Aer Lingus

Emma Groves, 35, from Belfast, was refused entry to Switzerland and detained at Zurich airport after making an easy mistake when packing

A woman was turned away from her holiday destination and held in custody after making one crucial error while travelling. Emma Groves, 35, from Belfast, made her way to Dublin Airport for a four-night break in Zurich, Switzerland on December 1 this year.

The pair dropped off their luggage and completed check-in before passing through security without any problems. Emma had reserved the Aer Lingus flight approximately three weeks earlier after spotting a hotel she fancied visiting on TikTok.

However, it wasn’t until the duo reached border control in Zurich that they discovered Emma had made a grave blunder which left her devastated. Following the loss of her passport several weeks beforehand, Emma had requested a replacement document, which arrived at her home.

Yet after discovering her original passport, she failed to destroy it and stored it in a drawer alongside her moisturisers and fake tan products.

Emma explained: “I had grabbed it [passport] the night before and give my passport to my boyfriend, he minds them because I do lose everything. Only the night before I thought ‘my goodness am I going to be able to travel, the gold has completely faded off’ this which is strange for it being a new passport. It was in a drawer with all my moisturisers and fake tans. So I did think it’s probably just rubbed off.”

Upon reaching the Swiss border, Emma discovered her passport had been flagged as cancelled. She recalled: “He just said ‘do you have another one’ and then it kind of clicked. The border police came and got me and my boyfriend.

“We went into this room and said we realised what had happened. I said I’ve got a new one but I’ve grabbed the old one so he said because it had been cancelled it was an invalid document.”

Emma was informed she would need to be flown back to Dublin before she could re-enter the country using her valid passport. Her boyfriend chose to remain in the country and await Emma’s return.

Emma found herself placed in a “weird” airport hotel, which she likened to a “mini prison”, containing roughly 20 beds separated by curtains.

She explained: “They put me in an airport hotel and I was in there for about three or four hours, but it was just like a room with a lot of beds in it separated by curtains. I just sat and watched Stranger Things get me through.

“It was scary enough in the hotel because there were a lot of people in there, and there kind of wasn’t really any security or even a locked door. It was a weird room.

“[In Dublin] we used a machine to drop off the luggage, but then we did have to go over to a desk to leave them, and she checked the passport and stuff. The passports were scanned so you’d think they would pick up if it was cancelled.

“Border security in Switzerland said I shouldn’t have been able to get that far. It wasn’t until like 6pm that they told me I’d be getting on the flight at 8pm.”

It’s understood that Aer Lingus verifies that a presented passport corresponds to the passenger’s identity and remains valid. In instances where a passport has been cancelled but remains in date, the discrepancy would be spotted upon entry to another country.

Emma was then accompanied around the airport by a chaperone before being boarded onto the aircraft first, as her passport had been seized. She was given a set of documents which stated she was denied entry and had her passport confiscated.

Upon her return to Dublin, her mother met her with her replacement passport, allowing her to purchase fresh flights to Zurich, which she described as an “expense she didn’t need”.

Emma explained: “When I flew over, I actually initially wasn’t going to bring the forms back, but my mum was like ‘just take them’, so I flew out fine but when I got to the Swiss border again the border control lady was like ‘oh this doesn’t make sense it says you’ve already been here but you haven’t left’.’I give her the forms and she was like ‘oh okay that kind of explains it’ and I got through.”

Emma was informed by border officials that she would face no future travel difficulties due to it being an honest mistake. A representative from Aer Lingus stated: “Passengers travelling with Aer Lingus are responsible for ensuring they have all relevant travel documentation and compliance with relevant laws and regulations of the countries they are flying to, from, or transiting through. Passports used for travel must be valid and in date. If a travel document is not valid for travel, passengers may be refused entry when they reach their planned destination, as was the case in this instance.”

The pretty market town was crowned Best Place to Live in the country in 2012 and won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition three times, yet few tourists make it there

The UK is home to some truly stunning villages and towns. From cobbled streets winding through rolling countryside to clifftop whitewashed hamlets and fairy-tale cottages scattered across the landscape, Britain has it all.

