Noxegon,
A very very significant number of passengers flying to EWR are connecting beyond EWR, others area connecting through Dublin and onto EWR as final destination, not just on EI services but Star alliance too. 60% is a figure quoted be UA themselves, and EI have significant connectibity both from GB /Europe, so I'm effect only a small amount of this business on DUB EWR is point to point. So result all services that fly to the US are feeding pax to the whole country. UA also benefit hugely from EI feed into EWR.
Nobody needs to blink!
EI -BUD