Morning Ireland

VERY HAPPY CAMPER

About three years ago I sold my AIB shares and bought a new Camper Van with the proceeds.

We have travelled all over Ireland and to France.

The Camper Van turned out to be a great family investment, if I'd kept my bank shares they would now be worth a nights B&B in Ballybunion!!!!!!!

Deirdre Fahy

AFTER OUR LUCKY CHARMS

I have a simple but brilliant idea on how we can get more tourists into Ireland. The Minister for Tourism (or indeed maybe the Taoiseach himself) should call a major press conference, calling in all the major international networks (Sky, CNN, NBC, Bloomberg, BBC, ITV etc.)

At this conference he announces that the Government are putting up a $20 million reward to the first foreign visitor to 'catch a Leprechaun'. All networks are always looking for an amusing story to finish off their news programme and this would be perfect for them. We might become a bit of a laughing stock for a few days but it would certainly get a lot of people, worldwide, talking about Ireland.

All hotels and guesthouses should be encouraged to get involved in this promotion. Even the odd sighting should be reported around Wicklow, Cavan, Kerry or Connemara!. Obviously there would have to be some conditions attached to the promotion and a clear definition of what is a leprechaun.

Best Regards, John Heaton

ODOUR EATER

Further to John Murray's comments on "Kipper Odours", - a tip for all caravaners, campers, campervan and mobile home owners:-
When frying fish, put a good-sized dollop of smooth peanut butter in the pan. This will absorb the odour instead of your carpet, curtains and furniture. If cooking fish by other means, simply simmer the peanut butter in a pan, on the side.

I trust you will air this on tomorrow's report?

Regards, Colm Browne, Wicklow.

TEETHING PROBLEMS

Hi John and Cian,
Just a quick note to say how much I am enjoying your daily reports. I've always liked the idea of heading off in a camper van with no particular plan in mind. Since we have a teething 6 month old, its unlikely we'll be going anywhere this summer. Listening to your reports makes me almost feel like I'm there!
Keep up the good work

Regards, Maeve Stanley, Carlow

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

I am listening from California, Surfing Capital of the world, 85 degrees F, today. What I would do for a couple of weeks in Lahinch (& Ennistymon).
Great people, lots to do, great nightlife.
You do know that the waters on the west coast of California are colder than the Irish West Coast.
Keep it up. This is great to listen to, especially from here .

Mary

HAPPY CAMPERS?1

Hi John and Cian,
May I first say what a brilliant idea and I'm delighted that you are doing your travelling in a camper van as I think very little is known about this form of tourism in Ireland and I feel that instead of this country embracing camper van tourisms certain people in the tourism trade almost see campers as a scourge.

Please let me give you an example, last year Kilkee town council decided to erect 2 meter high bollards on its car parks at the diamond rocks, dive centre and the drive to Georges head this means that campers are not allowed to park in these areas so I and so many other people in this country are basically discriminated against because we have campers.

This also means that I have no where to park if I want to put my kayaks into the sea or if I want to surf and its very hard to explain to my kids that we are not wanted in Kilkee also may I say that I travel to Kilkee in winter and summer and would spend on average 200.00 euro per weekend again winter and summer.

When I asked at the local shop or the cafe at the diamond rocks as to the reason why the bollards were put up I was told about a problem that Kilkee had with travellers taking over the above car parks at certain times of the year but what I just can't understand is why they have punished my family and people like me who support Kilkee in winter and summer. I am certain that there are other ways around this problem.

I have contacted Kilkee town council Kilkee tourism board and the Clare champion news paper all by email and not one of the above had the courtesy to reply, which brings me to the conclusion that Kilkee town council and Kilkee tourism are not interested in sustainable tourism I have just one question I want answered, just one and I don't want excuses or waffle can someone please tell me where can I park my camper in close proximity to the sea so as my family and other camper tourists can have safe access to the water, surely we are entitled to that at least.

It angers me greatly to see a huge car park virtually empty and people in campers driving past and moving on to other towns because they feel unwanted, if people say they are interested in tourism please prove it. Before the bollards went up we all paid for our parking and was glad to do so now Kilkee have lost the revenue from campers parking in these areas and camper people spending money in the town.

Please please contact me or at least ask the question to someone about this problem as it saddens me greatly that no one seems to care.
Kind Regards
David Keenan (a very angry tourist)

HAPPY CAMPERS? 2

Delighted with your piece on camper vans this morning. I wish that you could do a whole programme about it. It is a growing phenomenon and yet Ireland is slow to catch on. I have camped in a camper van in New Zealand, Australia France and Ireland this year. Camping in Ireland is a sore point with me. In May I stayed in Courtney campsite, Killarney where I was charged 25 euro+5 a night for electricity. On top of that if you wanted a shower you bought a token for 1 euro. If you wanted to wash your dishes you had to put money in a slot machine to get water.

