AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
They say travel broadens the mind. Maybe too, it broadens the perspective on things we might try here in Ireland, or that we could do better. Holidays can be a source of take-away ideas to bring back home.
Getting to Dublin Airport is a case in point. Taking a taxi can be a painless way to get there, painless that is apart from the price. The half hour trip cost us €95 one way and €110 coming back. Compare that with the fare for a half hour trip from Brindisi Airport to Lecce in Puglia, Italy at just €35 for a shuttle which provides just the same door to door service as a taxi, but where several passengers share the trip on a people carrier.
At Dublin Airport there are shuttles from car parks and hotels and buses, taxis or the air coach, while we wait and wait for autonomous vehicles, the Metro or even a connection to the existing Dart, why not budget-friendly shuttles to the city and suburbs?
Getting through security at the airport has improved greatly despite record-breaking numbers of travellers over the holiday period.
Once inside departures with a couple of hours to spare there is time to eat or shop before boarding a flight. A golden opportunity to showcase Irish food or Irish products. But to me it seems that this is a seriously wasted opportunity. We produce some of the best ingredients in the world, particularly in meat and dairy and we are envied for our fish. But the food offerings at the airport get consistently indifferent reviews on line, with poor quality and high prices among the chief grumbles.
Just a small example: whoever produced my chicken Casesar salad wasn’t acquainted with the recipe, it shouldn’t come with a couple of pieces of tepid crumbed chicken and tough lumps of toast instead of croutons on top. Poor value at €15 in a restaurant where the dismal décor wasn’t helped by displays of limp plastic ferns.
There are shining examples of gifts like Butler’s and Bailey’s beautifully packaged chocolates, while Irish booze or smoked salmon offerings from Wrights of Howth are bound to be appreciated but outside of consumables the choice is pretty limited.
If the recipients will love anything in emerald green, anything with shamrocks, leprechauns (maybe not even made in Ireland), or emblazoned with brand names of well-known drinks, grand. Otherwise forget it. Why not an outlet sponsored by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland where travellers can find a special gift which speaks of Irish creativity?
A seriously welcome bring-home idea would be Italian prices. Yes, that difference is to be expected when Ireland has the second highest prices for goods and service in Europe after Denmark at more than 40% plus above the European average while Italy has average prices
Obviously it depends where you shop or stop but I have happy memories of paying just €7 for two cappuccinos and croissants. That’s not likely to be to enough money to pay for one of each at home in Ireland.
A wash and blow-dry at a mid-level hairdresser’s cost just €25 at my destination compared with €40 at home. And how about going to an open-air cinema for just €3.50? Entertainment events are subsidised or put on free by local municipalities in Italy, when they have the funds.
There’s an explanation for the high cost of everyday things here: the cost of renting commercial premises, higher wages, costly energy, high cost of ingredients and transport. We put up with the results and there seems to be little political will to tackle some of the underlying causes – high energy costs, for instance. But we are beginning to price ourselves out of the tourism market with tourism down by 10%, never mind driving people to emigrate.
Forget cappuccinos, how about buying Italian property? I found a historic fully furnished town house, described by estate agents Engel and Volkers as “a small palace-like residence” – a snip at €400,000, with 10 rooms.
That wouldn’t buy a three-bedroom flat in central Dublin, where average prices are between €500,000 to €700,000.
No I’m not emigrating – just yet – but I wish an Italian would come and open up a rosticceria here, (for delicious traditional takeaways).
With Italian prices, of course…
