Sir, – On Sunday afternoon, September 16th, I travelled on the Stena Line from Holyhead to the port of Dublin and got on to the bus to take me to the city centre. It cost €2.50.
The bus was delayed, because three foot passengers had no euros to buy their ticket, so they were not allowed on. There was no bureau de change or ATM at the Stena terminal. It could have been a very simple problem to solve if, on the boat at the information centre, there had been a big notice advising foot passengers to buy their tickets – or the bus fare could be included in the price of the ticket?
The tourist industry spends millions in promoting the warmth and friendliness of the country. For the sake of €7.50 we all witnessed the rigidity of the rules of the private bus company, and it made for a very unwelcome journey for all the passengers.
Is there some kind of malicious gremlin lurking around? Is there sabotage afoot to destroy the “Céad míle fáilte” and the Gathering? – Yours, etc,