Foynes, Ireland Cruise Port

Despite its small population, the cruise port of Foynes, Ireland has been an important player in the pages of history. Located on the Shannon Estuary, this pretty seaport in midwestern Ireland's Limerick County provided the last port of call on the eastern shore for seaplanes during the 1930s and 1940s. Because of this, Foynes was ready to take on a much larger role during World War II, providing one of the largest civilian airports in Europe. Some may feel this next contribution even more important: Foynes claims to have invented Irish Coffee – which was, once again, brought about by aviation, and the need to keep cold, wet passengers happy. Today, Foynes is the second largest seaport in Ireland, a pretty good claim to fame for a town that wasn’t even established until the early 20th century. Here’s a list of some of our favorite experiences when cruising to Foynes, Ireland:

The most popular attraction in town is the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum. Not only will you learn about how Foynes became a major aviation hub, you can hop aboard a life-sized replica of the Yankee Clipper Flying Boat. Once you're done checking out the exhibits, the restored flying boat terminal restaurant offers freshly-prepared meals or afternoon tea.
Foynes has some fine gardens in which to stroll, and the award-winning Boyce Gardens is not only lovely in its own right, but has a wonderful view of the Shannon River. The Boyce family has developing this site for over 20 years, and along with unusual plant life you might not find elsewhere in Ireland, there's also a studio paint your own floral masterpiece.
Colorful Knockpatrick Gardens is a much older site than Boyce, established almost 100 years ago. Run by the O'Briens, they try a different garden experiment each year (such as planting wildflowers), so the scene is ever-changing.
One of the Discovery Points on the Wild Atlantic Way, the Foynes Recreation Site includes acres of walking trails, an abundance of wildlife, and remnants of the Monteagle Estate. You may even spot some bottlenose dolphins from Poultallin Point.

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