Violinist Left 'Humiliated' After Ryanair Refuses to Let Her Board with Violin

Sharon Corr, the violinist of the Irish band The Corrs, says she was left "humiliated" after being denied boarding on a Ryanair flight to Dublin for carrying her violin.

Corr was traveling from Madrid to Dublin on June 30, 2024, to rehearse with The Corrs for the band’s upcoming tour. She had her violin with her and claims that after seven hours of waiting at the airport, she was denied boarding.

Taking to social media, Corr said, “Today I was booked on a Ryanair flight. I got up at 6 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.” Referring to Ryanair's CEO, she concluded: “Michael O’Leary, shame on you.”

Ryanair’s website states its policy regarding musical instruments in the cabin: "Smaller musical items (such as guitars, violins, or violas) larger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm can be carried in the cabin on a seat you have reserved and paid the appropriate fare for."

A spokesperson for the airline claimed that Corr’s violin exceeded the cabin bag dimensions permitted for the flight, requiring her to pay a standard gate baggage fee to bring the instrument on board. They stated: “This passenger refused to pay the standard fee and instead chose not to travel on this flight.”

Corr responded to the airline’s statement, adding on social media: “I offered to buy a seat for my violin and was refused! You cannot place a violin in the hold as it is obviously a fragile instrument. I was refused by them to travel.”