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Retired U.S couple rescued on nightmare Irish holiday

Ireland shows itself to still be 'Ireland of the Welcomes'

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, September 30, 2010, 8:53 AM

Updated Thursday, September 30, 2010, 9:17 AM

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31 Comments

Doolin, County Clare

Tom and Sharon NcNamara left their home, 74.5 miles north of New York, for an eight day holiday in Ireland. After a freak accident their holiday turned into a nightmare which led them to experience Ireland's "Cead Mile Failte" (One Hundred Thousand Welcomes) in person.

When Sharon (67) suffered life-threatening injuries while horse-riding in County Clare, six weeks ago, they never thought that their nightmare holiday could have been turned into a positive experience by the people they have met.

"After some time in Dublin we travelled to Doolin," Tom explained to the Irish Examiner.

While they were horse riding in Doolin, Sharon's horse bolted. Sharon was thrown against a stone wall as the horse raced down a narrow road. She suffered multiple fractures, crushed her spleen and bruised her lungs. She has been recovering at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital for over a month.

"The doctors and nurses are wonderful, the technology is wonderful," said Tom.

Originally Tom had been staying in the South Court Hotel, to be close by to the hospital.

It was then that Ireland of the Welcomes reared its head. He said "I had to take clothes to the dry cleaners, the Early Bird in Dooradoyle, where I met the owner Dermot McNamara. When I got talking to him and we found we shared names; he said his mother was abroad and invited me to stay at her house. This is one of the most generous things that has ever happened to me. When I told my family back in the States they could not believe it.

"I go into the Unicorn bar across the road from the hospital to eat most days and when people heard about what had happened, they began to treat me as a local and I have made so many friends like the Anglim family. I love the Irish people and the care Sharon is getting is top notch."

When Sharon was hurt a member of the coast guard was first on the scene and attended to her before the ambulance arrived. "That coast guard officer even came to the hospital to visit Sharon to see how she was getting on," said Tom.

Sharon will soon be able to leave hospital and they can prepare to travel home.

Tom added "It is definitely still the Ireland of the welcomes, particularly when you really need it."

Nster.com

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31 Comments

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MarkMary73 | Oct 04, 2010, 07:49 PM EDT

What a neat story! My wife and I have been to Ireland numerous times since 1970. We lived in Galway for 18 months in 2004-2005 when she was getting her advanced law degree at UI-Galway. We can state without equivocation that the experience that the McNamaras had is the rule rather than the exception. A wondrous place on so many levels, not the least of which is the welcoming and commodious Irish folks themselves.

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bettybrand | Oct 03, 2010, 09:35 PM EDT

I think it is a wonderful end to their so called vacation. Ireland is truly the "IRELAND OF THE WElCOMES" God Bless Ireland and God Bless America.....

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WoundedKnee | Oct 03, 2010, 04:06 PM EDT

This is good advice from Ernesider. People get lulled into thinking all Irish people are Nice Guys. They're not. Don't take anything for granted, don't expect anything for nothing and you won't be disappointed.

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feistyeire | Oct 03, 2010, 11:36 AM EDT

I've had many wonderful experiences in Ireland with complete strangers welcoming me and taking care of me, as if I was their long lost daughter or sister. My stories are long, and I won't be goin on, but God bless The Irish, and God Bless Ireland! Love it & miss it fiercely!!

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Ernesider | Oct 03, 2010, 04:41 AM EDT

... great news Tom and I hope Sharon is better. One thing you need to be aware of Tom. The hospital bill needs to be paid promptly on receipt or else you'll end up like me getting a letter from a Collection Agency based in Switzerland. My delay in payment to Beaumont was not my fault in that I had passed the bill on to my insurance company. They were dilly/dallying over paying and the Dublin people must have said lets get the heavy artillery out. The care was satisfactory at Beaumont but the way they pursued payment was heavy-handed to put it mildly. I was contacted by the Swiss in early April. The bill arrived from Dublin in February. Quick, alright.

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pat52rk | Oct 02, 2010, 07:44 PM EDT

THEY WERE LUCKY, THAT WAY OF LIFE IS DYING OUT FAST IN IRELAND ..

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LoveDoolin | Oct 02, 2010, 10:26 AM EDT

Not surprising. Having just returned from a trip to Doolin, I have seen first-handed the caring and warmth of the people of Ireland - most especially Jim Leyden from Kilkee Golf Course. A noble man, whose generosity helped raise money for two American charitable organizations.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 02, 2010, 08:11 AM EDT

irishforge: "my parents experience visiting their Irish homeland in the 1970s". Beware, irishforge, the Ireland of the 1970s is a very different place to the Ireland of 2010. Yes, pockets of the old way of life survive, but they are more and more an exception to the rule.

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offalymike | Oct 02, 2010, 03:27 AM EDT

it makes me feel good to see that there are still some good stories coming out of ireland

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macalister | Oct 01, 2010, 11:18 PM EDT

"IRELAND OF THE WELCOMES" Always was and always will be.

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irishforge | Oct 01, 2010, 11:14 PM EDT

This story about the hospitality of the Irish does not surprise me one bit. It reinforces my parents experience visiting their Irish homeland in the 1970s. I hope I experience the very same "Cead Mile Failte" when I am able to return to my ancestral homeland.

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galway2001 | Oct 01, 2010, 08:57 PM EDT

i hope the irish people are coming back the way they were years ago,being nice to each other and to other people

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McNamara31 | Oct 01, 2010, 08:05 PM EDT

Great story! Empathy and compassion for a stranger.

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Irisheteach | Oct 01, 2010, 05:00 PM EDT

Great human interest story. Nice to hear that the Good Samaritan lives on.

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GuinnessGrrl | Oct 01, 2010, 04:21 PM EDT

Next time I'm in Ireland, I hope to make a stop in Doolin, in spite of the fact GeorgeDillon recommended it! (And George, before you get your shorts in a twist, that was a joke!)

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