryanair’s new friendly face

12th November 202512th November 2025 funtime65

Michael O’Leary famously quipped ‘if I’d known being nice to passengers would be so good for business I’d have done it years ago’ and that goes too to his staff, and Ryanair’s new friendly face.

Today, of course, was the big roll-out of Ryanair going fully digi with passengers’ boarding passes.

And for those fearful that they would be strong-armed by ground crew, such as Mrs Bandanaman who on being chivvied along called the woman at the gate a fascist, bravely under her breath.

Green for go

Ya dancer: Ryanair staff happy to meet you

The evidence at Dublin Airport was completely to the contrary.

My old travel pack colleague from Ireland, the award-winning Conor Power, reported in the Irish Times of a seemless transition.

With Michael O’Leary seemingly putting out the directive to his staff to be patient with customers… he must be getting soft in his old age.

And the company has said it will accommodate the paper generation.

And that ‘if you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet [or it dies or gets left behind].’

‘Your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate’.

While for those who turned up without digital boarding passes staff were there.

To show travellers where it could be found on your phone.

And they were only too happy to direct stressed-out holidaymakers to the Visa check desks for further assistance.

At your assistance

All of which we welcome as airport travel grows increasingly more stressful.

And it doesn’t matter how seasoned you are because it seems the more you know about what can go wrong the more anxious you become.

Thankfully, of course, some of those mishaps are behind me.

Such as not reading the small print on the paper boarding pass on the Olympic Air ticket.

And realising I’m at the wrong terminal.

And putting on my naughty schoolboy face to Greta at the Lufthansa desk and taking the telling-off.

To ensure I get put on the next flight from Munich to Athens on my Greek Odyssey without a charge.

Maybe then these digi check-ins and boarding passes are the answer.

Even for old technophobes like Bandanaman.

America, Countries, Deals, Flying

Let’s hear it for National New York Day

21st September 202521st September 2025 funtime65

And it is a thing, which celebrates America’s Fab 50, so today let’s hear it for National New York Day.

New York State, which I don’t have to tell you, is the 11th state of the union, endorsed by Alexander Hamilton.

And this being the 11th week since Delaware, the first American state, is honoured, the focus is on the Empire State today.

For many of us the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River and NY is our gateway to America.

And a year before Lady Liberty took her rightful place, one Frederick Trump, The Donald’s dad, arrived from Bremen.

Which means that this year, October 19, marks a very significant milestone, 150 years of the Trumps in the Oo Es of Eh.

NY’s Greatest Living Son

New York’s Greatest Living Son (sorry Jimmy Kimmel) will be delighted then that he got the endorsement, of sorts, of another NY great.

And one who is carved into the stone at Mount Rushmore, Teddy Roosevelt.

When promoting the Roosevelt Presidential Park in North Dakota at the American Travel Fare in Chicago.

And doffing his Raiders hat to the 47th President when saying that, yes, he is a New York City prez.

But he, Teddy, is the only Commander in Chief from Manhattan.

The famous five

Frankly Franklin: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

In all there have been five US Presidents from New York State.

And we should always remember that New York is a state, Teddy’s rellie Franklin, Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore.

Which, of course, is a gateway to the other great towns of New York State.

Which in Van Buren, the 8th President’s case, and the first to be born in the post-colonial USA, that means Albany.

For Fillmore, home is the lyrically named the Finger Lakes Area (Moravia).

While Hyde Park is synonymous with FDR.

All ways then to mark National New York Day by toasting all the Presidents then.

Tuck in to NY State food

Which brings us on to which NY food and drink you should take.

And our favourite would always be Buffalo Wings while for the healthier it might be a Waldorf Salad.

And maybe a Knickerbocker ice cream to follow.

While we suggest you go all out with a cocktail, say a Long Island Iced Tea.

So let’s hear it for National New York Day.

And we found an Aer Lingus each way flight through Dublin with pre-clearance from €614.08

America, Countries, Deals, Flying, Music, Sport

When Ne-Yo gave me everything

10th September 202510th September 2025 funtime65

It always pays to be up the front which is how I came away with a prized possession when Ne-Yo gave me everything in the USA.

When I came to reach highest to grab his sweat towel just at the point when he was belting out his classic toon with Pitbull.

And yeah, picture me with a Kodak, although we had moved on from that by 2017.

And our friends from the American Travel Fair in Washington DC boomeranged us holding the precious cloth later on.

All of which memories came flooding back as news pinged in my inbox of Pitbull’s much-anticipated run in Las Vegas.

Tonight, let’s enjoy life

Pitbull is taking the party to the Neon City this weekend, Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13.

As part of his Pitbull: Vegas After Dark The Residency.

Short notice we grant you but you might want to come back on November 21 and 22.

And a hint there for someone with that week being when I’ll have marked up six decades on this third rock from the sun.

This being Vegas there’s always a fight going on with this weekend seeing Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford going at it at the Allegiant Stadium.

Although Vegas brings out the lovers not the fighters in us.

Whether that was the Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage back in the day.

Or dancing to the Whip-Its with Cami from Utah off the Strip.

