Sir, – On August 23rd my wife and I drove to Westport, Co Mayo, to cycle the very scenic Great Western Greenway route from Westport to Achill bridge. The warmth of interactions with those working in the tourism and hospitality sector is alive and well in the west, judging from our weekend visit. Our experience in Westport, and north of there, stands out from the patently mercenary hospitality we experience in our frequent foreign travels.
While cycling on Saturday we were soaked to the skin when persistent rain arrived halfway into our cycle journey. We, among other cyclists who stopped at the Dánlann Yawl Art Gallery cafe in Tóin re Gaoith, were handed clean towels to make our stop more comfortable. When my wife and I later arrived at the end of the cycle route at 3pm, she telephoned Clew Bay Bike Hire in Westport, explaining how she was wet and cold, and asking if there was any chance of being collected ahead of its shuttle bus at 5pm. Dave, a co-owner of the cycle hire company, suggested we enjoy a warm cup of coffee while he would immediately drive his car from Westport to collect us.
On the mainland side of the bridge to Achill Island we stepped in from the rain, in to the foyer of Óstán Oileán Acla. The owner of the hotel, Úna, on seeing how cold and wet my wife was, insisted we take a shower in a room of her hotel while she collected our soaked clothes and put them in a clothes dryer. May, a neighbour helping her on the day, “mothered” us and would not hand back our clothes until they were warm and dry. She protested we “would get pneumonia”, and insisted I take a warm sports shirt she had washed after some guest left it behind in the hotel. Warm and dried, we left the room that had to be prepared again for guests (in a hotel we were not even staying in!) – before being collected in a car driven specially 42 km from Westport to pick us up, at no charge.
My wife and I could not help contrasting the prevailing culture of spontaneous generosity we experienced in Mayo in one weekend with the impersonal and just-adequate service we have grown used to expect over many weeks abroad. Ireland of the Welcomes is alive and well in the west. – Is mise,
(Dr) SEÁN Ó MAOLÁIN,
Cúirt Wilton,
Wilton, Corcaigh.