Play Tourist in Your Own City . Greyhound racing is also a feature and tracks are located in major cities. For peace and quiet in the shadows of steep hills, County Kerry is a wonderful option. Tourists are responsible for having receipts stamped by customs, either in Ireland upon departure or at their home country upon arrival and then send these receipts as proof of export directly to the Irish retailer which is obligated to make a VAT refund directly to the tourist. Ireland introduced rounding for cash payments in 2015 which has resulted in the the almost complete abolition of the 1 and 2 cent coins (although these coins still remain legal tender for payment). Ireland has also since embraced a cosmopolitan restaurant and food industry that has incorporated many novel varieties of cuisine. Advance booking can result in big savings and booking can be made a month in advance, e.g. Ignore strangers who approach out of the blue to ask for something. One euro is divided into 100 cents. When finished riding simply bring the bike back to any station and get your deposit back. Today, these elements have been blended with other ethnic techniques and flavor profiles found outside of strictly traditional Irish cuisine. The M8 (from junction with the M7 to Cork), The M9 (from Junction with the M7 to Waterford), The M11 (from Dublin to Wexford) along the east coast, The M17/M18 (from Limerick to Galway to Gort), M3, entire route, 2 tolls each of €1.40, M7, Portlaoise to Castletown section, €1.90, M50, Prices vary €2.10 with eToll tag, €2.60 with video account (number plate recognition) and €3.10 with no account. Regardless positive mention will likely lead to an outburst no matter what age group you're with so it's best to avoid praise of Cromwell at all costs. Ireland is an island in north-western Europe which has been divided politically since 1920. (Riverdance, a popular show centered on Irish step dancing, started in Ireland.) If someone seems like they've had too much, don't interact with them. Some establishments will add a 10-15% service charge on top of the obligatory 13.5% Government VAT charge, especially for larger groups. Uniformed members of the Garda Síochána do not, unlike the Police force in Northern Ireland, carry firearms. Several micro-breweries are now producing their own interesting varieties of stout, including O'Hara's in Carlow, the Porter House in Dublin and the Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork. However, unlike some other countries, there is no unified scheme under which a tourist can claim this refund back. On the other hand, when driving slower than following cars, it is common for drivers to allow others to pass or signal if the way is clear. Kitesurfing and land-sailing is often practiced on major beaches. And even those costly and developed attractions like the Cliffs of Moher are still unspoiled enough for most visitors. non-governmental) VAT refund agents. If facilities are poor, inform the local council, they will usually help. Ireland has the euro (€) as its sole currency along with 24 other countries that use this common European money. This means for example that corridors, lobby areas and reception areas of buildings such as apartment blocks and hotels are also covered under the law. Shannon, close to the city of Limerick, also has flights to the US, Canada, Middle East, the UK and Europe. Adherence to traffic regulations is somewhat lower in rural Ireland, with speeding and drink driving being more common than in the bigger cities. The remainder is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Urban areas generally have a 50km/h speed limit. One (the red-line) operates from Dublin's Docklands starting at The Point (beside the O2 Arena, note this is the closest station to Dublin port passenger terminal but is still a ~3km walk) and the city center (Connolly Station) to a large suburb south-west of the City (Tallaght) and the other (the green line) runs south (to Bride's Glen) through the city center from Broombridge in the north of the city. Ryanair also charges for the privilege of being one of the first to board the plane. Literature has many great Irish authors (writing in both Irish and in English), including James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and Oliver Goldsmith. Additional insurance, known as Super Collision Damage Waiver, can be purchased to protect yourself against this excess when picking up the car. The Royal Canal Way extends along the tow path of the Royal Canal for 144km and link Dublin to Longford in the North-West. These are useful resources for booking hotels [42] or [43]Bed and Breakfast is widely available and a wide selection of Tourist Board Approved bed and breakfasts can be found on the B&B Ireland website [44]. The only other issue to be concerned about is noise - a baby crying might be forgivable if it's resolved fairly quickly, a contingent of adults laughing very loudly every couple of minutes or continuously talking out loud may attract negative attention. In