Madam, - My first trip to Ireland was nearly ruined due to a tyre puncture just before departure on the night ferry from Swansea to Cork.
No correct replacement was available immediately in Swansea or Cork, so I had to rely on the "temporary" spare wheel which had a speed limit of 50 m.p.h.
Thanks to a very generous and sympathetic garage-owner in Ballyvolane, Cork, who lent me a suitable tyre, refusing any payment, I was able to travel to Killarney for my one-week stay.
If it were not for the generosity and genuine Irish hospitality of this kind garage-owner, I would not have been able to enjoy the Killarney mountain scenery during what turned out to be a wonderful holiday.
I returned the tyre to the garage on my way back and again offered to pay for the loan and the fitting, but no payment was acceptable.
Thank you for your Irish hospitality. - Yours, etc.,
DEREK JACKSON, Reading, Berkshire.