A to Z on Ireland - What you need to know

Accommodation in Ireland ranges from stately country houses, luxurious castles, old-world inns, homely guesthouses to thatched cottages and farmhouses. The hotel grading system is as follows:

Five Star *****

These include Ireland's most luxurious hotels, all of which is of the highest quality and spacious suites are also available. They range from elegant, stately castles to prestigious country clubs and top class city hotels catering for both the business and tourist visitor. These fine hotels boast some of the country’s best restaurants and offer table d’hôte and/or a la carte lunch/dinner menus. Exceptional service and a personalised welcome are the norm in these hotels.

Four Star ****

These include contemporary hotels of excellent quality and charming period houses renovated to very high standard complete with all modern comforts. All guest accommodation is luxurious with suites and half suites available in most cases.

Three Star ***

These range from small family operated premises to larger, modern hotels. Guest rooms are well decorated with the emphasis on comfort and all have a private bathroom with a bath and/or shower. Most hotels will also have colour TV, direct dial phones, hairdryers, tea/coffee facilities and room service. Many hotels have leisure facilities, car parking, and safety deposit boxes. These hotels offer a range of services making them ideal for the cost-conscious traveler seeking comfort.

Air Travel

Most international carriers operate schedule services from main airports to Dublin or Shannon. Many charter/ low cost airlines also operate into Cork, Kerry, Knock and Belfast.

.: Map of Dublin Airport destinations

.: Map of Cork Airport destinations

.: Map of Shannon Airport destinations

.: Map of Belfast Airport destinations

Aer Arann, Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate domestic services from Dublin to Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Shannon, Sligo, and Waterford.

Ferry Travel

Ferry routes to Ireland from Britain are operated by Irish Ferries, Stena Line, Swansea Cork Ferries. Merchant Ferries, P&O Irish Sea, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Seacat Scotland, Norse Irish Ferries.

From mainland Europe, Irish Ferries, Brittany Ferries and P&O Irish Sea Ferries operate car ferries from France. In addition, carriers on the English Channel or North Sea routes offer through-fares to Ireland.

Ireland is easy to access and straightforward to get around. The following grid provides the approximate travelling times between the major cities and towns, is a useful tool in planning any tour.

Shops

Most shops are open from 09.00 – 18.00hrs, Monday-Saturday.
Thursday in Dublin and Belfast is late night shopping to 20.00 / 21.00hrs. The larger shopping centres usually stay open late until 21.00hrs on Thursday and Friday.
Many shops are open on Sundays from 12.00 – 18.00hrs.

Museums

Museums and tourist sites are generally open Tuesday-Saturday 10.00 to 17.00hrs and Sunday 14.00 to 17.00hrs.

Banks

Banks are open 10.00 to 16.00hrs, Monday to Friday. In small towns they may close for lunch from 12.30 to 13.30hrs.

Post Offices

Post offices are open weekdays 09.00 to 17.00hrs and Saturdays 09.00 to 13.00hrs; some of the smaller country offices close for lunch.

Pubs

Pubs are open Monday to Thursday 10.30 to 23.30hrs,
Friday and Saturday 10.30 to 00.30.
On Sunday, pubs are open 12.30 to 23.00hrs.
There is no more "holy hour" between 14:00 - 16:00hrs on Sundays. All pubs close on Christmas Day and Good Friday, but hotel bars are open for guests.

The dominant influence on Ireland's climate is the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, Ireland does not suffer from the extremes of temperature experienced by many other countries at similar latitude.

Winters are mild with temperatures in the coldest months, January and February, rarely falling below freezing. The sunniest months are May and June with up to 18 hours of daylight. In the warmest months, July and August, temperatures can sometimes reach up to 25 C (78 F).

Visitors expect to see some rain and occasional mist during their visit, but are also likely to experience glorious sunshine, sweeping cloud formations, and beguiling rainbows. The weather can vary dramatically from day to day; it can also change from fair to showery and back again to fair in a matter of minutes. June is typically the driest month and the winter months of December and January are the wettest.

For more details and on-line weather updates visit the Irish Meteorological Service website at www.met.ie

Being a part of the European Monetary System, the basic unit of currency in Republic of Ireland is the Euro. Northern Ireland remains on its existing currency system of sterling pound.

In Northern Ireland, most banks open 09.30 – 16.30hrs Monday-Friday, with some opening longer hours and on Saturday. Any credit cards that bear the Visa, MasterCard or American Express symbol will be widely accepted in Ireland. Visitors with other cards should ask in advance if it will be accepted.

The population of the island is currently approximately 5.6 million, with approximately 3.9 million living in the Republic and 1.7 million living in Northern Ireland. The island of Ireland enjoys a rich diversity of ethnic groups and cultures and there is a dominance of young people – over half the population is under 30 years old!

