Leaving Ireland can be costly — for some

AT Cork airport recently we said goodbye to our eldest daughter who was leaving Ireland by choice — not through forced emigration or, as in Mary Coughlan’s world, for the “fun of it”.

She has secured employment in Slovakia. Unlike my parents who left Ireland in the 1950s with a one-way ticket and, I presume, the message being “oh, and by the way, don’t come back”. Well, they didn’t until the 1970s, when Ireland was equally unwelcome.

My daughter was flying Ryanair and the ticket cost €70 one way. The baggage was 25 kilos so we were prepared to be hit, but what we didn’t expect was that Ryanair would demand the same overcharge in London. Total cost of flight, €470. !!

Then, while we were outside smoking at Cork airport a young girl approached us (it’s not even 8am) and asked if we had a credit card.

She was trying to book a flight to England to visit her dad who was very ill. The airport authority doesn’t allow you to buy a ticket for cash if you are trying to fly the same day.

I understand the reasoning, but surely a check could have been done via her passport. After all, airports are places where emergencies are the norm. Still, I feel our eldest had the right idea.

And while on the subject of departures, happy flying to Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe who is off to Tokyo and Seoul for Paddy’s Day. It seems the closer you are to Brian Cowen, the further you fly.

Marian O’Mullane

Bishopstown

Cork