In Doolin it was 22 euro and 1.50 for a shower and you could wash your dishes free. Just back from France with my camping Card (ACSI). I purchased this ACSI card for 10.50 pounds. This gave you access to 18 countries. You paid no more than 11-15 euro a night, everything included in a four star accommodation for anytime up to end of June. Our campsites are mean and greedy and petty with their charges.

I intend to go travelling in Ireland for the rest of the seasons and keep a diary on the type of accommodation and charges.

Unfortunately because of the charges here I will only be staying on campsites about every 3rd night. This is growing trend across Europe and Ireland and yet we are not tapping into this. By the way in NZ and Australia we nevery paid more than 15 euro a night and again everything included.

Breda Hammond

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Hi Guys
Saw your travel news and decided to add my little gripes about tourism in our fair country. I worked in the industry for many years going back about 15-20 years ago. That was the time when although we did not have email, or internet in many places we had Irish people manning the front desk of many of our hotels and guesthouses. Those were the days when people got a welcome. Then we became more European. More modern with all the trimmings and what happened in the interest of efficiency the smile went out of the people. The time to have a little chit chat. Time to ask is there something in particular you want. The knowledge to know the customers name their room number their likes and dislikes. Guests became a room number only. No front of house people had local knowledge so they missed out on the places that sometimes make a holiday that bit special.

Then the Celtic tiger roared up. We got more and more greedy. All our food prices went sky high, wages were very tight and we lost most of our people to foreign workers who would work all hours for even less money than was paid to Irish workers. Now in a lot of small seaside towns we have priced ourselves out of the market. €900 for a week in a holiday home to look out the window and see the rain fall.

We have no local amenities except the odd playground. No services such as road maintenance, hedge grows and still our dole numbers are rising by the week. In the bigger towns if you get a fine day you will hear and see many strong able-bodied men drinking a beer while taking the few rays of sunshine we get. Can we not put all of these to work to help out in these lean times. Even two days in the week and give them something to do for the money they are receiving. Yesterday I saw a sign that said €7.50 for a bowl of soup and a ham sandwich that I think is the ultimate insult. Cost it and you would be doing well at €5.50.

Enjoy the tour around and by the way have a look at the top people in Bord Failte. You will find only white shirted gentlemen in these positions not a woman in sight and weather they like it or not women do see the softer side of the industry. We need it back its what we have lost.
All the best guys

Mary O Driscoll

VIEW FROM BELOW

Dear John & Cian,

As an ex-Tramore native now living in Sydney I happened to be tuned in from my
flu bed the other afternoon listening to your slot. It's a great idea to get a pulse on where the real Irish tourism scene is at and you are doing a terrific job; I hope the weather improves for you.

Sadly there is a consistent theme in the emails being sent which I have to concur with; Ireland provides extremely poor value. That is, Service is poor and costs are way out of proportion to what is offered. Additionally, there is still an endemic lack of civil pride with the litter problem persisting for as long as I can remember. There are exceptions to be found of course, but generally, when compared like-for-like with other destinations, Ireland compares very poorly.

Take for instance the litter issue. Here in Sydney it's possible to have 50,000 people use a popular city beach without ANY litter issues because there's a pride and responsibility that does not require the message to be drummed into the citizens; it's part of their DNA.

Reducing VAT to 10% would address some of the cost issues and would, I believe, not cost the exchequer due to the increased spend that should result.....if those savings were passed on.

Overall it's always somewhat of a mixed bag going back to Ireland; Wonderful people and countryside measured against crap service and a ridiculous cost of everything.

-Kieran, Sydney.

DOWN AND DIRTY

Re: Wild camping. While I understand the arguments for I would have to say it would be terrible here because too many people litter the place. I work not far from a beach in Dublin and once the good weather started the beach the number of people turning up grew and the amount of junk went way up.

I visited a fishing spot in the midlands during the June bank holiday. There were bins around, yet people were throwing their cans, plastic bags, crisp bags on the ground. I saw one woman throw a bag into the lake! Was told by her husband/partner to go f*** myself when I pointed out there was a bin not 20 yards from them. I could go on. But you get the point.

There are too many people here who would make a mess of the country if wild camping was allowed, even if foreigners are more conscientious. A lot of the ppl at that midlands site were from the UK and continent and they didn't seem to be any better.

