Passengers left stranded by the fishermen's blockade of Rosslare Europort were taking the experience in their stride yesterday.
Some almost convinced The Irish Times, indeed, that there is no more joyful a way to spend a fine summer's day than in the first-floor canteen of the Rosslare terminal building waiting for your ship to come in.
Australian friends Arnold and Joy Mapleson, and Geoff and Elaine Evans, all from Victoria, had been due to catch the 8am Stena Line sailing to Fishguard. Seven hours later, as they sat in the terminal reading two-day-old newspapers and nursing soft drinks, they could hardly have been in a better mood.
"You know," said Mr Mapleson, "we have been up for breakfast every day at 8am and on the road all day. It's nice to get a rest."
But wasn't he angry with the fishermen who had taken out their grievances with the Department of the Marine on unsuspecting passengers who had never done them a wrong turn? "Not at all. They have mouths to feed the same as we have mouths to feed. So there's a delay? This is nothing."
Unlike the majority of passengers, the four had decided not to take the option of driving to Dublin to catch an alternative sailing. "No-one wants to drive in Dublin when you're from Australia," said Ms Mapleson.
Liz Kelly, a native of Waterford, who was returning to her home in Wales with her son and daughter, aged 13 and 18 months, was less sanguine. "If I didn't have the children with me it would be okay, but travelling with two kids - this is too much." She had arrived at the port at 6.45am in the hope of switching their booking from the 9am Stena sailing to the fast ferry at 8am. "When I got to the desk, I was told I wouldn't be going on any ferry - fast or slow."
She had no idea what the fishermen's protest was about, but was angry about the manner in which they had chosen to highlight their grievances. "Everyone has to protest, I suppose, but I really could have done without it... "
