As I noted in my first post, I was granted Irish citizenship on 5 November 2024. Since then I’ve been working on a plan for assimilation without actually moving there. Since assimilating properly will require the occasional visit, I’ve decided to fly to Shannon Airport in October. As an infrequent flier, I was surprised at how low the fares are but disappointed at the extra costs that go along with those air fares. I’m told by more frequent fliers the air fares to Ireland are pretty reasonable right now That’s good news for anyone who wants to fly to Dublin in September to tailgate before an NFL game at Croke Park.


Since 1947 the chaplain of the Dublin Airport has blessed the Aer Lingus fleet in early December. In 2024 representatives of other faiths were invited. Credit: Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Right - The first siting of Ireland (if it’s not overcast and grey) is one most visitors never forget. (Photo by Bill Gallagher)
THE FLYING GAME
If you’re going to fly out of PDX to DUB or SNN (Shannon) be prepared for lay-overs. Since Aer Lingus doesn’t run any flights out of PDX, non-stops are a non-starter. I’m headed to the Wild Atlantic Way in October so landing at Shannon makes a lot of sense. I booked a United Air Lines flight for $546 RT. Not bad. But then add on the costs of booking a seat on the four legs of the flight and an extra 75 bucks to check one bag. Final cost of that $546 ticket is $812.08. Still not a bad deal, I’m told.
As an infrequent flyer, I find the new rules of the flying game challenging. How much is an aisle seat in the first 20 rows worth? Why do I have to pay multiple times for a seat assignment? Can I make it two weeks with a carry on?
Don’t get me started on how advertised car rental rates in Ireland aren’t what they seem. I’ll go there in a future post.
HOW MUCH AN NFL WEEKEND IN DUBLIN WOULD COST
If seeing an NFL game at Croke Park in Dublin is on your bucket list, you’re in luck. The Pittsburg Steelers will play the Minnesota Vikings in the first NFL regular season game ever played in Ireland on September 28. Kick off here in Portland is 6:30 A.M. 2:30 P.M. at Croke.
Based on a back-of-the-napkin calculation, bucket list wish fulfillment will cost you at minimum $3500, based on some basic internet research. I’m lowballing here. I’m a frugal traveller. A better estimate with more fun and a few frills would be $4200. These fares and prices are as of 3 P.M. Monday 26 May. They are only going to go up.
Back-of-the-napkin calculation based on 5.27.25 fares and prices for two travelers. For more fun add $700. Click here to figure out the Euro to Dollar exchange rate.
AER LINGUS: INDIANAPOLIS YES. PORTLAND NOT YET.
Flying to Ireland from Portland and back direct on an Aer Lingus flight would be nice. But that won’t happen until certain stars are in alignment and establishing PDX – DUB flights makes economic sense for Ireland’s flag carrier (which is owned by a Spanish Co. IAG). What stars? Well, take Indianapolis. Earlier this month Aer Lingus kicked off service between IND and DUB four times a week. Fodors.com looked at the numbers. Indy has the 33rd most people among US metro areas. Portland ranks 25th. In metro GDP Portland has $30 billion more on the books. However, however, however. Indy has SPORTS. The NBA Pacers, currently battling for the NBA crown, the NFL Colts, the Indy 500 and plenty of colleges competing are major draws for people flying from Europe. Aer Lingus is the only European airline servicing Indy directly. Portland doesn’t have that kind of sports draw despite bigger population numbers. There’s no new news on when DUB-PDX service might launch. So enjoy your layover in Newark or Denver or Chicago or Reykjavik. Another factor in Indy’s favor is that there are 52 Ireland-based businesses there. Indy-based Eli Lilly was planning an $800 million expansion of its plant in Kinsale near Cork before the trade war broke out.
COMING ATTRACTIONS AT GCC DAILY
Wed. 5.28 - RFK Sr., the most Irish of Joe and Rose’s 11 Kennedy kids, was the first Kennedy to lose an election in 27 years. Oregon voters dealt the losing hand on May 28, 1968, in the Democratic Presidential primary. Five reasons why Bobby blew it in Oregon.
Thurs. - 5.29 - Kneecap, the trio that raps in the Irish language, will perform at the old Hibernian Hall – now the Wonder Ballroom – in October. THE SHOW IS ALREADY SOLD OUT. What’s the appeal in Portland of the outspoken, obscene, pro-Palestine, anti-Zionist sensations from Belfast? No idea but we’ll take a dive. The British musician Billy Bragg wrote this Substack post on the Kneecap controversy. It’s worth reading.
Date depending on the jury – Was Gerry Adams in the IRA? A jury in Dublin is set to answer that question. Adams is suing the BBC for reporting that as the leader of the IRA he ordered the killing of a comrade who turned out to be a British spy. (Many of you who read or watched Say Nothing and found it credible will be shaking your heads.) Read how the BBC is covering this trial.
Fri. - 5.30 - Irish Friday. What’s in your queue for the weekend? Brendan Gleeson was just presented with the Lord Mayor of Dublin Award for his good works and for being a generally all-around good guy. Have you got a favorite movie of his? The Banshees of Inisherin? Harry Potter movies? In Bruges? The Guard? The General? Six Shooter?
Sun. - 6.1 - The Irish American community in Portland a hundred years ago was celebrating on this date. A unanimous SCOTUS overturned the vote of the Oregon people that would have closed all private schools on Sept. 1, 1926. The Catholic schools the kids attended were saved and efforts by the Ku Klux Klan across the country to get Catholics out of the education business were abandoned. What a story.
Mon. - 6.2 - Conor I Hardly Knew Ye - As a new non-resisdent citizen of Ireland I need to better understand the politics there. So, I went back and listened to the opinionated pugilist Conor McGregor being interviewed recently by Tucker Carlson. Will he run for President of Ireland? Find out what it would take for him to get on the November 11 ballot starting Monday at GCC.