No problems as forgetful Italians back on track

NEITHER the Guinness nor the vino were to blame when this trio of Italian tourists got lost in Dublin and had to spend two nights sleeping in their car.

But the three strapping lads in their 20s were taking the ordeal in their stride yesterday with typical Italian machismo.

"No problemo," said Andreas Fornasero as he and his friends Roberto and Simone, all from Cesena near Bologna, prepared to be reunited with their luggage at Charlotte House, in Manor Street, Dublin, from where they went missing on Sunday night.

Far from being distressed, they have been taking full advantage of Irish hospitality ever since.

"We were not very worried because everyone has been so kind," said Andreas. The three travelled to Kilkenny and Waterford and had a great time there, enjoying plenty of rashers and sausages at the Abhaile B&B, run by Carmel O'Donnell.

"The Irish are all very, very beautiful people," said Andreas when he heard that the owner of Charlotte House, Sheila Prior, was offering them free accommodation for the remainder of trip. "She is very, very kind. Everyone has been so nice. They all helped us."

The turnaround in their fortunes was thanks to Ms Prior who contacted the gardaí. Victim Support also helped with emergency supplies and the Gerry Ryan radio show broadcast an appeal to locate them.

The three arrived in Ireland last Saturday, staying with friends in Dublin that night and booked the B&B the following night. But when they drove into town from Charlotte House on Sunday things began to go wrong.

"We went to the Guinness storehouse and afterwards for a meal. We forgot the name of where we were staying and spent a long time trying to find it."

So, was it too much of the black stuff or the red stuff that led to their problems?

"No," said Andreas. "We only had one beer and no vino. We just forgot where we were."

Ms Prior became concerned when they had not turned up by Monday night and rang the gardaí. "I rang them again on Tuesday because I was convinced something was wrong."

She is looking forward to showing them what Irish hospitality is all about before they travel back to Italy on Saturday.

"I am going to give them a real Irish welcome," she said, something Andreas and his pals greeted with a fine rendition of O Sole Mio.