Max, Love the show

WHY IS THERE NO CORK IN IT?

Hello,
I was surprised that Cork was more or less ignored on the campervan slot this morning. Cork has a lot more to it than simply containing the road from Waterford to Killarney!

The road from Youghal to Cork passes close to the Midleton Distillery, the Fota Wildlife Park and is within striking distance of Cobh and the Queenstown experience which charts the town's role in Ireland's history of emigration.

In Cork city, centre, you could have gone for a walk around the institution that is the English Market or ventured up to Shandon steeple to ring the bells. Cork's public museum in Fitzgerald's Park was recently revamped and has many fascinating exhibits on the city's history and is certainly worth a visit. Blarney with it's famous castle is also close to the road from Cork to Killarney.

I hope that on your way back to Dublin, you might choose to linger a bit longer in Cork, we have a lot to offer the intending tourist!

Thanks, Niall Twamley Cork City

POOR WHEELCHAIR ACCOMMODATION

As a wheelchair user I have great difficulty finding suitable accommodation in most hotels.
Under regulations hotels built during the last few years are obliged to provide reasonable facilities for disabled guests. One in each twenty bedrooms or part thereof should be properly adapted for guests with disabilities. This is not generally the case. New hotels can avail of generous tax breaks. From what I can find out there is no meaningfull inspection process in place. I have stayed in several new hotels where proper facilities did not exist.

I have successfully taken and won two cases against hotels during the last year with the Equality Authority.

Yours sincerely, Anne Harrington

NEVER MIND THE RAIN

Hi John and Cian

My husband and I went to Ireland in 2006, and we absolutely loved it. We traveled in October and lucked out with an Indian summer (It only rained maybe 2 days the entire two weeks were we there.)

Anyway, love the broadcast and having fun hearing about the place you went and are going. A lot of the places we visited.
However I am a bit disturbed to hear about the rain, I would have though you Irish were used to it by now? It keeps everything green.

Cheers and Happy Travels

Renee from Eugene, Oregon

HORSES FOR COURSES 1

Listening to your article this morning on the row in Killarney concerning horse dung reminded me of my recent holiday in the very beautiful and elegant Charleston, USA. During the holiday, we took a horse drawn carriage tour during which it was pointed out that the horse was wearing a 'nappy'. All horses in Charleston have to be fitted with a nappy. During the tour, the guide noticed some dung on the road (from one of the other carriages). She immediately halted the carriage, radioed in the spillage which was cleaned up by the time we passed the same spot ten minutes later.

I cannot imagine how awful Charleston would look without the horse nappies. I can imagine how delightful Killarney would look with the horse nappies.

Guys, get real !!

From a concerned tourist

HORSES FOR COURSES 2

Regarding your interview on the dung catchers to be fitted on jaunting cars, all I can say is what a load of horse*** the jarveys are talking ! I have seen this equipment being used on jaunting cars in Bulgaria, Brussels, and in Bruges, with absolutely no problem. Bruges is an especially beautiful place where the streets are pristine in their cleanliness, and which has lots of jaunting cars, all using these catchers. I doubt whether the residents there would tolerate having their city reduced to a disgusting faecal trail, they would have too much respect for it. I have previously heard an argument being made that this equipment would somehow chafe the back legs of the horses. Talk about inventing a problem to counter a solution!

I would say to the jarveys, Wake up to the beauty that is Killarney and just use this equipment.

In doing so, you might also cut the crap !!

Yours in hope,

Noel, Cork.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Dear Morning Ireland,
I heard about your reports last week and I've been meaning to write and contribute. This morning's slot was very interesting, and of course I was appalled at the German's car being clamped in a supermarket, of all places. I really think that these are the small things that make people give Ireland a wide berth as a repeat destination, because if it happened to me i probably would stay away next time.
Anyway, I wish to talk about hospitality here, which has taken a real nose dive in recent years. I returned to Ireland recently after nearly six years living in LA, where hospitality is of the utmost importance in restaurants and bars, or anywhere where service is required. Americans simply don't put up with rude or indifferent service and I suppose I got used to that in my time in the states.
Two years ago I spent a week in Clare, with my American husband and a Chinese (Hong Kong) friend of ours. I love Clare and I've been there many times in my life, and I'd picked it as the perfect place to take my companions to.

