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Tee up the Ryder Cup and Long Island

24th September 202524th September 2025 funtime65

Now they’re the perfect pairing, a match made in heaven and the golf club is the perfect pitch for the biggest occasion, so read on as I tee up the Ryder Cup and Long Island.

As thoughts turn this week to Bethpage State Park in Long Island our own roll back.

To when the US Open was held here and we were in town and one Lucas Glover took home the trophy.

My Irish-American cousin Eddie got his hands on a prize far bigger though than any golf bauble then, his beautiful new wife Sandy.

Proud Americans that they are, Eddie, Sandy, and their two future little Solheim Golfers will, of course, be cheering on the Yanks, as they should.

Long Island gateway

Long Island for me was my gateway into America as a teenager visiting the Oo Es of Eh for the first time.

And being treated like a lord by Eddie and my Irish-American rellies.

For most visitors to New York, of course, the closest they will get to Long Island is when they touch down at JFK Airport in Queens.

But the Island, as it is affectionately known, has its own attractions.

Which, if you can, you should visit on your New York trip.

The well-heeled, of course, put the Hamptons, on the far end of the Island, on the map.

Long before F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby and the Golden Age and Donald ‘Jay Trump’.

And, of course, tourists still flock to the tip.

For a peak of how the rich and famous might live and visit the iconic Montauk Lighthouse.

Which many of us will associate with the Dominic West TV blockbuster The Affair.

The Island’s Fab Four

Beach life: The Affair was shot on the Island

Long Island boasts four regions.

The North Shore is known for its opulent estates and harbourside villages.

Then there is the South Shore where racegoers gather at Belmont Park.

And partygoers converge on the UBS Arena, Jones Beach boardwalk for their kicking concerts.

The North Fork’s farmland and vineyards are the destination for foodies.

While, cycling and swimming friendly South Fork – The Hamptons and Montauk is where you can bag those celebrity sightings as some trophy fishing of your own.

Now whatever your pleasure, beaches, vineyards, museums, waterparks for the kids.

Or shopping at Americana Manhasset’s Miracle Mile.

The Island is a New York 19th hole you need to hang around for.

And on the tee

And on the golfing theme, you’ll notice too that Bethpage being a State Park means that you can play it too.

So just a few tips on how to tee up the Ryder Cup and Long Island.

And you’ll just have to get out and see it all for yourself.

Which, if you’re like me and coming from the Old World.

Then avail of pre-clearance through Ireland with Aer Lingus.

With sample fares for next month which we found from €659.36.

America, Countries

The original Supermen in their Ohio home town

23rd May 202523rd May 2025 funtime65

Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s the original Supermen in their Ohio home town.

It’s apt that the pride of Ohio should be chosen to represent Metropolis in the new Superman film which will be out in our cinemas in July.

David Corenswet will be the latest to pull on the Clark Kent specs and skintight blue and red cossie.

Following in the footsteps of Bud Collyer, Christopher Reeve, Nicolas Cage and Henry Cavill among the dozens to have channeled their Man of Steel.

Few though, outwith Superman Superfans will know of the original Supermen, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Two Cleveland teenagers with a passion for science fiction and comics, who created the first superhero in 1932.

Get in on the Action

Fans can, of course, can visit the site of their family homes.

‘This is the house where Superman was born,’ reads a sign hanging on the fence in front of 10622 Kimberly Ave, where in 1932 18-year-old Jerry Siegel invented the Man of Steel.

The apartment house where Joe Shuster, who illustrated Superman, lived is now a vacant lot, but the fence around it has been hung with 2×3-foot metal panels.

They reproduce the cover and first 13 pages of Action Comics #1, the first Superman story, which was published on April 18, 1938.

Rightly, you get a handle that Cleveland is the home of Superman from the moment you touch down at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

With a display of memorabilia, while there’s another display at the Cleveland Public Library, where Siegel and Shuster both drew inspiration.

And you can also visit the observation deck at the Terminal Tower.

On a pedestal

Snippets of Superman: In the origin city

The Siegel and Shuster Society, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Superman’s creation in Cleveland, is spearheading the planning of Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza outside the Huntington Convention Centre of Cleveland.

The project will feature a Superman statue designed by a local artist; statues of Siegel, his wife Joanne (upon whom Lois Lane was modelled) and Shuster.

The original Supermen in their Ohio home town.

And a phone booth famous for the hero’s quick costume changes.

So there’s already a lot of Superman for the Superfan already in Cleveland .