In case of emergency dial 112 or 999 and ask the operator for the service required.

The electrical current in Ireland is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall sockets take plugs with 3 flat-pins. To use American appliances both a converter and adapter are required except for dual voltage appliances, which need only an adapter (e.g. most laptop computers.)

One of Ireland's most popular drinks is a cup of tea, but lager or Guinness (Porter) served in a pint glass (0.46l) are the most common drinks to be seen in Irish pubs. Prices vary from location to location. The following is a guideline to prices in pubs in central Dublin:

• Pint of Lager: €5.00
• Pint of Guinness: €4.50
• Measure of Irish Whiskey: €4.20
• Bottle of Coke: €2.80
• Bottle of Mineral Water: €2.80
• Glass of Wine: €5.00
  

Some popular Irish Foods include:

• Potato - roast, boiled, mashed
• Colcannon - mashed potato with spring onion
• Beef - roast beef, steaks
• Lamb (especially in spring) - roast, grilled (cutlets)
• Irish Stew (with lamb and potato)
• Smoked or Fresh Salmon
• Shellfish - Oysters, Mussels, Dublin Bay Prawns
• Brown Bread
• Farmhouse Cheese
• Apple Pie with cream
• Baileys Cheesecake

Ireland is 385 kilometres / 300miles at its longest; 304 kilometres/190miles at its widest.
Ireland is divided into four provinces – Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught, which make up 32 counties.
The Republic occupies 26 counties and the capital is Dublin.
The Republic is a constitutional democracy and a member of the European Union.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK and its capital is Belfast.

Good roads, domestic airlines, bus and rail services mean it’s never been easier to get around Ireland. Hire cars, chauffeur-driven cars and limos can be arranged either prior to your visit to all major airports and city centre locations. For larger groups you can travel by vintage bus, luxury coach or even private jet.

For speed, you can use a helicopter to get from destination to destination – always a great way to impress your guests and a wonderful opportunity to view the stunning landscape from on high.

No matter where you’re traveling from, it’s easy to get around in Ireland.

EU Citizens are entitled to free hospital treatment in a public ward and should obtain an E1-11 card prior to departure.

The Irish National Health Plan does not cover United States or Canadian visitors. Check with an insurance agent or broker before you travel if your health plan is valid in Ireland.

There are two official languages in Ireland, Irish (a Celtic language related to Scottish Gaelic, Breton and Welsh) and English. Although just about everyone speaks English in everyday communication, the Irish language is still very much in evidence and remains the principal language in areas known as Gaeltachts situated mainly on the western seaboard.

Passports are not required by British citizens born in the United Kingdom and travelling from Britain, although photo identification is required. Citizens of European Union states and Switzerland may use a passport or national identity card.

All other nationalities must have a passport.

Countries whose passport holders DO NOT require visas to enter Republic of Ireland are:

Transit Visas are required by Nationals of the following countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Cuba, Dominican Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Nigeria, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

**Note: A Person in Possession of a Hong Kong certificate of Identity requires an entry visa for the state.

If you require a visa or have any queries please contact the Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country of permanent residence.

UK, Europe and rest of the world 82c Within Ireland 55c

January 1st (New Year's Day)
March 17th (St. Patrick's Day)
Friday before Easter (Good Friday)
Monday after Easter (Easter Monday)
First Monday in May
First Monday in June
First Monday in August
Last Monday in October
December 25th (Christmas Day)
December 26th (St. Stephen's Day)

Ireland has introduced a blanket ban on smoking in all places of work to protect public health and reduce the incidences of smoking-related illness. Smoking is prohibited in public areas within the island of Ireland – this includes all bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Although hotel bedrooms may be exempt from the ban, it is applied to all other areas within hotels. (The date for introduction was March 29, 2004 in the Republic of Ireland and April 30, 2007 in Northern Ireland.)

When leaving the Irish Republic, non-EU citizens can apply for a refund of the value-added tax (VAT). VAT is not refundable on accommodation, car rental, meals or personal services. Most shops and department stores operate a system called Cashback, which enables non-EU residents to collect rebates in the currency of their choice at Dublin or Shannon Airport on departure. Forms for the refunds must be picked up at the time of purchase, and the form must be stamped by customs before leaving.

The country code for Ireland is 353; for Northern Ireland it is 44. When dialling an Irish number from abroad, drop the initial 0 from the local area code e.g. Within Ireland, our telephone number is 01-4972003. From outside Ireland our number is +353-1-4972003.

Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and, in accordance with daylight saving, clocks are put forward one hour mid-March and back one hour at the end of October. During summer it stays light until as late as 23.00hrs; but by mid-December it can be dark by 16.00hrs.

In some hotels and restaurants a service charge of between 10%-15% is added to the bill in lieu of a tip. If in doubt, ask whether service is included.