Sir, – I read with interest and growing incredulity Dr Niamh Hamill's letter (Letters, September 2nd) describing Conor Pope's staycation as a masterclass in thoughtless mé féin thinking, and bemoaning the lack of support he and his family gave local communities by declining to stay in "registered accommodation", eat out and rent wetsuits.
Pope travelled with three children; this summer, so did I. We rented a caravan from a local business in Sligo for seven nights and stayed in a west of Ireland hotel for five nights, both booked well in advance, at a cost of €2,000 in total. Eating out was generally quite a fraught experience.
The “kiddies menu” of goujons/sausages and chips, with no thought for nutrition whatsoever, is everywhere. At €100 for dinner for five on our first night, with nary a vegetable or a glass of wine in sight, we gave up and went shopping.
We spent two glorious weeks on the west coast, taking surf lessons in Sligo, cycling the Mayo Greenway, and visiting the pristine beaches of the west and northwest. However, as a family travelling with young children, we were restricted in our spending to the “free” attractions described by Dr Hamill in her letter; much of our budget was blown on accommodation.
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Anytime we did eat out it was an underwhelming, expensive experience. There were no wetsuit rentals on any beach we visited. The Irish hospitality industry needs our support; but I reserve the right to not go into debt supporting it, and to holiday in my own country in a way that suits my family.
If this is thoughtless mé féinery then so be it.
– Yours, etc,
EILIS FORAN,
Ardrahan,
Co Galway.