Shannon Airport

• Shannon is the only airport in Ireland that remains open all year round. It is a 24-hour operation, 365 days a year (even Christmas Day).
• Shannon airport has the longest runway in Ireland at 3,200 metres.
• The world’s first Duty Free shop was established at Shannon Airport in 1947. It began as a small kiosk staffed by one woman and today has grown into a multi-billion dollar retail industry throughout the world.
• Shannon is home to the world-famous Irish coffee, invented by Chef Joe Sheridan in 1942 to keep passengers warm while stopping off during their transatlantic flights.
• The airport was originally located at Foynes, as a sea-plane base for transatlantic flights. The airport relocated to a land-based facility in 1945.