Welcome everywhere, with one exception

RECENTLY we visited Cork and Kinsale, taking advantage of the very favourable fares offered by Jet2 from Newcastle.

The purpose of our visit was to play in the Cork Bridge Congress for three days and then spend four days touring the west Cork coastal towns and villages.

We are regular tournament players and think the Maryborough Hotel in Cork is a superb venue, certainly the best bridge venue we have experienced. Likewise, the Trident Hotel in Kinsale has a superb harbour front location. Both hotels had excellent restaurants and their staff made every effort to make our stay memorable.

Everywhere we went we were greeted by friendly and very helpful people, except at the Old Head of Kinsale. We intended to walk it, having read that the coastline there is spectacular.

As we approached we were horrified to see ugly barbed-wire fencing along the perimeter in addition to security cameras. Then we encountered a man shaking his arms at us in a very dismissive manner way and shooing us away.

What a horrible and stark contrast to the wonderful reception we received elsewhere.

Apart from that one experience, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and found the residents of Cork city and west Cork to be exceptionally friendly and helpful. We will definitely return.

Paricia Barton

Maggie McCabe

2 The Paddock

Walbottle

Newcastle-on-Tyne

England.