Altan star devastated as antique fiddle damaged at airport

Altan star Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has been left devastated after her antique fiddle was damaged going through security at Dublin airport.

The Donegal musician was traveling to the Shetland Islands when the 19th century Haley Richardson fiddle was taken from her by airport security for examination.

Extensive damage to the fiddle, which is more than 120 years old and was given to her by her late father, Proinsias, has left the former Donegal person of the year unable to tune it.

The valuable equipment had been examined by security staff, who failed to close the case after placing the fiddle back in.

Maridad has traveled all over the world with the fiddle previously and normal airport procedure is that she presents the instrument at the security desk, but in this instance she had to hand it over to the security staff.

The Gweedore woman also lost a precious bespoke mute trinket, given to her by a fellow musician, in the incident she says has left her ‘devastated’.

Mairéad has made a formal complaint to the Dublin Airport Authority and, in a Facebook post today, described herself as ‘so, so mad!’