THE Irish Hotels' Federation headed off a spot of bother at its annual conference in Cork this week. Belatedly somebody noticed that the conference dinner was scheduled for February 21st which, of course, was Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence for some and certainly not an occasion for slap-up dinners and carousing.
The federation applied to the Diocese of Cork for a dispensation, for those for whom such things matter. This was duly granted by the Most Rev John Buckley, the auxiliary bishop, and after the happy announcement by the outgoing president Gerry O'Connor the devout delegates sat down to dinner with a good conscience. However, Dr Buckley imposed a condition: they were all ordered to set aside one day during Lent which they will observe strictly as though it were Ash Wednesday.