fact, the border is rarely signposted and it is often difficult to tell when you have crossed from the Republic into the Northern Ireland and vice-versa. Ireland has internationally-respected universities, including the venerable Trinity College Dublin (the only college of the University of Dublin). Historically, Ireland was divided into four ancient provinces, namely Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster, however these have no administrative significance today. The following rules generally apply: If a non-visa required national crosses into Ireland by land after being granted entry to the United Kingdom, they likely will not be required to clear Irish immigration controls, and their authorized stay will generally be under the conditions of their admission to the UK. This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 18:03. Use of term "British" to incorrectly describe Irish people is considered to be deeply offensive, particularly in the Republic and among the nationalist community in Northern Ireland. However, despite the lack of border controls, be keenly aware that you must possess a valid Irish visa if required for your nationality, or you risk being deported for illegal presence in Ireland. The M50 is barrier free and accepts no cash. Coffee is also widely drunk in Ireland. Cameras are located on overhead gantries between J6 & J7 which read your number plate. In which case, getting a refund back could become more cumbersome as you may need to communicate with the VAT refund agent from your home country. For 2010, the tolled sections and their charges (for private cars) are as follows: There are numerous routes of high quality dual carriageway, which are very near motorway standard; Dublin-Wicklow, Sligo-Collooney (Sligo), Mullingar-Athlone, and Cork-Middleton (Waterford). Due to ROI's long relationship with the UK, there are no permanent passport controls at land border crossing points, as of 2018. A set of average speed cameras are permanently installed in Dublin's Port Tunnel. This map shows the postal districts in and around Dublin City. There are many race tracks around the country and many big racing festivals throughout the year. The Great Western Greenway in Mayo is 42km long and stretches from Westport to Achill Island. The Irish are renowned for their upbeat sense of humour. In the Dublin city area the electrified DART [33] (acronym for Dublin Area Rapid transit) coastal railway travels from Malahide and the Howth peninsula in the North to Bray and Greystones in Co. Wicklow via Dún Laoghaire and Dublin city center. The most noticeable difference is the fact that distances and speed limits are in kilometres per hour (km/h) in the Republic of Ireland. When arriving at an Irish airport from Great Britain, you will be required to produce photo ID (driver's licence or passport) to prove that you are a British or Irish citizen. Ireland has beautiful scenery which makes cycling enjoyable. Tourist information for Coole Park, now a nature reserve close to Galway. It is held annually in Dublin on 16 June. If driving on rural roads, exercise utmost caution. Food is expensive in Ireland, although quality has improved enormously in the last ten years. The bikes are free to take for the first half hour with a modest fee thereafter, although a deposit of €150 is required in case of the bike being stolen or damaged. American Express and Diners Club are now also fairly widely accepted. There are also many soccer clubs around Ireland and both sports have many competitions. App based hailing with Uber and MyTaxi is common in urban areas but less available in rural areas/smaller towns. The general maximum speed limits are as follows: Local Councils may apply other limits in specific areas as required. The M6 (from Dublin to Galway) splits from M4 in the Midlands. One thing which some visitors may find disconcerting is the response an Irish person may give to a "thank you". You can learn many interesting facts about Ireland's history and culture. This exemption also applies to nationals of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar who have entered the United Kingdom on foot of a C-visit Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW). If the official name of an institution is in Irish (such as the Oireachtas or Gardaí), try to use the Irish name, even if you are unsure as to the correct pronunciation. The islands are generally referred to as "the islands", "these isles" or the "islands of the north atlantic" in such documents. All other foreign nationals must carry a passport, or in the case of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals a national identity card. Pickpocketing happens all the time to unsuspecting tourists, so it's important to be on alert. Indeed, beauty is around every corner in the Great White North, as … For other places with this name, see Ulster (disambiguation). The 1st and 3rd Sunday of September see both All-Ireland finals held and buses and trains see a massive upsurge in Travel as well the