IAN COOPER,
Madam, - We made our first trip to Ireland last month. We had just drove off the ferry at Dun Laoghaire when our car broke down. After everyone had left the port we were the only ones left. One of the gardaí on duty came up and when we told him of our problem he took off his coat and tried to repair the car.
Having no success, he phoned his mate, a mechanic, who also tried for half-an-hour to repair the car, to no avail. He then phoned a friend who had a pick-up truck. He came quick as a flash and our first trip in Ireland was on the back of a lorry.
The pick-up truck driver took us to Esmonde Motors in Dun Laoghaire, where the car was put straight up on the ramp. The company offered to take us to town for a snack and also brought our dog a tin of dog-food. We were there for four hours until the mechanics had resolved the problem via a computer. The bill was very very reasonable.
All the staff came out to wave us farewell and we left with a personally drawn map of our intended journey to Arklow.
This is just to say a special thank you to all of the wonderful people who helped make our problem lighter. What a wonderful welcome you Irish gave us; thank you once again for your hospitality. And by the way, the weather and accommodation was fantastic too.
If this had happened in England we might well have been given a parking ticket for being stuck in the port! - Yours, etc.,
IAN COOPER, Withington, Manchester, England.