Ireland Travel Guide

Full Name

Ireland

Former Name

None

Capital City

Dublin

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Area Size

70,280 sq km

Time Zone

No UTC/GMT offset

Climate

Overall, Ireland has a mild, but changeable, Oceanic climate with few extremes. The warmest recorded air temperature was 33.3 °C at Kilkenny Castle, County Kilkenny on 26 June 1887, whereas the lowest recorded temperature was -19.1 °C at Markree Castle, County Sligo on 16 January 1881.

Geography

A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low central plains. The highest peak is Carrauntoohill (Irish: Corrán Tuathail) in County Kerry, which is 1,041 m. The River Shannon, at 386 km is the longest river in Ireland.The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but soft rainfall, earns it the sobriquet "Emerald Isle". Ireland's least arable land lies in the south-western and western counties. These areas are largely mountainous and rocky, with dramatic green vistas.

Languages

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Culture

Uncover your civilised side and experience Ireland’s rich literature, traditional and heritage sites. Famed the world over for our rich, literary traditions and vibrant traditional culture. Imbued into daily life, you could down a pint on the same barstool that Brendan Behan used to frequent, stumble upon a Neolithic monument out in the countryside or find yourself in the midst of an impromptu trad music seisún.

History

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

Travel Information

The national airline is Aer Lingus (EI). Dublin Airport (DUB) is 10km north of the city. Taxis are available into the city centre. An aircoach service runs to and from the airport, 24 hours per day. Citylink runs a service from Galway to Dublin Airport. Facilities: Duty-free shop, car hire, bank, bureau de change, bars, restaurants, tourist information centre and chemist. Shannon Airport (SNN) is 24km north of Limerick City. Bus services are available to and from both Limerick and Clare. Taxi services are available, 24 hours, to Limerick City. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, bar, restaurant and tourist information centre. Cork Airport (ORK) is 8km southwest of the city. Buses travel between the city centre and airport. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bar and restaurant. Knock International Airport (NOC) is 11km north of Claremorris (Co Mayo) and receives scheduled international flights from the UK only. At other times of the year, chartered flights operate between Knock and a number of European destinations, such as Salzburg, Majorca, Crete and Lisbon. Taxi services are available to Claremorris, where onward rail and bus connections are available to the rest of the country. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bar, restaurant and car hire (pre-booking advised). Departure Tax €10 at Knock International Airport only, payable by everyone over 12 years. Main ports: Baltimore, Dublin, Galway, Kinsale and Wexford. In addition to conventional ferry crossings, many ferry companies now offer high-speed services as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art craft on many Irish sea routes. Rail links serve Ireland from all the above ferry ports, as well as from Northern Ireland.

Accommodation

There are over 800 hotels inspected, approved and graded by Fáilte Ireland (Tourism Ireland in Ireland) and prices are fixed by Fáilte Ireland.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for the following durations: nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period; nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except: persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holders only). Whilst UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph, usually a passport or driving licence with photo. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed. Imposition of a return ticket as a condition of entry is down to the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.

Getting Around

Aer Lingus (as well as several other carriers) operates services throughout the country. Charter flights are also available. The Aran Islands are served by Aer Arann via a 15-minute flight from Connemara Regional Airport. Domestic airports include Galway (GWY), Sligo (SXL), Carrickfinn (CFN) and Kerry (Farranfore) (KIR), as well as various small airstrips. Ferry services run to the various west coast islands; enquiries should be made locally. Rail services in Ireland are run by Iarnród Eireann (Irish Rail) and express trains run between the main cities. Children under five travel free. Children aged five to 15 pay half fare. Traffic drives on the left. The network links all parts of Ireland. Ireland changed all road signs from imperial to metric measurements in 2005. Internal bus services are run by Bus Eireann (Irish Bus) which has a nationwide network of buses serving all the major cities and most towns and villages outside the Dublin area. Bus services in remote areas are infrequent. An ‘Expressway’ coach network complements rail services. Several independent bus companies, which are often cheaper, faster and more frequent than Bus Eireann, operate regular, scheduled services to and from Dublin. Coach tours: Many companies offer coach tours, varying in length and itinerary. Full-day and half-day guided tours are organised from the larger towns and cities. These run from May to October. Full details are available from Bus Eireann and CIE Tours International. Taxi Service is available in major cities. Taxis are metered in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick. In other areas is it advised to agree on a fare beforehand. Car rental is available from all air- and seaports as well as major hotels. All international hire companies are represented in Ireland, as well as local operators. Extensive bus services operate in Dublin. There is a fast suburban rail service (DART, Dublin Area Rapid Transport), travelling from Malahide in the north to Greystones in the south. Buses in the city are run by DublinBus. Dublin also has its own tram system, LUAS, which is a high-speed service with convenient stop locations throughout the city. Taxis can be hailed or hired at a taxi rank.

Health & Safety

There are no special health requirements for visitors to Ireland. Health insurance is advisable unless from the UK or other EU countries, most of which have reciprocal agreements with Ireland. Travellers should receieve an influenza vaccination if tavelling from November through April. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be obtained before departing for travel to Ireland. Medical facilities are good, and payment for treatment is usually required in cash. Most visitors enjoy a fairly high level of personal safety however travellers should take sensible precautions against petty theft. Terrorism is no more a threat than in other Western countries.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 17 Mar - St Patrick’s Day. 6 Apr - Good Friday. 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 7 May - Bank Holiday. 4 Jun - Bank Holiday. 6 Aug - Bank Holiday. 29 Oct - Halloween. 25 Dec - Christmas Day. 26 Dec - St Stephen's Day.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Electricity

220v AC, 50Hz

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am - 5.00/6.00pm.

Emergency Numbers

112/999