The friendly face of Ireland

Madam, - Many years ago we lived and worked in Ireland, and each time we return, to us it is like coming home.

Madam, - Many years ago we lived and worked in Ireland, and each time we return, to us it is like coming home.

Our latest "homecoming" was quite special, as last Saturday, April 25th, we experienced two incidents that put clothes on the bones of Ireland of the "welcomes".

Traffic arrangements are different from our last visit and we were confused in the Gardiner Street area. A double-decker bus pulled up, the driver offered assistance, we told him our planned destination and he said "Follow me". We did; and with many helpful indications from this young driver we got to the area of College Green, where he jumped out, came back to us and pointed to the Fleet Street car park, saying unfortunately he could not drive his bus down there. To cap it all, he then gave us a tourist map of Dublin.

Our second experience on the same day occurred on our journey north, when we were pulled in by two policemen, complete with flashing lights on their squad car. No, we had not broken any law; they were helpfully pointing out that we had a flat tyre. Can you believe what happened next? These two friendly gardaí changed our wheel and sent us on our way.

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On our return to Germany, we will certainly spread the word. - Yours, etc.,

NORBERT and HELGA

NEUHAUS,

Essen,

Germany.