Dr. Edward Horgan is outraged. The international secretary of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance would like the world to know that he's really incensed about American Army personnel walking on Irish soil.
The cause of this apoplectic fit? Wouldn't you know it was U.S. soldiers and the Shannon stop-over.
The transport plane that was ferrying soldiers to points Middle East was down for repairs and three hundred G.I.s were left to wandering around the Clare Inn Hotel near Newmarket on Fergus. As the stop was entirely unanticipated, the soldiers had nothing to wear besides their uniforms.
They also had little to do, so they drifted about the hotel, stopping in the bar and just looking around since they were curious about Ireland and wanted to find out what cead mile failte was all about.
A wedding was underway at the hotel and some soldiers arrived, only to be told by their senior officer that it wasn't a public gathering but a private affair and they were to get out of the banquet area.
Go on and stay, says the groom. That would be the groom whose wedding was being celebrated. Stay and welcome from the U.S., this is what an Irish wedding is like. This is what Irish hospitality is like.
Pity that the groom didn't first ask permission of Dr. Horgan, who is using this incident as yet another example of Irish neutrality being breached. Soldiers in uniform, you see. They really should be locked up in their rooms and kept out of sight.
The soldiers were in great form, according to a guest at the wedding, someone who again failed to consult with Dr. Horgan. Indeed, they seemed to enjoy themselves, which must really infuriate Dr. Horgan to no end.
In future, any Irish person holding a celebration near Shannon's airport is to consult with Dr. Horgan before extending any sort of warm welcome to overseas guests. This hospitality really must cease at once, or the soldiers will get the idea that people in Ireland are friendly and generous.
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