Being a day trip and having to spend quite some time on the bus, our bus driver made sure he had enough information to entertain us. I have to admit that wasn’t always listening to him, but here what I managed to understand.
County Clare was once the land of the O’Brien clan. They fought for and defended this region, they built castles and towers and they also used combined weddings as a diplomatic weapon to increase their wealth (as it has been done in the rest of Europe, possibly the world).
While driving past Shannon, going towards Ennis, Richard (that is the name of the driver) told us the story of when and how Irish Coffee was invented.
“Late 1930’s – early 1940’s, International Airport of Foynes, County Clare, Eire.
At that time the airport at Foynes, was quite busy sending and receiving tourists and customers from the rest of the world. Ireland was already well known for its unpredictable and rainy cold weather. In those times the airport of Foynes was well known instead for its planes coming back after an hour or so after leaving the airport. Bad weather conditions plus lack of fuel forced pilots to change course and go back to the starting point.
That was what happened on one night. Once again, one of the planes who took off from Foynes justa couple of hour before, had to go back to the stating point. Really bad weather on its way! The passengers had to get off the plane, they were wet, cold and grumpy. A chef, willing to give them some comfort, prepared a coffee, added a shot of whiskey and topped it with cream. An American asked “ What is this? Is it Brazilian coffee?” and the chef replied “No, this is Irish Coffee”.
And they all lived happily ever after.
NOTE: a young boy playing with a rugby ball by the ruins of a castle overlooking a lake.
County Clare was once the land of the O’Brien clan. They fought for and defended this region, they built castles and towers and they also used combined weddings as a diplomatic weapon to increase their wealth (as it has been done in the rest of Europe, possibly the world).
While driving past Shannon, going towards Ennis, Richard (that is the name of the driver) told us the story of when and how Irish Coffee was invented.
“Late 1930’s – early 1940’s, International Airport of Foynes, County Clare, Eire.
At that time the airport at Foynes, was quite busy sending and receiving tourists and customers from the rest of the world. Ireland was already well known for its unpredictable and rainy cold weather. In those times the airport of Foynes was well known instead for its planes coming back after an hour or so after leaving the airport. Bad weather conditions plus lack of fuel forced pilots to change course and go back to the starting point.
That was what happened on one night. Once again, one of the planes who took off from Foynes justa couple of hour before, had to go back to the stating point. Really bad weather on its way! The passengers had to get off the plane, they were wet, cold and grumpy. A chef, willing to give them some comfort, prepared a coffee, added a shot of whiskey and topped it with cream. An American asked “ What is this? Is it Brazilian coffee?” and the chef replied “No, this is Irish Coffee”.
And they all lived happily ever after.
NOTE: a young boy playing with a rugby ball by the ruins of a castle overlooking a lake.
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