And super flights out from Ireland’s national airline carrier.

Out to the Metropolis of the Oo Es of Eh with Aer Lingus.

But with this summer’s anticipated Superman blockbuster the Ohio metropolis is readying itself for even more spotlight.

The new Supermen

With the city’s filming locations including:

Public Square, including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and surrounding buildings, was transformed into Metropolis’ bustling centre.
The Leader Building stood in as the exterior of the Daily Planet.
Key Tower became the headquarters for the fictional Stagg Enterprises.
The Cleveland Arcade where Superman and Lois Lane kiss beneath the historic glass ceiling.
Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, hosted an explosive action sequence.
Cleveland City Hall transformed into Metropolis’ City Hall.
Detroit–Superior Bridge is featured in a high-intensity confrontation.
Ontario Street and the former Cleveland Greyhound Station were part of fast-paced street scenes.
PNC Plaza offered dynamic urban visuals.
Terminal Tower appeared in sweeping skyline shots of Metropolis.
Superior Avenue, temporarily renamed “Concord Street,” was reimagined as a major city thoroughfare.
Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, about a 30-minute drive east from downtown, was used to depict a vintage U.S. Army base.

America, Countries

Griffith Observatory’s stars out

8th April 20258th April 2025 funtime65

James Dean said it best in Rebel Without A Cause with the Griffith Observatory’s stars out.

‘Once you been up there, you know you’ve been some place.’

And where Jimmy Dean trod other icons of the big screen followed.

Such as Michael J Fox, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone and a host of others including the Transformers.

Force of nature: Transformers at the Observatory

This year marks 90 years since the Welsh industrialist Griffith J Griffith’s legacy dream of an observatory became reality.

And 70 since Dean popularised it for the world in the ultimate coming of age teenage angst film.

In James Dean’s space

Mirror image: The knife scene at Observatory

Now when his character Jim Stark slouched in his seat in the planetarium and goofed about as the lecturer opened up the world of space.

It would be another six years before Yuri Gagarin became the first human to enter space.

The world has changed, as every politician is fond of telling us, but space hasn’t other than the traffic up there now.

And Griffith Park and the observatory are strikingly similar to when Jim and his rivals had their knife fight outside.

Griffith’s graft

We imagine the imaginatively named Griffith J Griffith would approve of the continuum.

Having insisted that the 4,310 acre park in the Santa Monica mountains should be the property of the Los Angeles people in perpetuity.

Which means that trekking through the park and picnicking there remains a favourite pastime of locals and tourists alike.

The Griffith Observatory as demanded by its donor is free as is the free night-sky telescope viewing, the most looked-through lens in the world.

Planetarium shows at the Observatory are offered eight times a day on weekdays and ten times a day on weekends with just a $10 fee.

While car parking fees are around $10 if you arrive by car though it would have cost Jim Stark big with that knifed tyre, even in 1955.

Sign of the times

Picnic time: On the Bikes and Hikes tour

The park also includes popular attractions such as the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, the Greek Theatre and the Hollywood Sign.

Although you can no longer get right up next to the sign because of messers.

And they still try to get up them thar hills even with the threat of a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.

And the cops are atop that hill with their Tannoy too.

Better hook up with Bikes & Hikes as we have and explore any of the 53 miles of trails, with them offering a holiday sale down from $59 to $39.

So if you want to do like the locals and the stellar figures of old, Griffith Observatory’s stars out to play every day in the Oo Es of Eh.

America, Countries

Getting the band back together for Chicago

29th January 202529th January 2025 funtime65

Even I’d admit it’s a stretch to say that it’s a mission from God but we’re getting the band back together for Chicago.

And by the band I mean our merry posse of international travel professionals who meet annually at the American Travel Fair, IPW.

The Windy City (it’s more about hot-air politicians than the weather) has long been a magnet for movie locations.

In the Blues’ shoes

And, of course, you can follow in the loafers of Jake and Elwood all around Chicago at:

The Pilgrim church, 3235 E. 91st Street: The church where Jake backflips down the altar to James Brown’s Old Landmark.

And Nate’s Deli (Soul Food Cafe), 807 W. Maxwell Street: And Aretha Franklin sings Think to ‘husband’ Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy as Jake and Ellwood try to lure him away. Busboy ‘Blue’ Lou Marini jumps on board too.

A Nazi shock: But Jake and Ellwood have their number

Of course, the Blues Brothers being as much a road movie as a music flick classic, your odyssey will take you out of the city centre to Jackson Park.

