I’m indebted to one of my Bandaninis, (as I’ve Christened this site’s followers) Michael Kelly.
For raising the rival claim of Shannon Airport to Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal as the birthplace of Irish Coffee.
After reading Thirteen years an Irishman – My five Irish homes my farewell to Ireland as I return to Scotland.
The Shannon story, which is said to date from 1942, goes that a woman arrived in the middle of Ireland on a wintry night needing warmed up.
And chef Joe Sheridan came up with the bright idea of putting whiskey in her coffee.
The Jackson’s tale dates also from the War years and surrounds a merchant seaman, Joe Jackson.
Joe’s corner says he adapted a Mediterranean recipe and was already making it in 1946 after buying the hotel.
And that an article in a Scottish newspaper, which hung in the hotel, backed this up.
So I’m happy to give both claims their due, particularly as it bigs up Shannon Airport.
And the excellent work Declan Power and his staff are doing there.
Shannon www.shannonairport.ie has two new routes for 2020, to Paris and Barcelona.
And you can check out some thoughts here on the Catalan city… Smooth sailing around the Western Med.
TAP into this
Women’s Day in Iceland
Isn’t it just typical, I went and missed Bondadagur, the start of the Porri season (on January 24), again.
Bondadawhat I hear those of you who are not either Icelanders or Icelandophiles ask. Well it is Men’s Day and as luck would have it, for Herself, Women’s Day is still to come… on February 22. That’s Konudagur then and it’s when men pamper their women and give them flowers. Which maybe I’ll keep from The Scary One – she’s got Valentine’s Day coming. And I’ve already taken her out for a night this year… and it wasn’t even her birthday either.
Icelandair http://www.icelandair.com flies daily to Iceland while it also has 18 gateways to North America.
Aer we went
The good news (for me, heck and for you too) is that I’ll be back in Dublin in mid-March.
Don’t tell the Scary One but I’m hoping to be back a lot sooner. I’ll be flying Stobart Air, partners of Aer Lingus from Edinburgh and Aer Lingus, from Dublin to Miami. And when I can I always will. I’m only hoping that as a loyal Aer Club member and a proud kiltie wearer I can rack up enough points to earn me one of their super-duper new crew skirts. Anyhoos, back to their deals: London, Amsterdam and Paris from €27.99, Toulouse or Bordeaux and much more besides. Usual conditions apply. Visit www.aerlingus.com. And don’t you just know I’ve played and prayed all over these fab destinations… The London life, Pictures of Amsterdam and George Clooney and Amal’s Amsterdam hotel. And The Lourdes prayer and The Boat D’Azur.And not forgetting Ryanair
Ryanair www.ryanair.com has just released its early bird summer fares.
MEET YOU IN THE SKIES
