TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe PASSENGERS can claim no more than about €1,100 from airlines that lose their baggage, regardless of the value of the contents, the European Court of Justice has confirmed. In a case brought by a traveller who had claimed three times as much, the court this week ruled that air carriers’ liability for lost baggage is limited to the amounts set in the Montreal Convention, which was approved by the EU in 2001. This sets the maximum compensation at 1,000 special drawing rights for each passenger, equivalent to about €1,134 at current exchange rates. Passengers are entitled to claim more only if they have made a declaration before flying and paid an additional sum, the court said.
Weekend Hotspot County Cavan is rarely visited by tourists, relative to other parts of Ireland. The Lake Country, County Cavan has a huge number of lakes and rivers and as the locals say there are 365 of them, one for each day of the year. As the county is in the heart of Ireland’s lake–land region, it is well known as the country’s premier angling location. The River Erne and her main tributaries, the Shannon Erne Waterway and Dromore/Annalee dominate the middle of the county and further east lies the upper River Boyne system. The village of Belturbet is a good place to use as a base if you want to partake in lake activities The Shannon Erne Waterway which was reopened in 1994 is also called the Ballyconnell and Ballinamore Canal. It can be navigated by boaters as far as the shores of Lough Erne. The foothills of the nearby Iron Mountains, meanwhile, can be explored by hikers of any experience. Cavan also has a rich historical and cultural identity with many museums such as Cavan County Museum and St. Killian’s Heritage Centre; cultural centres such as Cavan Genealogy Centre, Ballyhugh and Maudabawn; historic churches and abbeys such as the Wesleyan in Kingscourt and my favourite Kilmore Cathedral near Cavan. Also offered are championship golf, horse riding and a memorable visit to the Silver Bear Centre in Bawnboy will enthuse
Living
your children for years to come. The elegant Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel 4km from Cavan town is set on a magnificent 1,300 acre estate. This sprawling demesne incorporates a luxury hotel and one of the countries leading health spas. The hotel is a joy to the senses - from the softest most evocative r ■ Farnham Estate Exterio fabrics to the most delicate local ingredients; every detail has been carefully chosen to create a sense of wellberant also forms part of the ing. The stylish rooms are a treat k i t c h e n . and there’s a striking” Pink Room The BoBoudoir” with retro-chic wallpaper t a n i c a and furnishings. The modern wing Bar is sithas 146 contemporary standard uated on bedrooms and eight of the hotel’s a raised twelve suites are located in the 400 deck in ■ Standard year old Farnham House. These are the lobby, room at Farn ham Estate all unique in size and style and the and drinks Farnham suite makes you feel like and snacks a lady or lord of the manor! Images are availof the grounds surround you in the able here Health Spa, where a clever use of all day. low the Camino. photography sees large-scale im- T h e atThe company ages of outdoors brought into the mospheric have walking and sightMint Water Thermal Suite and the Wine Goose seeing holidays and treatment rooms. A full range of Cellar Bar packages on the Camino face and body treatments includ- is located room at ■ Original Living available for all ages and ing facials, massages and body in the baseFarnham Estate. all abilities. Packages wraps are on offer lasting from 15 ment of the start at €590 for one week. minutes up to 2 hours. Much of the Great House, www.followthecamino. pleasure from a visit here is to be which also com Meanwhile a leading agent is taken outdoors. Walks on the es- features a tate grounds range from the more wine cellar. To be fair wherever the offering a free Cuban visa, worth relaxed, shorter routes through to road takes you in Cavan, you will ex- €25 per person, with every honeythe more challenging, depending on perience a wonderful sense of free- moon booked. Package price of €1,267 per person the individual requirements. Farn- dom in a relatively undiscovered ham Estate also offers an 18 hole, part of the island. Farnham Estate is includes return flights from Dublin par 72, 7065 yard golf course. This a place to linger, savour and enjoy. to Havana via Paris 7 nights accommodation in fully stunning parkland course is spread Packages include Swing or Swim over 500 acres of rolling country- this summer from €120 pps with • all-inclusive basis in Sandals Hicaside and dense woodland. Botanica Overnight Luxury Accommodation cos Resort www.gohope.ie Catch Restaurant with a suitably themed • Super Buffet Breakfast • Dinner some sun in Cyprus this month menu features local herbs, flowers and a round of golf or a 25 minute with these hot deals from Concorde and vegetables. The restaurant has spa treatments. Rates are valid Travel. Departures on 13th June include Flight only* a dual aspect outlook one overlook- Sunday to Thursday until 30th June from €374pp incl. tax 3* Petrosana ing Farnham lawn and the other a 2010. www.farnhamestate.ie Apts on a self catering basis in Ayia courtyard. For an extra special dinWeekly Best Buy Napa from €514pp incl. tax 3* Hotel ing experience, private dining can Nereus on a B&B basis in Paphos be arranged for groups of up to 12 There’s €50 off when you book from €590pp incl. tax. www.concorpeople at the Chef’s Table, which in addition to being part of the restau- this week to travel in June with Fol- detravel.ie
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
Restricted dog breeds with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
AS you may be aware there are some dogs that are now known as “Restricted breeds” in Ireland. The dog breeds on the list are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, German Shepherd/Alsatian, Rhodesian Ridgeback and every dog commonly known as Ban Dog and every other strain or cross of every breed and type of dog named on this list. By law, these dogs are to be securely muzzled and be led by
a strong enough chain or leash no longer than two metres and the dogs are only to be walked by someone over the age of 16 years that is capable of controlling the said dogs. This law came about by a demand to have something done about dogs because of attacks on people and other animals by some of these breeds. While this is a short term/ part time answer to the problem, attacks are still occuring all the time... and not only by dogs on this list, and not always by dogs on this list. I have worked with some of the most aggessive dogs
in this county and the dogs on this list are only a small minority when it comes to aggressive attacks towards people. Labradors (which are big dogs) were top of the list in recent years yet they are not on the list. Very aggressive dogs (not on the list above) that have attacked people or other animals that I have worked with were Labradors, many Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, Weimeraners, Collies, Irish Wolfhounds, Bernese Mountain dogs, Jack Russels, King Charles Spaniels, Bishon Frise dogs and
many more. Any dog can be aggressive and do harm if it is in the wrong hands. They can scar a child’s face or injure people that are walking past their house, or in their house. Owners of dogs that do harm should pay, not the dogs. They are the owners responsibility. The dogs can only do what they are let do. Muzzles don’t stop aggression, they often increase it. Dogs that have never harmed anyone now have to wear a muzzle (which makes them look vicious) because it’s the law and dogs that have done harm are still not muzzled.
This law has not protected anyone but it has caused a lot of hardship for innocent, well behaved dogs. It has ruined my dog’s life and she has never harmed anyone. While this law is an answer to a cry for help it does not cure the problem of dog attacks. More people than ever are buying dogs of these breeds, they are not all heeding the law and many of them do not know how to work with these dogs... or any dog. This is where the problem lies. The dogs should not have to pay for this... but unfortunately they will.
Home and Away Extra There is no substitute for the thrill of the sights, sounds and smells of a foreign country when it comes to escaping the office and the mobile phone, a study has found. Psychologist Kairen Cullen, who interviewed focus groups for Thomson Holidays, said consumers preferred to “truly get away” by travelling to an environment that contrasted starkly with their normal routine. There was also evidence that long-haul holidays were more likely to reduce stress. Average stress reduction attributable to a trip to a long-distance destination was 60% compared with 20% for a British holiday, showed the study. Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and is guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland