06/09/2026
Did you know, Irish coffee was invented in the early 1940s by Joe Sheridan at Foynes Airport in Ireland, combining hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream to warm weary travelers.
Origins in Ireland
Irish coffee originated in Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, during the 1940s, when Foynes served as a key hub for transatlantic flights. In 1943, a Pan Am flying boat was forced to return due to stormy weather, and passengers disembarked cold and exhausted. Joe Sheridan, the head chef at the Foynes terminal restaurant, brewed strong coffee, added Irish whiskey, sugar, and topped it with cream to warm the travelers. When asked if it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan famously replied, “No, that’s Irish coffee”