Family brave cold weather for a place in the sun

A DUBLIN mother-of-eight and her pregnant daughter are still full of Christmas cheer as they enter the fifth day of a frosty 10-day vigil in search of the ultimate holiday bargain.

On Christmas Day, Margaret Healy swapped the heat of the kitchen for a chilly footpath vigil outside Budget Travel agency in Dublin, which opens on January 4.

After three days and nights outside the Baggot Street office with a copy of the 2006 brochure in front of her she has yet to decide what holiday she wants. "I'm still undecided. I don't know... it's early yet. I like Turkey..."

Surrounded by family yesterday, the south inner-city mom made light of the hardship endured these past cold nights and the January weather to come.

"I have four daughters and one son, Joseph, here at the moment," she said.

"We came down on Christmas Day we were first in the queue. Becky and Colleen came down at five o'clock and said there was no one on the queue, and asked would I come down with them. Then Andrea and Tammy and myself came down."

Tammy, who is five months pregnant, is determined to help the family cause. "The wait is no bother at all. I've been taking naps in the car where there's a heater. It will be worth it in the end when we get to go on holiday together."

Duvets, blankets, gloves and lots of hats have kept out the worst of the weather so far. Virtually all the family have camped outside the travel agency. Another daughter Stephanie, who has a young baby, is minding the family home in Blackpitts.

"It's my first time to do this. I'm enjoying it, we're all enjoying it," said Margaret. "Last night was the worst, very cold. The other two nights weren't bad."

Sales veteran Christy O'Hara from Tallaght is full of support and encouragement for the Healys.

Last year he walked off with a free €6,000 family holiday to Orlando, Florida, when he was first in the bargain travel sales queue. He fancies Bulgaria this year.

Vera Young from Bishop Street, who was among the early arrivals, would like to get "a cheap deal" to Spain. She is backed up by her three sons and niece, Tracy Lynch.

Budget Travel yesterday announced savings of "up to €1,000 on comparable holidays from major operators."

The company said it anticipated selling up to €400,000 holidays for the coming summer.

Budget's chief executive, Eugene Corcoran, said prices for thousands of the company's sun holidays would be cheaper than for similar packages in 2005.

Mr Corcoran said Budget would be writing to the Office of Consumer Affairs asking it to investigate competitors who were imposing a fuel surcharge.