Madam, – As a British holiday-home renter I found the recent opinion piece by Ann Marie Hourihane ("Staying in on the stay-at-home holiday", July 20th) very stimulating. My knowledge of Irish mores and politics is small but The Irish Timesis a useful and readable reference.
My wife and I are enjoying a fortnight in this beautiful country without our children who are grown now and have no great need of organised activities. As a geologist my delight is the exploration of this fine coast, and we have no great desire to eat out and seek the elusive craic, which does not seem in evidence here.
What we do lack is the opportunity to stop and look at the wonderful land. It is almost impossible to rest and absorb the impression of the landscape. One day, the only place we found to stop our (necessary) car was the car-park of the local burial ground.
And what of the common need to “spend a penny”? Those with children would have a greater need than us. But in the entire coast from Carraroe to Carna we saw but one portable toilet at Kilkieran.
We have travelled widely in England, Scotland and Wales and find the situation in Scotland far superior – viewpoints, picnic and amenity spaces and public toilets are provided and much used.
I would suggest that Fáilte Ireland could do well to start investing in some basic infrastructure such as toilets and stopping places, and maybe a map of such facilities in their lavish Connemara guide.
I cannot comment on the destruction of rural life, but the countryside is superb and could be shared more widely. – Yours, etc,