And the drink where the Illinois Nazis meet their fate.

Once round on the Ferris wheel

Now if you only have one day in the Mid-West Metropolis, and unlucky you, then Ferris Bueller is the guy to go for advice.

And On Location Tours.

You’ll start at the iconic Art Institute of Chicago, where Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron mix culture and mischief.

Before your high-speed chase through the city streets as Ferris plays cat and mouse with principal Mr Rooney.

Of course those in the know will tell you that the most famous Ferris in Chicago is not the school-skipping Master Bueller but the Navy Pier ferris.

Which is where we’ll be saying farewell to the city on the convention’s last night… but let’s not leave before we get there.

Now no day out in Chicago is complete without a visit to the ball game and Wrigley Field.

Before ending the day with a breathtaking view from the top of the Sears Tower.

Our Chicago odyssey

Mind you for all the fun Ferris had it will be nothing compared with what they have in store for us in Chicago in June.

And nowhere you can learn more about the US than here, or maybe Choose Chicago.

All worth getting the band back together for Chicago then.

Countries

Aer Lingus, Vegas and U2 are Exospheric

25th October 202425th October 2024 funtime65

And to borrow a line from the Irish megastars I will follow… because Aer Lingus, Vegas and U2 are going Exospheric.

Of course, for conquerors of the new world U2 the outermost sphere around the Earth is probably the last frontier.

Only the entertainment capital of the world is big enough to house an ego the size of Bono.

But from sources who know the Sunglassed One it’s all apparently an act and that he is really just a good oul’ North Dub family man, albeit living now in bougie Dalkey.

It may even have been the aforementioned Paul Hewson who started the anecdote from a gig in Glasgow.

When he said: ‘Every time I clap my hands a child dies in Africa.’

To which a punter was said to have shouted out: ‘Well, stop clapping your hands you evil so-and-so.’

Wish you were Sphere

The boyos, of course, weaved their magic at the Sphere in Vegas from last September to March 2 as part of their U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency.

It featured the venue’s immersive technology, including the Exosphere, which featured video artwork.

It was also captured in the concert film V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film, which was shown exclusively at the Sphere.

Now we know Ireland’s biggest-ever cultural export were transported in their early days to ever-dizzying heights on the wings of Aer Lingus.

And will join us in pushing the latest in the national airline carrier’s transatlantic routes.

And flagging up their weekend flash sale.

Flash sale

Aer Lingus has return fares to any destination in the United States for just €399 return, including taxes and charges.

The sale starts at 9am from today, Friday October 25 and will finish at midnight on Saturday, 26^th October.

The new Dublin-Las Vegas route will operate three times per week.

The offer is valid for travel between Ireland and the United States from November 1st to December 16th and from January 7th to January 31st.

Announcing Aer Lingus’ arrival in Las Vegas, the Irish carrier became the first airline to take over the city’s skyline with a dazzling aircraft activation on the Exosphere – the exterior of Sphere.

The spectacle was timed to coincide with the inaugural flight’s arrival into Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport.

Transatlantic crossing

Aer Lingus boasts 18 routes to the US from Dublin Airport.

They will operate this seasonal route to/from Neon City on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday up until 29 April 2025, taking in next Easter mid-term break.

For those hoping to book their own US adventure, Aer Lingus has introduced special fares of just €399.

Until midnight Saturday, October 26.

Now across their Dublin, Shannon and Manchester bases there are 24 transatlantic bases.

From April 12, 2025, Aer Lingus will fly to Nashville four times per week.

The airline will also commence a new route to Indianapolis, also flying four times per week from May 3, 2025.

And all with US Customs and Border pre-clearance at Dublin and Shannon airports.

For the day that’s in it though it’s all about Aer Lingus, Vegas and U2 are Exospheric.

America, Countries, Music

Get Ziggy with it

7th May 20248th May 2024 funtime65

Diana Ross kicked it all off here in LA on Saturday and set off a chain reaction… and we’re not finished yet as we get Ziggy with it.

It makes sense that the City of Angels draws those who are blessed with the voices of angels.

And in Ziggy Marley, our entertainment for our last day at our American Travel Fair, IPW, his dad Bob is here with us in spirit.

Ziggy, you’ll remember from the One Love biopic is the cute kid Bob wrote Three Little Birds for.

Who went on to carve out a Grammy-winning career himself.

And truly we don’t worry about a thing here this week as our LA hosts have taken care of it all.

