A Brit-award winning musician said she was left in “tears” after being denied entry to her flight home because she was travelling with her violin.
Sharon Corr, of Irish pop rock band The Corrs, she was left “humiliated and crying” during the incident.
The 54-year-old who has lived in Madrid since 2018, wrote that she was booked on a Ryanair flight home to Dublin, where she was travelling to rehearse for her upcoming tour dates with her sisters and brother.
She said she was left waiting for seven hours in the airport and has slammed Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.
Sharon Corr said she was denied access to a Ryanair flight
Getty
In a post on social media, she wrote: “Today I was booked on a @ryanair flight. I got up at six in the morning I was not allowed on the flight because I had my violin. I was in the airport for seven hours.
“I had to return home after searching for my checked in bags. Humiliated, angry then crying as only a good woman can do.
“Why was I going to Dublin? My home turf, to rehearse, to go on tour! I’m beyond disappointed. Michael O’Leary shame one you.”
It comes as Sharon, along with the rest of the band, are preparing for their string of live dates this summer, which will see them perform at BST Hyde Park, supporting Shania Twain, before a UK arena headline tour with Natalie Imbruglia in November.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary
Getty
Ryanair states on its website that passengers may carry any music equipment onboard “as long as it fits within Cabin Bag allowance”.
The airline said anyone who wishes to take equipment such guitars or violins that exceed cabin baggage dimensions need to purchase an extra seat.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “This passenger was not refused travel from Madrid to Dublin The June 30. This passenger’s violin exceeded the cabin bag dimensions permitted for her flight, and therefore was required to pay a standard gate baggage fee to place it in the hold of the aircraft.
“This passenger refused to pay the standard fee and instead chose not to travel on this flight.”
The Corrs at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2016
PA
The band, which formed in County Louth in 1990, have had six top ten singles, including the 2000 chart topper, Breathless.
Sharon, along with siblings Andrea, Jim and Caroline, won a Brit Award for Best International Group in 1999 and were made honorary members of the Order of the British Empire in 2005.
