Madam, - Whit weekend on Inis Oírr promised to be paradise: blue skies, turquoise sea, virgin white sand. I dredged up my school Irish and was complimented by the gentle islanders.
But at midnight the campsite where we were staying the night with our two small children was transformed into a sinister no-go zone. Hoards of students emerged inebriated from the pubs and binged on the beer and cider stashes they had carefully lugged from the mainland. We, other families and astounded foreign tourists were subjected to yobbo antics until 5am. This is a recurring nightmare, according to local people.
Next morning the beach was strewn with bottles, cans and broken glass. We decamped, despite having paid for two nights, with our ideas on contemporary Irish culture seriously challenged.
- Yours, etc,
HELEN SHERIDAN, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.