Wyld about Keanu

Diana, of course, is no warm-up act for anyone but the entertainment which has followed could easily pack an auditorium.

With Keanu Reeves’ band (no, not Wyld Stallyns) but Southern Californian schtick combo Dogstar bringing the house down.

And left the Italian delegation in particular weak-kneed as they shouted out their love for him from the floor.

While the legends that we so loved and lost couldn’t obviously be with us we were treated to the next best thing.

Regards to Broadway

With a Michael Jackson tribute act heading up the MJ musical which he gave us a taster of.

All part of a Broadway Musicals hour.

Where the casts of Chicago, Six, Back to the Future and new sensation Water for Elephants all featured.

Kicks on Route 66

We’ve been treated too to the best hip hop and jazz in Louis York to promote Travel South USA Y’all.

And house and blues to project Chicago for next year’s convention.

There is a synergy to all of this with Route 66 which connects LA to Chicago celebrating its centenary.

This week has as it always is at IPW been about one love… for travel.

And we have of course been getting Ziggy with it.

America, Countries

Sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard

6th May 20246th May 2024 funtime65

All I wanna do is have some fun before I die said the man sat in the Uber next to me… and the sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard.

We are in the Uber from hell despite the easy jazz coming out of the driver’s playlist.

Well, they do say that the Devil plays the best tunes.

And forms pleasing shapes with Michael a well turned out Fifty-something dude from Seattle.

Who unfortunately can’t get us back from our night out from downtown LA Live to the pier.

Like a prayer for Donna

Donna, our sainted Irish travel pal from Tour America would be forgiven for going round the bend.

Michael is as he tries to connect his phone to hers with his showing her as a blue dot chasing after him.

Only in America!

After a couple of cancellations, at her cost, and we hope she gets her refund in the 23-hour refund policy.

And an hour in his roomy, air-conditioned Kia people carrier we give up the gig and book a second driver.

Uber to you

Michael 2.0 is a different animal and sex… her car is only a four-seater and we’re a five.

And she has brought her home with her which Donna has to sit among in the front-seat.

While she has the heating up full which knocks Julianne out in the back.

While our new pal who has latched on to who for the purposes here we’ll call Bill, or Billy or Buddy.

But whose real name is Stuart (from Manchester, England) and who is on the phone to Spain to his signora from Peru.

Now my Spanish is nada but I can figure out that there was an expletive next to Uber and Michael/Miguel in the conversation.

A toast at the Lazy Dog

Like all of life’s journeys, at least until now, we arrive at our destination.

The JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, 15 and a half miles away, 45 minutes later.

Donna has a thirst on her like she has been stuck in the Mojave Desert over yonder above Las Vegas.

It is only sporting to take her to join our Irish and Bostonian pals (same thing really) at the Lazy Dog on our hotel doorstep.

For local craft beers… and regale our company with our Santa Monica adventure.

Rollercoasters, bumpers and whack a moles

How Julianne conquered her fears of rollercoasters.

Whupped my ass on the whack a mole, I got my own back on the American bumpers.

Before drinking it off in Bubba Gump itShrimp, near the sign for the end of Route 66..

And how we’d dragged Donna out of the jumping music joint Big Dean’s for all this.

Just as the sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard.

America, Countries, Music

Bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum

6th May 2024 funtime65

She’s Detroit born and bred but she’s also pure Hollywood… and we’ve only been bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum.

Where the 1932 and 1984 Olympics were held and the 2028 Games will take place.

Diana is not shy (she never was) about telling our convention at the American Travel Fair, IPW, that she is 80.

So we can forgive her for not running around the stage like she once did.

Although she’s still got the moves even in the glitteriest of gowns.

Diana the goddess

Diana truly belongs here as much as any of the heroes who have graced this colossal arena.

The LA Memorial Coliseum, to give it its full name, honours Fallen Americans from the First World War.

Its rich history which has seen anything from big fights Jack Dempsey to big flights Charles Lindbergh grace the hallowed ground will be enhanced.

By the 3rd iteration of an LA Games.

Holding a torch

The torch with the eternal flame is a constant reminder of the City of Angels’ place in the Olympic story.

With the Games in four years’ time seeing LA make history as the first city to host the greatest show on Earth three times.

That other sporting colossus, the Football World Cup will act as a tasty hors d’oeuvre in two years’ time.

Diana on target

Where Diana has history for missing her penalty and bringing the posts down.

She didn’t miss the target though here this week.

When we were bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum.

