Holidaymakers splash out record €2.1bn to escape wet summer

IRISH holidaymakers splashed out a record €2.1 billion for holidays in the sun this summer as they fled Ireland’s disastrous weather and headed abroad.

Between July and September, Irish families, couples and individuals went on 1.6 million overseas holidays — with numbers up 274,000 or 21% on last summer.

Buoyed by the last of the Government pay-outs of SSIA savings bonuses, spending by Irish holidaymakers abroad was €2.1bn, up €280m or 15%.