BACK PAGES:THE AUGUST bank holiday in 1894 prompted thoughts in The Irish Times' leader writer about the benefits of what would now be termed home holidays and a little wishful thinking about the political state of the country:
In all probability our August Bank Holiday, and its season of longer or shorter tours and trips, will this year present a particularly favourable opportunity for healthful recreation. The weather seems to be settled, and in the circumstances of the country there is nothing discouraging.
Ireland is absolutely free from any form of epidemic disease. It is also, as even our friends across the water know now, equally free from every form of social tumult or discontent. Those who go abroad to roam over the Continent will have dangers to face which they cannot encounter here. At this moment the traveller from any clime or shore can repair to any part of any Irish province with perfect assurance of safety and welcome.
The popular purpose everywhere is to receive strangers and treat them well. We do not believe that any visitor will return to his own residence with a feeling of disappointment.
Not only is this excellent temper universal, but such preparations have been made in many places for the accommodation of strangers, and for their entertainment, as were not in existence in other times.
We had a duty lately to complain that many of our local guide-books continue to be unworthy of the scenes and subjects with which they deal. But even here some improvement is discernible. In the current number of Mr Crossley’s Irish Tourist, there are many hints of travel in Ireland which are much to be commended. There are some 25 short and useful contributions to this monthly magazine for sight-seekers.
A proper feature of it is a list of hotels in all towns and districts, and, in addition, convenient railway information for the leading lines. What our own people as well as our English and Scottish friends should know is, that Ireland as a Touring Ground is now in full competition with the countries which have heretofore had the richest harvest from this source, and in order that the rivalry may be for us successful, the railway managers have devised much more liberally for their passengers than ever before. Such is the case north, south, east and west.
There are people occasionally who on the smallest possible provocation attack Irish railways, and propose to contrast them with locomotion elsewhere to our disadvantage. But we can, nevertheless, confidently challenge any part of the United Kingdom to do better on the whole than is done upon our leading lines for the convenience and comfort of the summer passenger.
We have not as yet the large stream of travellers to particular spots which would warrant an organisation as complete as may in other places exist. But the close connection of railway management with schemes of tour is extending. One proof of this is the establishment of hotels of which guarantee is given that their equipment is sufficient.
There is also springing up a better plan of car travel at fixed and moderate rates, in districts where formerly the tourist could hardly escape being mulcted.
These signs of progress, if much still remains to be done, are cheering, and we have no hesitation in presenting them as evidence that the Irish fiords and coast hill country, with their magnificent scenery, their romantic traditions, noble antiquities, and cheerful social picturesqueness, will better reward the holiday-maker than resorts more distant, more costly, and demanding larger expenditure of time.
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