The Big Fight

Spell it out: Muhammad Ali at the Hall of Excellence

Not that we don’t enjoy watching a good fight or wrapping ourselves up in boxing memorabilia, hype and thunder.

Channel your inner Muhammad Ali then at the Hall of Excellence where The Greatest’s boxing gloves are on display.

Along with Tiger Woods’ golf ball from his first Masters win, Olympic gold medals and all seven of Tom Brady’s championship rings.

Take a self-guided tour, narrated by such voices as Oprah Winfrey, Bob Costas, our old pal from Huntington Beach Snoop Dogg, and Morgan Freeman.

Think outside the box

In her shoes: The ruby slippers at the Sphere

If, of course, its showmanship you’re after follow the yellow brick road to the newest experience at Sphere for a mind-bending showing of The Wizard of Oz.

Which is expanded to fit the 360°, 16k definition screen.

You’ll be wrapped in colour and movement as seats rumble while you feel cool breezes and the sweet scent of poppies fills the air.

And we got a whiff of how much fun these shows are from taking in Shrek at Universal Studios in Orlando.

Before the show, take photos with the giant ruby slippers installation outside.

Also, during Canelo-Crawford weekend, you can catch the Eagles live as the legendary rockers continue their residency.

And because we always try to fly out of Ireland because, well because, but also its preclearance.

Aer Lingus flies nonstop from Dublin with fares starting at €206.61 each way.

America, Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

Today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices

26th August 202526th August 2025 funtime65

And as La Citta Eterna has always been on an American’s bucket list we bring you today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices.

The beauty of Rome, of course, is in its sobriquet, it really hasn’t changed since Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s days.

As a crown princess and American photographer whizzing about the piazzas in a Vespa.

And thanks to budget transatlantic airline Norse Atlantic Airways we can have our own Roman Holiday from $129 from New York to Rome.

Although you might prefer to travel like Princess Ann which Norse offer in their premium class.

Do it yourself

Ann and Joe’s adventures were, of course, self-guided and we’d advise that too.

Having used the day and a half at the end of our Via Francigena pilgrimage into the Vatican to explore Roma a piedi, on foot.

Our friends at gpsmycity have mapped out a suggested Roman Holiday itinerary.

Chief among them the Spanish Steps, where Ann scoops up gelato.

Full Ponte: Your view from the Sant Angelo Castle

Romanophiles will tell you it is one of the best vistas in the Italian capital looking out on to the Vatican.

Scoping the other way atop Sant Angelo Castle has been the prime location of popes and plebs.

And where Ann and Joe indulged in mischief under the twinkling lights and shared a dance on the banks of the Tiber.

Fountain of truth

Of course, nobody, American or otherwise, princess or pauper, can visit Rome without throwing three coins in the fountain.

To ensure that you’ll return, and we will.

Although, whisper it, we can’t recall the barber shop near the Trevi Fountain still being there.

From when Ann shed her royal tresses.

All part of your GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet.

But it’s still today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices.

Countries, Flying

Airport drinks and the Ryanair solution

25th August 202525th August 2025 funtime65

You’re sipping apple tea in dry Male in the Maldives, off your Turkish Airlines overnighter, and thinking about airport drinks and the Ryanair solution.

Well, maybe not then, as well as being dog tired despite the business class sleep on board from Istanbul, via Dublin.

And the fact that Michael O’Leary was still to formulate the idea in that massive, overactive brain of his.

But the news of a whopping 41% rise in trouble at Scottish airports, and we dare say that’s replicated in similar airports, has us agreeing.

Two drink or not to drink

The bould Michael is suggesting a two-drink limit for passengers before getting on flights.

Which might at first sound draconic but us Jocks aren’t even allowed a drink when attending football grounds to limit the risks of violence.

Airport drinking has, of course, become a custom of holidaying , helped along by the ubiquitous Weatherspoon.

Only for every happy drunk there are leary louts who kick off at the check-out desk.

When they’re told their luggage doesn’t fit and they have to pay an excess fee.

And all before they get on the plane and top up.

Thou shalt not pass

Of course, in the worst cases the yobs on tour will end up abusing the cabin crew and fellow passengers.

And even cause the plane to be diverted for an emergency landing.

All of which disruption can be allayed by following Michael’s solution.

And insisting that passengers show their boarding passes as we do in the gift shops, stationers and pharmacists.

And that way being blocked after two drinks.

Cheers to Ryanair

Let’s dance: You can enjoy yourself without being drunk

Now 19-year-old Bandanaman who drank our transatlantic flight from London to JFK dry.

With my old much-lamented party animal Toothy dry would disapprove.

But two drinks should be enough for anybody before they board their flight.

Even those who are nervous fliers and we sympathise.

Now far from wanting to be accused of being a Grinch we should surely look at this for the sake of all passengers.

Because this is the brainchild of the great promoter of budget travel.

Who has been known to give a free drink to passengers after a successful Cheltenham.

Airport drinks and the Ryanair solution, maybe we’ll all look back in the future and sigh that it was ever any other way.