https://www.dublinairport.com/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Countries, Flying, Ireland

Planespotting is a must for life

17th June 2024 funtime65

With apologies to Iggy Pop, Irvine Welsh and Danny Boyle planespotting is a must for life.

It is literally a right of passage for youngsters to be taken to the airport to see the jets take off.

Now thankfully our low-budget airlines have long made it affordable for all of us to take off to foreign shores.

But it is still a thrill to look up at the planes… and a hobby for many to see them take off and land.

My own little jetsetter at home graduated from her childhood passion of trainspotting to following the jumbos.

And brought him and her along for the ride when she organised a family day out at the airport.

For airport day trippers, as were back then and many of you are now, it can be a case of organising your own spot.

Sound as The Mound

So wouldn’t it make sense to structure it?

Well, yes, and that’s why Dublin Airport are doing that very thing at ‘The Mound.’

A new public Aircraft Observation Facility on Old Airport Road.

The new elevated platform will provide ‘a comfortable and safe space for the community.

‘To view aircraft movements, with a clear view of the south runway (10R/28L) and the cross-wind runway (16/34).’

The facility would be covered and ‘fully-lit, with power provided by solar panels located on the site’

And it will feature bike parking and 22 car parking spaces – including spaces dedicated for families and those with reduced mobility.

Getting off the plane spotting

Now there is, and always has been, an offshoot of planespotting.

And that is getting off the plane spotting.

Of course, there has never been anyone bigger than Elvis Presley.

And the only time he visited Britain was for two hours when his US military jet refuelled at Prestwick Airport in the west of Scotland.

And photographer Ian McGhee captured the visit with 200 Elvis fans greeting The King to his ancestral home.

Glasgow Prestwick Mound and Glasgow North Side at Glasgow International are the spots from which to watch planes unofficially.

Which beggars the question why the airports there and in Edinburgh don’t follow Dublin’s lead and build a structure for us.

Mad for it

Crashing the party: At Turkish Airlines HQ

We can, of course, only dream of what’s on offer at the likes of London Myrtle Avenue or Birmingham Runway End.

But for planespotting enthusiasts there is nowhere they’re more mad for it than Manchester Runway Park.

Where they have a viewing platform, a children’s play area, a walkthrough concorde hangar, five retired aircraft, a cafe and a flight simulator.

And I’m guessing that I ought to keep the fact that I crashed my plane into JFK when I was at the Turkish Airlines HQ in Istanbul.

All of that said planespotting is a must for life.

And we’d be keen to hear your favourite spots.

MEET YOU AT THE PLANESPOTTING

America, Countries, Deals, Flying

Denver, the Aer Mile High City

17th May 202417th May 2024 funtime65

It’s America’s ear-poppin’, beer-hoppin’ out west playground and now it’s accessible through Europe’s pre-clearance capital, Dublin… it’s Denver, the Aer Mile High City.

Denver, you see, has just become the 14th direct Aer Lingus route out of Dublin.

And they celebrated it in style this week, bringing some real high-fliers over to Ireland to launch it.

With the Mayor himself, Mike Johnston, heading the delegation.

For an evening of Irish-American craic at the Banqueting Hall in College Green.

Bandanaman: And the Bandanettes In Denver

Now, the party-loving Denverites will gladly tell you.

That because it’s a mile high you only need half as much drink to get you twice as pie-eyed.

And because Denver styles itself as the Craft Beer hub of America then it helps to be prepared for the change of atmosphere.

And if that means avoiding a stop-off in London, and nothing has changed now I’ve relocated to Scotland, then all the better.

A hit of Denver

Pioneers: James Cahill, Krisha Shah and Scott Gault en route to Denver. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Now, when you do get out to Denver and Colorado, and you will, it’ll hit you, yes, the altitude.

But also the feeling of those who have passed through here before.

The pioneers came out West to start a new life.

And to practise their religion their way, and those chasing the Gold Rush.

All before mechanical birds, slugging it out instead by stagecoach and by rail.

And how Americans have always glorified their stations with Denver Union Station a living breathing, transporting museum.

And, of course, those who were here first, the Native Americans.

It fits the Bill

With the best example of how the incomers and the indigenous population did get on visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave.

Above Lookout Mountain, near Denver.

Where you can see examples on the boards of how Bill and his Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World took the trip in the other direction.

To entertain the smallest Scottish and English towns.

It’s a deal

So, the pathways between ourselves, and I count myself as an Irish-Scot who always goes through Dublin to the States, have always existed.

And have now been enhanced from Dublin to Denver, the Aer Mile High City.

Now your Dublin-Denver route will operate four times weekly and is served by an Airbus A330.

