Coffee and aircraft a heady brew at Foynes this weekend

The first Foynes Air Show was held in 2014, and in the past three years it has grown into the biggest air show in the west of the country. The 2017 event will take place this Saturday, and Foynes is getting ready to welcome 20,000 people to the port town for a day of aerobatics, featuring 32 of the world’s most famous and iconic aircraft taking to the skies over West Limerick. The 18-plus acts will be made up of daredevil displays from Europe’s most skilled military pilots, breathtaking aerobatics by Ireland and Europe’s most experienced aviators, as well as fly-bys by some of the world’s most historically significant aircraft. One of the most significant aircraft taking part in the show will be the Catalina flying boat G-PBYA, marking the 80th anniversary of the first trans-atlantic flight, undertaken on July 5th, when flying boat G-ADHM Caledonia, commanded by Capt. A.S. Wilcockson, took off from Foynes for Botwood in Newfoundland. Other planes you will see include the Douglas DC-3, a Pitts Special 2S2 and Russian Mig, Spanish Air Force F-18 jets, British Spitfires; Viggen jets, and a pair of Vampires from Norway.
On the following day, Sunday, ‘A Celebration of Irish Coffee 2017’ will provide an afternoon and night of celebrations for all age groups, featuring street entertainment, live music, comedy and fireworks, in the birthplace of the famous hot drink. Street enter-tainers, jugglers, balloon model artists and face painters will begin the celebrations at 2pm, while the focus of the festivities will move towards the Museum Square for live music with Jason Fallon at 3pm. Special guest Brendan Grace will join Jason to entertain the crowds with his famous comedy act.
It’s shaping up to be a great weekend in Foynes!