main roads to the counties participating. This does not mean that they didn't try hard to please, but rather it is meant to suggest "I was happy to do it for you, so it was not any great difficulty" (even though it may have been!). Although Ireland is a member of the European Union, it is not part of the Schengen Area. There is some Irish language broadcasting on TV and radio. If you intend to stay in the UK for longer than three months, especially as a Student Visitor in the UK, you must apply to extend your stay in the UK (approximately GB£500), obtain a visa for the UK in advance, go to mainland Europe and re-enter the UK, or avoid a transit through Ireland. Referring to it simply as "Irish" is a fine alternative. All mobile numbers begin with 083, 085, 086 ,087 or 089 (this code must be dialled regardless of location or operator of dialler). Sight lines can be limited or non-existent until you are partway into the road. Pay phones are not widely available (and are becoming less so) and most take euro coins, prepaid calling cards and major credit cards. drive on the left and yield to the right on roundabout. Some specialist carriers like Lebara offer prepaid SIMs with preferential international call rates/minute bundles but these usually come at the cost of limited domestic data or minutes. Even in small towns it is unlikely that you will be unable to find an ATM. The Ulster dialect of Irish has most in common with Scottish Gaelic. In the "Gaeltacht" areas (Irish-Speaking districts in the south-west (Kerry), west (Galway, Mayo), and north-west (Donegal), as well as other smaller gaeltacht areas in Meath and Waterford), road signs are written in Irish only. Most trains in Ireland (all operated by the state-run Irish Rail [31] also known by their Irish name, Iarnród Éireann) operate to and from Dublin. A Metro line from Dublin Airport to the city center is planned to begin construction in 2019. This is because opinions between individuals are so vastly divided and unyielding, that most Irish people (of moderate views) have grown accustomed to simply avoiding the topics in polite conversation. A tourist using the Irish language will very often be greeted with indifference. Small amounts of mead (a lightly alcoholic beverage of fermented honey) are also produced by artisan brewers. Regardless of what you call them, they are courteous and approachable. However, note that there may NOT be a VAT refund agent representative at the airport or specific terminal where you will be departing from, or it may not be open at the time you depart. While in the North, pints of Guinness instantly become cheaper by €1 on average. Many shops and pubs will have an ATM in store, and unlike the UK, they cost the same to use as 'regular' ATMs on the street. The owners will flash the lights (or less commonly sometimes ring a bell) to signal that it is almost 'closing time', this is 'last orders' and is your last chance to get a drink. If you intend to travel to the UK from Ireland, even in transit, you will clear passport control in Ireland, but you will not go through Immigration on arrival in the UK. Maldron Hotel South Mall Cork City is located in the centre of Cork City Centre. "Bread and butter pudding", "Shepard's Pie" and "Bangers and Mash" are typical english dishes, the former is occasionally found on Irish menus (as an english dish), the latter is not. 16 of 40. There are also specialist places to stay such as lighthouses, castles and ringforts. Classic Irish dishes include: Note that the first four listed dishes (and their names) vary regionally, and are not common throughout the entire country. If you must take one, sit alone and keep to yourself. There are many canals in Ireland, and it is possible to travel by barge on some of them. Hurling is the fastest field game in the world. You can pick up in the cities or at the airports, though it may cost more to pick up at an airport. The island of Ireland historically consists of 32 counties, of which six, collectively known as Northern Ireland, have remained as part of the United Kingdom since the rest of Ireland gained self government in 1922. The academy is established to help players from Ghana and across Africa gain recognition and advance their football careers. Helmets are not legally required, but widely available for those who wish to use them. If you intend working during any part of your stay you should apply for the appropriate visa well in advance of you planned trip. (Fuel is now generally cheaper in the South, resulting in many Northern motorists purchasing their fuel South of the border.) Both sports are strictly played on an amateur basis, payment to players and trading of players beyond the area of their birth/schooling is not permitted. Conventional wisdom suggests renting (hiring) a car that is an automatic transmission model. Tolls are low by French or Italian standards, and vary from €1.90 upwards, depending on which motorway you are traveling on. All pubs (and nightclubs) in Ireland by law have to close by a