Those looking to explore the ‘Mile High City’ and beyond can enjoy €100 off Economy and €200 off Business fares to the US.

In an offer that lassts until midnight 19^th May.

And is valid for travel from 1^st August through 30^th November.

Countries, Food & Wine, Ireland

The perfect Guinness

25th February 202225th February 2022 funtime65

The perfect Guinness before you leave the country.

Everyone knows you can’t come to Ireland without sampling the Black Stuff.

And now Dublin Airport is setting it up so that any visitor who might have forgotten (difficult) can imbibe in Terminal 1.

Airport drinking

DA will make you feel as if you’re in the next best thing to the St James’s Gate brewery.

They have created a snug that offers visuals of the views they would experience if they were in The Liberties (Guinness’s neighbourhood).

Of course Guinness has a range of drink and foods to enjoy too but it’s the ‘plain’, the stout which you’ll go for, so Sláinte.

Now the old saying goes that the best Guinnesses are in Ireland although they cloud it (never done in a Guinness) in mystery.

Drinking rituals

Here’s Johnny: With Rain in Johnny Fox’s, Co. Dublin

Now I love drinking rituals as much as the next guy.

And I have learned to fix my eyes on the person I’m drinking with when I say Prost in a German bierhouse.

And not question the size of the frothy head on my Urquell Pilsner in the Czech Republic.

Now you don’t have to go to Dublin to learn how to pour the perfect pint although it helps if your cousins run the Liffeyside institution the Workshop.

The global drink

Mac and Black: With former Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe at the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

Just walk into any Irish bar around the world, and there are thousands from atop mountains to astride glaciers.

Whether Sean from Athenry will let you tamper with his taps though is a different matter.

One hostelry though where they’ll be glad to help, and in fact insist on it, is at Rí Rá Las Vegas inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay.

Glass Vegas

There they’ll give you the only ‘official’ Perfect Pint Experience class outside of Dublin.

Now I don’t want to give it away but there are six steps.

Follow them and you’ll not only get the perfect pint to swallow but also a photo, the glass and discount on the merch.

You can also dine in a pretty realistic recreation of an Irish snug… Vegas style.

Whether you’re fortunate to be in Ireland, passing through or want to escape for a while in an Irish bar somewhere in the world.

Nothing will taste as Irish as the Perfect Guinness.

Africa, America, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Ireland

Give Bono his own airport

7th February 20226th February 2022 funtime65

With all the talk of honouring James Joyce in his native city I’d suggest he defer to another Dub wordsmith… give Bono his own airport.

Now Paul Hewson (his Sunday name) may not have the classical allusions JJ has but he is inarguably the greatest Irishman.

And rather than name the city airport after the author of Ulysses, published 100 years ago, that tribute should go to the U2 man.

Now full disclosure here I’m not a fan boy.

It’s only that airports, just like statues, shouldn’t be the preserve of dead people.

Not that I’ve got anything against the legends.

Leonardo Da Vinci (Rome), Charles De Gaulle (Paris) or JFK (New York) the latter where I piloted a plane into, albeit a simulator.

It’s just that the recipients don’t ever get to see their names in lights or a podium.

And Billy Connolly too

And I would say the same about Billy Connolly and Glasgow and Sean Connery and Edinburgh.

So in just about the same time as it takes to Ryanair to pitch their on-flight offers.

I come around to a celebration of those living people who have had airports named after them.

Cristiano airport

Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, Madeira: No danger of Ronnie being coy about seeing his name attached to his own island.

There is already a statue of the Great Man outside although you might not recognise him if you didn’t know already.

Clintons runway

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Little Rock, Arkansas: And ever since he burst onto the political scene Clinton has been flying by the seat of his pants.

And Bill has been sure to give Hill equal billing ever since.

Dutch of class

Orange is the only colour: For Queen Beatrix

Queen Beatrix Airport, Aruba: Now the Dutch connections with their little corner of the Caribbean.

And you see it too in Sint Maarten and the airport that has taken Prncess Juliana’s name through her life and continues to do so.

Lech’s go round again

Lech Walesa, Gdansk, Poland: We first made acquaintance with the moustachioed shop steward in the docks in the Eighties.

Now the union man who took on the Commies and went onto become Pres has his own airport. General Waruzelski anyone?

Bob’s the job

Robert Mugabe, Harare, Zimbabwe: And you’d think that after The Great Dictator died then they’d have changed the name.

But as I found out from a Zim tracker on a game drive in the Eastern Cape in South Africa elders are respected… mmmm!

So yes, it would be the sweetest thing but deserved.

Think again

If the politicians pushing for Dublin Airport to be renamed James Joyce Dublin Airport thought again.

And renamed it to give Bono his own airport