Madam, - As a regular visitor to the Wexford Opera Festival I have enjoyed the various events over the years and hope to do so for many years to come. Wexford is unique, with its waterfront location, narrow streets and general bonhomie, the perfect backdrop for the dramas unfolding on stage.
In the last few years I have gone to the festival with a friend who is a wheelchair user. Despite our enjoyment of the various events, the reception we have been met with on arrival at the various venues where recitals and scenes were staged has been far from friendly. The fact that my friend is in a wheelchair seems to send a wave of panic among the organisers. For example last year, when we arrived at Rowe Street Church she was informed she could not enter as her wheelchair would make too much noise. (It is a lightweight custom-made chair).
This year, on arriving at the scenes in good time for the performance, the remark made was "You never told us you were coming". Moving a chair to make way for her wheelchair seemed to throw the organisers into crisis. The following day we were refused entry into the scenes because we arrived a minute late (caused by a lack of parking close by, and very inaccessible footpaths).
In contrast, when we dined in the various restaurants our experience was completely different. We were met with good humour, seated with ease and without fuss. It would be appreciated if the Wexford Opera Festival Committee gave some thought to their policy on access to patrons with disabilities. Being sensitive to the difficulties encountered by wheelchair users and making them feel welcome to the various events would make attending such events more user friendly.
We look forward to future visits to the Festival and to a more accommodating reception. We wish the festival every success with its new development. - Yours, etc.,
M. McCARTHY, St Kevin's Gardens, Dartry, Dublin 6.