What a disappointment. We stayed in a wonderful guest house, where we were treated with the utmost kindness and given a genuine welcome. That's where the positive experience ended. Without exception, we were treated with indifference which morphed into outright rudeness in most of the pubs and restaurants we went to. I was mortified and my husband and friend were surprised that our land of welcome was anything but.
for the most part, the service staff were overwhelmingly non-Irish, and I believe therein lies the rub. (I believe fully in a multicultural society, so this is not some right-wing rant about non-nationals). But the friendly way we generally are towards visitors is a unique thing in Ireland, whether we mean it or not, and that is what most visitors here like about coming here - the pint, a bit of craic, the banter, the big smiles. And yes, it might be a cliche of Ireland, but it does exist and visitors love it.

Anyway, it was totally missing from our trip to Clare, as we were served, time after time, by sullen staff, most of whom were eastern European, who weren't interested in whether we wanted extra serviettes or something different to what was on the menu. I wanted stew in one pub and I was told flatly "no stew". I remarked that there was a chalk board outside proclaiming the availability of stew and I was met with a shrug and a close examination of the shrugger's fingernails, as she waited, impatiently, for me to pick something else.

I wasn't prepared to let the stew thing go, and in the end she walked away and served another group. The stew wasn't the issue, it was how I was dealt with and the utter lack of interest in serving us. Yes, I understand that many people now working in service in Ireland are poor migrants who work for buttons, but they are the face of tourism and service in this country, and it is noticed and commented upon. This one incident was only one of many, and most of the spark went out of going out to eat or for a drink, and my husband and friend no longer wanted to order anything while we were out, and left it all to me.

We found, overall, that food and drinks were overpriced, slung at us, and usually not of a high quality (this last in particular related to the food). American friends of mine in the states found this a common occurrence while they were here on holidays.

Doreen Finn.

CLAMPING 1

Listening with interest to your stories, and especially the clamping of those German tourists we (my brother and I have self catering apartments in Galway) warn our foreign tourists about parking in Galway, every morning you can see foreign cars clamped in parking spots this I feel is a cynical money grabbing exercise.

Pat O'Donnell

CLAMPING 2

I must take you to task about your cheerleading the cause of the German motorists who got clamped in Galway. I don't see why a clamper should show any leniency for any particular group of motorists. While I do regret the rise of "the clamper" in Ireland, over the past few years, I do praise their impartiality as they dispense their justice.

As a Dubliner who frequently holidays in Galway in my Kilkenny-registered car, should I, as a "tourist" expect not to be clamped on grounds of ignorance? Should only Irish-registered vehicles be targeted by clampers? What, then, about the vast number of motorists from the rest of the EU who have moved here with their left-hand drive vehicles (despite their native motor-insurance only covering them for three-months continuous driving abroad {here} and their disregard for the requirement here for permanent residents to re-register their vehicles and pay VRT)?

I do have a certain amount of sympathy towards anybody whose vehicle is clamped. I am sure that it would be quite an inconvenience. However, I have found a very effective means of avoiding being clamped. I never park illegally, I read and obey any signs or notices regarding parking restrictions, and finally I keep in mind my fellow road-users (motorist, cyclist, pedestrian) at all times and avoid parking my vehicle anywhere that might inconvenience them. If others behaved similarly, they too would have avoided the wrath of the clamper.

Finally, I wish you and Cian well as you tour this incredibly beautiful island. Why would anybody endure the trauma of airports when they can be almost anywhere on this small and spectacular island within four hours? The views over Dingle from Connor Pass, sitting at the light-house at Loop Head looking south towards the Brandon Mountains tumbling down to the Atlantic, and then to look north towards the Arann Islands as they stretch out like a wanting child westwards towards America. Galway City does have its traffic-management issues, being a victim of its' own success. These problems should be dissipated with the completion of the northern by-pass, whenever that does come about. However, there is plenty of room to park in Galway if one does not expect to be able to park in the very middle of the city. Galway has coped recently with half a million visitors for the Volvo Ocean Race, and annually with the Galway Races. Parking in Galway is seldom a nightmare, so long as you have a little patience.
Happy travelling.
Brian Lenehan

TOURIST NUMBERS

Dear John & Cian,

Having heard your show this morning on Morning Ireland, I am delighted that tourism is at the forefront. This has not been the case year to date. In the last 10 days the Irish Hotels Federation has carried out a survey by hoteliers for hoteliers. This reflects a shortfall on tourism of roughly 30% throughout Ireland. It is with disbelief that Failte Ireland are suggesting that tourism is down by single digit figures. Of course they will say that these figures have been uplifted from the CSO, however I question these figures due to foreign nationals coming in one direction, soldiers passing through Shannon Airport etc, etc.
Shay Livingstone

THE PROVERBIAL

Re;- Jarvey dung trail
Old Celtic proverb :- What's dung is dung, and can't be undung

Jim

Co.Waterford

NO CAMPER VANS ALLOWED

It would be very interesting to see how comfortable you are, trying to overnight in your camper if you do not want to use a proper campsite. My wife and I use a camper van here in Ireland, we meet many foreign tourists in their campers. There are two methods of overnighting with a camper. You can use an official campsite with all its facilities which is usually very good. However almost all camper users like to wildcamp in remote scenic areas both foreign visitors and Irish . Every County Council and many county councillors seem to have a vendetta against the use of camper vans. There are NO CAMPER VANS ALLOWED signs being put up almost everywhere. Waterford Co.Co. have invested money in new signs this year.