But travel just a bit further afield, and you’ll discover places that could easily rival – or even outshine – the best of what Britain has to offer. Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, is one such gem. Getting there couldn’t be easier, with Ryanair, British Airways, and Aer Lingus all flying into Knock, the closest airport to Westport. From there, it’s just an hour’s drive west to this coastal Heritage Town.

The journey itself is a treat, with the scenery becoming increasingly dramatic as you near the Atlantic and the mountains loom larger. Croagh Patrick, known as Ireland’s “Holy Mountain,” sits just five miles from town, its distinctive cone-shaped peak dominating the skyline above Clew Bay.

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The mountain draws both pilgrims and tourists alike. Every year on the last Sunday in July, worshippers make the gruelling climb to the summit, where they visit a chapel, attend Mass, and often perform acts of devotion – some even tackling the ascent barefoot or on their knees.

If that sounds a bit too intense for a relaxing break, don’t worry – there’s plenty to keep you entertained in the town itself. Westport boasts a beautiful Georgian town centre, while stone bridges span the tree-lined paths that run alongside the River Carrowbeg.

The town is remarkably pristine, offering an exceptional quality of life. Westport has triumphed in the Irish Tidy Towns Competition three times – in 2001, 2006, and 2008 – and was named Best Place to Live in Ireland by The Irish Times in 2012.

It comes as no surprise that Westport is home to a wealth of outstanding pubs. Venues like Matt Molloy’s, MacBride’s, Porter House, and JJ O’Malley’s are all reliable choices and regularly feature traditional Irish bands in the evenings.

When the weather’s nice, tourists can wander along the Quay before making their way to The Point. “This is a fabulous place to meet locals on a nice day as they swim in the shallow waters of Clew Bay. I sat at a table and laughed as they chatted with each other, calling to friends who were not in the water. It was a kick to be a fly on the wall and witness friends and neighbours giving each other a hard time and laughing and gossiping,” notes travel blogger Wander Your Way.

Many tourists staying in Westport opt to explore destinations beyond the town centre, immersing themselves in the dramatic beauty of the countryside. A popular local saying in Clew Bay claims there’s “an island for every day of the year.”

In reality, there are roughly 120 designated islands, alongside countless smaller submerged limestone drumlins that appear when the tide goes out.

Clare Island is the largest of the true islands, its majestic silhouette looming on the horizon like a giant humpback whale. The short ferry crossing from Roonagh Pier is essential for visitors, providing spectacular walks and vistas. Clare attracts birdwatchers in their droves, who come to spot kittiwakes, fulmars, peregrines, guillemots, and the most charming of all – puffins.

For those prepared to travel further offshore, Inishturk beckons, billed as a “little piece of paradise,” according to the local tourism authority. Must-sees include the golden sands of Tra na nUan and Curraun, Ireland’s sole offshore-island natural lagoon, dramatic sea cliffs, and uncommon wild flora.

Westport is a treasure that’s difficult to fault, commonly considered a combination of Ireland’s best natural attractions with welcoming culture and streets that remain pleasantly uncrowded.

“I am a huge fan of Westport and County Mayo, perhaps because my wife’s cousin owns the Clew Bay Hotel and Madden’s Restaurant. I highly recommend both. Renting bikes in Westport and riding the Great Western Greenway is fantastic, love it. It’s a charming little town with excellent restaurants and pubs,” one devotee recently posted on Reddit. Another person enthused: “I second Westport! My wife and I had our honeymoon there (years ago, and in Clew Bay Hotel too! ) and frequently return. The people in the restaurants, bars, and shops are all so welcoming. If you’re not a fan of the pubs (and the music), there are plenty of interesting and easily accessible walks and cycle paths nearby. Can’t wait to go back!”.

A third observer noted: “It really does seem magical out there, lots of outdoor activities and seems less busy with tourists.”