A musician who performed at this year’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival was twice refused boarding at Cork Airport.

Pablo Zapico travelled to Cork in early July to perform with a Baroque ensemble, Concerto 1700.

He brought a custom-made Baroque guitar and a theorbo, a large string instrument also from the Baroque era.

Following his performances in Bantry, he was refused boarding for his Cork-to-Denmark flight with KLM on July 5.

Ground staff told him he had not booked a second seat for the theorbo.

The frequent flyer usually reserves one additional seat for the instrument, while storing his guitar in the overhead locker or securing it with a seatbelt on the same seat as the theorbo.

Zapico was again refused boarding on July 6 and was forced to pay a further €1,060 to fly out of Ireland from Dublin.

Writing on Instagram, he said: “I would like to clarify that the West Cork Chamber Music Festival has offered to cover all the extra costs. We are infinitely grateful.”

The internationally renowned musician also gave a masterclass at Bantry's Christian Fellowship Church on July 3 as part of the festival.

KLM and Cork Airport were contacted for comment.