A long time ago, I was travelling in Ireland in the days when bank cards didn’t work abroad and there were no mobile phones.

My boyfriend and I ran out of money and realised we would have to head for the next ferry. We hitched from Cork to Dublin, but missed the 11am ferry and had 12 hours with no money and nothing to eat.

A kind cafe owner took pity on us and gave us a nice plate of sandwiches, cake and a pot of tea–all for nothing! Now that’s a real Irish generosity for you.