Mark D - You are right, it was the bar at Foynes that first came up with the Irish Coffee...catering to the Americans who probably needed more than a caffeine kick after a boat plane ride across the Atlantic.
Charlie Roy - The bar was probably never profitable when run by the Shannon Airport Authority...a state company running a bar (or any food & beverage operation) does not sound like a viable business. I would imagine it would do well if privately run. And on that note, I presume the new bar at Cork is leased off the CAA and run privately.