SNIPPET: Stella LYNCH from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath was announced as the national winner of the Failte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards 2006, presented by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. John O'DONOGHUE, TD, at a ceremony in Dublin late last year. Stella LYNCH, owner of 'Just Books' in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was nominated for the award by Michael WILLIAMS of England following her extraordinary kindness to him. Michael was travelling around Europe during the summer with his dog and was finding it particularly difficult to find accommodation that would allow his dog to stay with him. After a chance meeting in her bookshop Stella tried to help find accommodation that was pet friendly. Unfortunately this didn't work out and so Stella gave him accommodation in her own home for the night. She even organised a welcome barbecue and had her brother take him to his first hurling match. Describing events Mr. WILLIAMS said, "Stella exemplifies raw hospitality. She went out of her way to help us find a room for the night and then went an extra mile to make my stay more memorable and to help me make a new friend." -- Excerpt, Mar-April 2007 issue, Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine.