Letters

Dear old Ireland

Costs for tourists and locals alike are prohibitive

Tue May 31 2022 - 00:06

Sir,– For anyone in Government who tries to dismiss Una Mullally’s piece as over the top, (“For top tier prices: Ireland you can’t bate it”, Opinion & Analysis, May 30th), please consider my shopping jaunt across the Border on Sunday to Strabane. I bought a bottle of red wine for £6 (discounted from the usual £7). The identical brand was on retail in Letterkenny last week for ¤12. Palmolive hand wash cost me £1 instead of my local price of ¤2.40 and a tiger bloomer loaf from the supermarket bakery was £0.85 versus around ¤2.50.

In my experience, the only shopping items cheaper in the Republic are diesel fuel, eggs and butter.

You don’t have to visit a restaurant or stay in a Dublin hotel to get ripped off in Ireland. – Yours, etc,

KENNETH

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HARPER,

Burtonport,

Co Donegal.

Sir, – As a first generation member of the diaspora, I have been coming to Ireland since the time when there was still rationing in the UK and my parents brought back butter from Kerry via the Rosslare ferry in the lining of my pram.

I have been hiring cars for decades until trying to make some bookings for three visits I am planning to Cork and Kerry this summer.

For a week’s car hire of the smallest vehicle plus insurance, I was quoted in excess of ¤1,300 for a June rental and I didn’t dare proceed with asking about the last week in July.

As I was planning to stay a few days near the Gap of Dunloe, a helpful friend suggested hiring a pony and trap as it would probably be cheaper, if somewhat slower.

The serious question is how might the average tourist, arriving by air, access the beauty of say, the Wild Atlantic Way, with such prohibitively expensive rentals?

Does this perhaps presage a rethink of how both Irish and indeed global tourism will work from now on? – Yours, etc,

MIKE LAWLOR,

London.

Sir, – On May 25th I paid ¤440 for a Dublin hotel room which over the last five years would cost no more than ¤180 for a midweek rate, suggesting some windfall profits are being enjoyed by the hotel industry at the moment.

Given the taxpayer generously supported the hotel industry during Covid, perhaps it’s time to consider an appropriate windfall tax on these hoteliers who appear to have short memories. – Is mise,

DAVID McCARTHY,

Dublin 16.

Sir, – With hotel prices in Dublin going through the roof and accommodation very difficult to secure, perhaps the problem could be eased somewhat if a decent-sized luxury cruiser were to dock on the quays and serve as a basic hotel for visitors to the city. – Yours, etc,

BOBBY CARTY,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.