certain time, depending on venue and the day. As the Gaeltachts are generally scenic areas it is likely that visitors will go there. With improvements to the Motorway network, Domestic flights in Ireland have been reduced drastically, and are now only available between Dublin and Kerry and Donegal. Taking you on an inspirational journey across the Island of Ireland via 360° Virtual Tours. Thai, Indian, Italian, American, and Mediterranean influenced food is plentiful in Ireland's larger cities and is very good. Most Irish people are quite happy for friendly jibes regarding the Irish love of potatoes and drinking alcohol. If you arrive into a town outside of office hours, normally the local person you ask will display typical Irish hospitality and point you in the right direction. First celebrated in Ontario in 2008, Family Day is a statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Act and Retail Business Holidays Act, so all provincial and most municipal offices and services are closed. Often, in smaller towns and villages (especially on rural roads), if you pass somebody unknown to you, it is customary to say hello. The only cross-border train is the Enterprise service jointly run by Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly. Address: Bushmills, BT57 8SZ Those that can't get tickets will crowd around televisions and radios, and around the world Irish people will be watching or listening to the finals broadcast via satellite and the internet. Cork has flights to most UK destinations, a wide variety of European cities as well as a limited number of US cities. Emergency Service dial 999 or 112 (Pan European code that runs in parallel). (These three airports being located within Northern Ireland). Phones that have the 1800MHz band but not 900MHz will work but coverage is extremely poor outside urban areas. If in doubt, confirm with the Irish embassy serving your region that your visa type and nationality are covered by the BIVS scheme. 01 (Dublin and parts of surrounding counties), 04xx (parts of Wicklow and North-East midlands and Northern Ireland (048)). or a simple comment on the weather will suffice! There are two lines. These Car Sharing services also have the advantage of free parking in Dublin City and designated bays throughout the city (painted Car Club Only). Holidaying using your own wheels is a popular and very enjoyable experience in Ireland. Crime is low by European standards and mainly fuelled by alcohol. Joking on almost any topic will be welcomed, and although mild facetious racism will fetch a chuckle from some, anything needlessly disparaging will not be tolerated by most. They could try to pull a scam or distract you while an unseen accomplice helps themselves to the contents of your pockets. Ireland Information including News, Maps, History, Genealogy, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Tourist & Travel Guide and much more Guinness Brewery, a brewery founded in 1759 that produces Guinness. There are options from budget larger groups in coaches to smaller group tours in luxury mini-coaches. Conservative values still hold dear in rural and suburb areas of Ireland, as well as in many larger main cities. A Rail-Sail Scheme is also available, linking Stena Line [7] or Irish Ferries [8] Ferry companies with Train Companies in Great Britain and Ireland. In many instances, restaurants that serve ethnic food are more plentiful (and some would argue more appealing to locals) than classical Irish fare. They may instead simply greet you by asking "how are you? Only basic table manners are considered necessary when eating out, unless you're with company that has a more specific definition of what is appropriate. Although he is a hero to many in the UK praising or speak positively of Oliver Cromwell will likely lead to an angry response from locals particularly the older generation who are usually more knowledgable about irish history than the younger generation. The Grand Canal Way extends along the tow path of the Grand Canal for 117km and links Dublin to Shannon Harbour in the West of the country. The Great Eastern Greenway in Co. Louth extends 7km from Carlingford Lough to Omeath. Most car rental companies in Ireland apply a minimum age of 25 in order to rent a car, but in many cases you will need to be 28 in order to rent a full-size car. As mentioned above, speed limits in the Republic of Ireland (but not in Northern Ireland) are in kilometres per hour. If you are a tourist from a non-EU country, you may be able to receive a partial refund of VAT tax (which currently stands at 23%.) The bike sharing schemes in regional cities are operated as a separate network by Bikeshare ( https://www.bikeshare.ie/ ). It is highly recommended that you call ahead to book a taxi. The term Police is rarely used, but is of course understood. Most ATM's allow cash withdrawals on major credit cards and internationally branded debit cards. Pints of Guinness start at €1.75 per pint in Galway, can get as high as €9 in Dublin, and does not become