Sir, - With all the talk in Ireland about tourism decline this year and the blame on foot-and-mouth disease, let me make one clear statement from first-hand experience: foot-and-mouth was not as damaging as the response and conduct of the Irish Government.
In March, I was in Ireland and every attraction from Vinegar Hill to Glenveagh was posted and closed. At the same time, Bord Fβilte was advertising in the United States that Ireland was completely open to tourists.
That was untrue - and the word has travelled round very quickly. While I was in Ireland it was difficult to find lodging as many of the B & Bs were not open due to "the scare". I slept in my rental car in a nook off the highway between Clifton and Westport, west of Leenane. Fortunately I found a nice cafΘ in Charlestown for breakfast.
People returned to the US and simply told the truth. Ireland is closed (period).
If elements of the tourism industry in Ireland have lost trade or had to lay off people, then they should look east towards Dublin for answers. You certainly will not get any from Bord Fβilte. A lot more than sheep died this year, and probably next. - Yours, etc.,
Richard McCaffrey, Mantua, New Jersey.