I’m staying at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A LIVE, having flown Glasgow through Dublin with Aer Lingus to LAX.

MEET YOU AT THE PARTY

America, Countries, Ireland, Music, UK

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers

30th November 202330th November 2023 funtime65

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers… it was an honour to pick up your empties.

Shane probably wouldn’t remember it, he wouldn’t remember much after a slake of beer or whiskey.

But I was the glass collector the night he played the Ritzy nightclub in Aberdeen.

When he was at his most energetic and would rattle into Sally MacLennane, The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn or the Old Main Drag.

Swigging a bottle of lager before launching into his song and banging it down at the end before gargling a word of acknowledgement to me as I kept them lined up.

The Pogues’ oul rogue

Shane MacGowan was for so many of us Fiftysomething the soundtrack of our youth, the go-to artist and band to pogo to on the Union dancefloor.

And, of course, like all of the most treasured of artists, he is transgenerational.

He will be remembered most for his anthemic Christmas song Fairytale of New York with Kirsty MacColl which broke the mould of cheesy tinsel songs.

And many will see it as poignant that he should pass over to the other side as Christmas festivities get into full swing.

But it was as the lead singer of the band which fused the most unlikely bedfellows of Irish trad music and punk for which he will go down in music history as a pioneer.

Son of the oul’ sod

Of course, Shane was like me and millions, and this is where the link ends part of the great Diaspora, a son of a son (or daughter) of the sod.

Of those who had, like my Dear Old Mum and my Dad, whose own mum and his ancestors had taken the boat across to Britain.

Few because of the poor state of the economy back in the homeland could make a permanent move back to Ireland.

But they held the Irish culture, the politics, their nationalism, the song, the dance and the craic close to their hearts.

And pass it on to the new land they found themselves in which is why The Pogues became celebrated in London and across Britain.

From New York to the world

Of course, it is poignant that Fairytale of New York should be the ultimate Pogues standard as the bond formed between Ireland and America grows stronger year by year.

And underlined by American President Joe Biden who made an emotional return to the land of his fathers last year.

The unruffled ruffian with the broken glass teeth and the gravelly voice has gone and a million jukeboxes will blast out his hits across Irish bars around the world.

Farewell Shane MacGowan, the last of the Irish Rovers.

As he joins Jimmy from Sally Maclennane ‘who took the road for heaven in the morning.’

America, Countries, Sport

Mums are bigger in Texas

2nd September 20233rd September 2023 funtime65

Listen up y’all like everything else in the Lone Star state Mums are bigger in Texas.

No, not the wrinkled stocking screeching mouse-fearing Mamma of Tom and Jerry…or Barbie Bubba from the trailer park.

Though don’t shoot me… I’ve seen all the Smokey films and Texan women are some of the prettiest in the world.

It’s just the received wisdom is that Mums come in bigger (Gawd, I’m digging a hole here) sizes.

I am, of course, not talking mothers here but the big adornments women wear for Homecomings which Texans call ‘Mums’.

More is more

Which traditionally corresponds with the college football team’s first home game.

And we all know college football is as much about what happens off the pitch as on it.

And there are big parades featuring the school’s choir, a marching band.

With most importantly the coronation of a homecoming queen (and king).

With a dance following the big game.

Now if you think less is more then just think how much more ‘more’ can be.

Be your own lone star

So forget the subtle wrist corsages, faux chrysanthemums decorated with ribbons, go big or go home is the message from Texas.

With the Texan friends and big eads I met at the American Travel Fair in San Antonio giving us a flavour of how they do things.

The good folk of the charmingly named Grapevine are running an exhibition on all things Homecoming Mums tagged…

‘MUMENTOUS: Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Super-Sized High School Tradition Born Deep in the Heart of Texas.’

Book me in: Author Amy

The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Texas Lakes Trail Region, author and photographer Amy J. Schultz, and the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Activities include the GHS Homecoming parade on Wednesday, October 4.

And the Homecoming football game against Polytechnic High School of Fort Worth on Friday, October 6.

An exhibition of yourself

MUMENTOUS will be exhibited at the Grapevine Tower Gallery, 636 S. Main Street, from September 23rd-October 14.

The gallery is open Mondays through Fridays, 8am-5pm and Saturdays from 10am-5pm.

Additionally, there will be a MUMENTOUS Open House on the evening of October 4 in conjunction with the GHS Homecoming parade schedule.

Grapevine is just six miles from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

And we found a sample British Airways return flight from London Heathrow for the first week in October from £589 return.