less expensive until you reach Northern Ireland. It is recommended to call the cab company in advance if possible and give them a time to be picked up, no matter if it's 4 hours in advance or 30 minutes in advance. While it is possible to apply for a Working Holiday Authorisation while you are already present in Ireland on a tourist visa, long wait times for visa processing will rule that out in practice. Most violent crime happens at night, so if you're waiting for a taxi, stay where there is visible activity. Stand Alone Cash machines (ATMs) are widely available in every city and town in the country and credit cards are accepted in 90% of outlets. Every coin is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries. Hotels, B&Bs and restaurants are easily accessible along the greenways and are often opened to serve greenway traffic in particular. This decision also associated with the Troubles and will become hostile. Therefore, for example, if you have made 10 different purchases at 10 different retailers, you will need to make 10 separate claims for refunds with every single retailer. Joking about these topics could in many instances cause a similar amount of offense (for example) as joking about the Holocaust would among Jewish people. Bloomsday, a festival of celebration into James Joyce's life, during which the events of his novel Ulysses are relived. Australian football is a descendant of this sport and regular "international rules" matches take place based on a blending of the two sports rules. On the west coast in particular, Ireland has very high seas, ideal for surfing, even if the weather isn't always great. If you see another car coming at an unreasonable speed, slow down. Citizens of Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Montenegro, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan who have a valid UK 'C' visit visa for any purpose (except "Visitor in Transit" and "Visitor seeking to enter for the purpose of marriage or to enter a civil partnership") and who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom can visit Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days (or until their current permission to enter/remain in the UK, whichever is shorter). The Act of Union of 1800 - in which Catholics, 90% of the Irish population, were excluded from Parliament - saw Ireland joining the United Kingdom. Most hotels have designated some bedrooms or floors as smoking and some as non-smoking, so you should specify at the time of booking if you have a preference either way. Taxi's are required to have clearly a visible photo ID for the driver in the cabin and a security sealed and calibrated meter clearly visible. In the very unlikely event you are mugged, co-operate. A few common phrases are easy to pick up. Regardless of when you visit Ireland, even in middle of the summer, you will more than likely experience rain, so if you intend being outdoors, a waterproof coat is recommended. The Jameson distillery is a common tourist destination found near the center of Dublin. without the s, even for amounts worth €2 or higher. The largest sporting organisation in Ireland, and the largest amateur sporting organisation in the world, is the Gaelic Athletic Association, more commonly referred to as the GAA. The guides may provide an insight into Irish history and culture you may not be able to learn on your own. It is not uncommon for locals to approach confused looking visitors and offer to help. These hostels are often in remote and beautiful places, designed mainly for the outdoors. Copyright © 2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Internationally, the best known of these of course is Ulster, since it is used as an umbrella term to describe Northern Ireland, although three of its nine counties are within the Republic of Ireland. Customers roaming from EU countries are subject to much cheaper EU regulated roaming rates and depending on their plan or operator can usually use data, text and voice as they would at home. Text is available under [http://wikitravel.org/shared/Copyleft Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0] images are available under [http://wikitravel.org/shared/How_to_re-use_Wikitravel_guides various licenses], see each image for details. Ireland has recently passed a referendum to legalize same-sex marriage in May 2015, but it wasn't without its fair share of controversy and opposition so talking about it and LGBT rights in general probably should be avoided. It is the second most visited tourist attraction in Ireland. Cash amounts ending in 1, 2, 6, and 7 cent will be rounded down to the nearest 5 cent and cash amounts ending in 4, 5, 8, and 9 cent will be rounded up to the next 5 cent. Likewise the geographical descriptor of "British Isles" is considered offensive by many and is not referred to by any official Irish government published materials, agreements, laws or treaties. Rushin House is located on the shores of Lough MacNean with spectacular panoramic views in all directions. If your travel