A Kerry Co.Councillor objected to campers parking in Ballyheige last year on the grounds that they leave litter behind. As a camper who has parked in Ballyheige I can say that the litter was left behind by younger people coming into the car park under the cover of darkness to get together for a drinking session, leaving all of their cans behind. The Co. Councillor did not see these people but he blamed the camper owners. Actually campervan users often clean up other people's rubbish so that they will not be blamed.

A Waterford Co. Councillor has strongly objected to campers parking in Tramore and has called them CHEAPSKATES just because they can carry some food and cook in their campers. He does not see that they have to buy the food to cook in their campers and buy the diesel to drive home from Tramore.

The County Councils have put no facilities whatsoever in place. A camper only needs fresh water, to be able to empty their toilets properly and of course to be able to park overnight safely, this applies to foreign tourists as well as Irish camper users. The foreign camper owners must find it very intimidating and uncomfortable as they are used to accessing these facilities in every town and village in Europe. The only contribution they see from the Co.Councils here is a NO CAMPING SIGN.

If the councils provided basic facilities at a small charge they would encourage people to visit nice tourist areas with their campers where they have to spend money on food and diesel and visit the local pubs.

I hope you enjoy your week in your camper. Good luck.

Yours Sincerely,

Donal Quinn, Customer Support Engineer, TotalDoc, 3A Ballymount Cross Industrial Estate, Ballymount, Dublin 12

TOUR GUIDES

Hi, I qualified as a National Tour Guide in 2003 ( achieved a Distinction in the final exam).

This autumn i will leave the business for the last time. It has become impossible to make a living as a full-time tour guide.

The same Failte Ireland which charged me €1400 to undertake their course, also allows unqualified foreign history students to work on coach tours for €60 per day. I met one such guide last year who told me she just plays Irish music CDs all day, as she knows nothing about the country's history/ landmarks etc. I heard of another such guide whose coach ended up stranded in a Cork housing estate whilst looking vainly for Blarney Castle.

Under EU law driver/guiding is supposed to be illegal - but this is flouted daily by many of the major tour companies/tour operators. This year in Dublin, Dublin Tourism has allowed a company to give free walking tours of the city, (the "guide" is paid only in tips) whilst other walking companies pay their guides, utility bills etc. I followed one such free tour & the "guide" had a grasp of history that was tenuous at best.....

Qualified National Guides or Badged Guides are supposed to be paid €145 for a full day & €95 for a half day. Rare is the company which pays such rates. Instead €100/€70 seems to have become the standard, with most Tour Companies - i can only assume - pocketing the difference. The result is that more & more guides are part-time, retirees or teachers in summer prepared to work for the reduced rates. ( Boy, wouldn't i love to work as a teacher for €150 /day & see how the teaching unions like that !!! )

In most European Countries Guiding is a respected profession & set rates. In Ireland it's the usual mish-mash half-arsed keep-all-the-vested-interests-happy ah-sure-it-will-do crap that we have become such experts at throughout the land.

We must also be the only country in Europe with no proper public toilets - 'cos we're so lacking in pride that we'd sooner empathise with junkies, drinkers, scumbags & ne'er-do-wells than actually have standards & take care of the 99% of people who can actually behave themselves in a civilised, educated manner.

One last rant before i spontaneously combust - apart from the fact that everything in this country is just too damn expensive- it is not a good idea for hotels to employ overseas staff with little english, no sense of humour & no idea where any of the local attractions are. Some of the Eastern Europeans appear to have got their social skills from the KGB. I know that's deeply racist & offensive but it also happens to be true & i speak from experience.....

Last story - fresh from this morning: One of my fellow guides was giving a walking tour in Dublin City Centre. On hearing her mention the recession a shopkeeper left his premises & gave her a lecture on damaging the image of the city before overseas visitors.

THAT'S IT LADS - LET'S ALL STAY LIVING IN CLOUD CUCKOO LAND & EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE

Good luck with the programme lads....

Best Wishes,
Gerry K