An American woman refused entry at Dublin airport is determined to return -- and is selling Irish bread to fund her trip.

Tessa Fowler (38), from Sheridan, Wyoming, hit the headlines when an immigration officer sent her back to the US for not having a return ticket.

She was on her sixth trip to Ireland and ironically has written articles promoting Ireland and its food. She spent four days flying back and forth across the Atlantic but was then not allowed into Britain.

"I am planning on coming back," she said in an email to the Herald. "I am not going to let one immigration officer ruin my holiday so I decided I would do what I have to, to come back."

She has been selling her gourmet Irish breads around her home town to finance the trip and plans coming back to Ireland later this month.

"Hopefully, this time I will see the country I love to visit," she said.

Her story has been making headlines in Wyoming too, where her local paper ran a front page article on how she was refused entry to Ireland.

The story said she had visited Ireland several times and had featured in Better Homes And Garden magazine for her expertise in Irish foods.

"It's crazy because I've been featured in magazines promoting Ireland, their food and their tourism," she said.

She had the magazine with her when she attempted to enter the country but did not think to show it to the immigration officer.

Hoops

After receiving a list of documentation she would need to enter Ireland, including a letter from an employer to show she had a job to return to, bank statements and return ticket, she decided she would go for it.

"I decided I'd do it, I'd jump through their hoops," she said, "but I need to raise the money to make it back."

She is hoping to raise $2,000 (€1,400) by selling her Irish breads door to door in her local community.

"As horrible as this experience has been, through it I've met so many amazing people who have wanted to help me," she said.

Her breads include Irish soda bread, Guinness bread, Guinness banana nut bread and honey and rosemary soda bread.

Her case followed that of three young Texans who were also refused entry because they could not provide an address where they would stay in Ireland and didnot have bank statements showing they could afford the trip.

mlavery@herald.ie

- Michael Lavery