time between the two cameras is quicker than the measured time for a vehicle travelling at the speed limit you are automatically issued a ticket. Soccer and Rugby are also popular in Ireland. Driving on regional and local roads in Ireland requires etiquette, courtesy and nerves of steel. Though it is advisable to check in advance that both the company and the particular route you will travel on accept the card. We pride ourselves with our proven youth development programs for young elite players. However, it is wise to avoid any political or religious discussion unless you are invited to discuss these topics. However, their humour can sometimes be difficult to understand for more unfamiliar tourists. However, selecting a manual transmission (stickshift) model will allow the driver to select a smaller vehicle which better fits the small roads and saves gas (petrol) without a noticeable loss of power. This is an alphabetical list of loughs (lakes) on the island of Ireland.It also shows a table of the largest loughs. Ireland is an island in north-western Europe which has been divided politically since 1920. Lesser roads, are, in many parts, poorly signposted, the only indication of what route to take often being a finger-sign at the junction itself. A handful of high-street shops in Dublin, including some hotels, will take payment in British Pounds. Using this scheme, the shopper receives a magnetic stripe card which records the amount of purchases and VAT paid every time a purchase is made and then claims the VAT back at the airport, minus commission to the VAT refund agent, which is often quite substantial. Rooms in Hotels and Bed & Breakfast establishments are not required by law to be smoke-free. Differences in prices of goods between the Irish Euro and the British Pound have resulted in increasing numbers of Irish shoppers crossing the border to purchase goods which are a lot cheaper in Northern Ireland than in the Republic. Many people have some limited understanding of Irish and it is only regularly used by approximately 73,000 people, most of whom live in rural areas known as the Gaeltachts. Extreme sports such as Parajumping/wingsuit flying, rafting, mountain biking and climbing are also options. The GAA governs Ireland's two national sports which are Gaelic Football and Hurling. The name "Ireland" applies to the island as a whole, but in English is also the official name of the independent state (ie the 26 counties which are not part of the United Kingdom), since 1921. Tolls, Built-up area (e.g., in a residential or shopping district) - 50 km/h and sometimes 30 km/h, Regional or Local Road (e.g., R292, R134, L12345, etc.) There are hotels of all standards including some very luxurious. We groom talented players with the right technical, tactical and mental skills to enable them to compete as professional players at the highest level in football anywhere. Parking along the road, farm animals, as well as large lorries or machinery may also appear around the bend and be the cause for quick thinking or braking. The most famous variety is Guinness, brewed in Dublin and available throughout the country. The M4 (from Dublin to Mullingar) heads towards Sligo. However, some Irish people may take offence if you call Irish "Gaelic," as this is seen as being an incorrect term, and refers to the entire family of languages that includes Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic. In 1949 the Irish Free State became "Ireland" (a.k.a. (If you don't drink tea, you drink coffee!). Even the friendliest of drunk people can turn confrontational given the slightest provocation. If you book on-line for Intercity travel, be aware that there may be a cheaper fare option available to you at the ticket office in the train station itself. This is because many roads in Ireland are narrow, requiring the driver's full attention, so an automatic transmission allows the driver to focus on the road instead of the machine. The global banking crisis and subsequent recession hit Ireland hard, and high levels of unemployment proliferated for the period 2009 - 2013, before a gradual economic recovery returned Ireland to being one of the strongest performing economies in Europe. Make transport arrangements for getting home if going out or returning after dark. Irish cuisine can charitably be described as hearty: virtually all traditional meals involve meat (especially lamb and pork), potatoes, and cabbage. Visitors to Ireland are likely to find the Irish to be among the most courteous nationalities in the world. The response will often be "It is indeed, thank God". Contact numbers are usually posted at these stations for the on-duty officers and emergency service operators will always route your call appropriately. It is perfectly legal to temporarily use the hard shoulder to allow a faster moving vehicle overtake you, but remember that this maneouver is not allowed on a motorway. This network is a single unified system for Northern Ireland and the Republic and currently free of charge.