It’s not very likely, but rarely it happens, just like with any airline.

The thing to know is – what will it cost if you have to change your return ticket? What number do you call to do that?

Is there an alternate method to Ryanair that you can use to get back to Ireland, even if inconvenient or expensive, and what would it be?

Do you have travel insurance that covers this scenario? (Most people don’t, and it might be too late to get it now, but you could ask TravelCuts.)

I’ve never had a budget airline cancellation, or serious delay, yet, but they do happen, just as with any airline.

If/when I go back to Europe and use budget airlines, I think I’ll always aim for two nights at the end of the trip in the city I’m departing from, just to give myself more breathing room. Although I’ve done this most often, I have also left just one night in the past (with the thought in that case that the worst thing that could happen was a $200 ticket change fee plus expenses to stay in London longer).

Yeah I guess I’ll have to just keep my fingers crossed, in that case. I fly from Hahn to Dublin on the evening of the 13th, and from Dublin to Boson, MA on the afternoon of the 14th. A delay wouldn’t really be a problem, but a cancellation definitely would be. Also as far as I know, the day I leave Hahn is the last day of the week that they do that route so I would be screwed royally.

I’ll just have to pray to the airline gods nothing bad happens I suppose

Hahn to Dublin should be reasonably safe. (Ryanair is known to eliminate entire routes because of low load factor.)
What about Air Lingus from FRA to DUB as a back-up plan?

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Not sure when the last bus back from Hahn is though, and the flight is (theoretically) at 2200. Call me crazy, but if THEY cancel… I will get reimbursed…right? I’m kind of wary of them being like “well, you can take the next flight (4 days later), but if you can’t do that we’re not giving your $ back.”

Well, if your flight gets canceled getting money back from Ryanair would be the least of your worries. Walk-up fare with another carrier (Lufthansa or AirLingus) would cost a lot more.
Last year when my Ryanair flight was canceled (as non-profitable) they’ve let me chose between flying to another airport (some 300km away) or taking money back. However if you flight gets canceled for some other reason, like bad weather, their policy could be different.
So hope for the best and have a back-up plan.

Yeah good points.