PASSPORTS
When travelling to Ireland from any country other than the United
Kingdom, a valid passport is required. Before travelling, be sure
to check the passport’s expiry date and renew it accordingly.
Prior to your departure, make a number of photocopies of your passport.
Leave copies with family members at home and carry a copy in your
luggage. In the event that your passport is lost or stolen during
your trip, please contact your local embassy or consulate; these copies
will make passport replacement easier.
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ENTRY VISAS
Citizens from most Western countries including the USA, Canada, Australia,
South Africa and Japan do not require visas when entering Ireland.
Entry visas are not required for citizens of the European Union -
a national identity card (where relevant) or passport will suffice.
Should you have any doubts, you should contact the relevant emigration
authorities prior to departure.
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CUSTOMS & EXCISE
In Ireland, customs operate on a Blue, Green and Red Channel basis.
The Blue Channel is for visitors from the European Union only. The
Green Channel (goods to declare) and Red Channel (nothing to declare)
are for all visitors from outside the European Union. Visitors from
outside the European Union are entitled to import duty free: 200 cigarettes
or cigars, 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of sparkling wine or liqueurs,
2 litres of still table wine, 60 millilitres of perfume or 250 millilitres
of eau de toilette and $400 worth of goods, including gifts and souvenirs.
United States citizens can clear US customs in Ireland at either Dublin
or Shannon Airport prior to boarding the return flight.
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CURRENCY
Since January 1st 2002 and in common with most European countries,
the unit of currency in the Irish Republic is the Euro, which is denoted
by the symbol "€ ". Prior to 2002, the unit of currency
was the Irish Pound (or Punt). The official currency in Northern Ireland
remains the British Pound (Sterling) as the United Kingdom have not
joined the common currency of the European Union but some places do
accept the Euro.
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BUREAU DE CHANGE
In Ireland, banks usually give the best exchange rate for foreign
currency and most banks offer this service. It is also possible to
change money in airports, larger railway stations, travel agents and
some larger hotels (if you are a resident). Bureau de Change facilities
usually charge a small handling fee and commission.
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BANKS
The principal Irish banks include Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland,
Ulster Bank, Irish Permanent and ACC Bank. These banks generally open
on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm and
on Thursday from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Banks are not open on Saturday
or Sunday.
Banks in Northern Ireland are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00am
to 4.00pm or 5.00pm with some opening on Saturday mornings.
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CREDIT CARDS
Most large shops, stores, hotels and restaurants in Ireland will accept
the majority of credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, American Express,
Diners etc.). However, it is advisable to carry some cash money in
case of difficulty, as many smaller accommodations, pubs, restaurants
and small shops are unlikely to accept any form of credit card.
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ATM (CASH) MACHINES
You can withdraw cash from ATM machines across the country. Located
in most banks and larger shopping centres, the ATM machines accept
most credit cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express,
as well as PLUS and Cirrus debit cards.
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DRIVING
IN IRELAND
Driving in Ireland is an exhilarating experience, but there are some
different rules and a number of significant differences that affect
the driving experience, especially if you are driving for pleasure.
It's worth spending a few moments to reflect on these.
In Ireland, driving is on the left hand-side of the road therefore
traffic coming from the right-hand side has precedence on roundabouts
(traffic rotaries). The minimum driving age is seventeen years old.
There is not a massive network of motorways in Ireland but the major
trunk roads are increasingly excellent. As a rule, however, it has
to be said that driving in Ireland will be mainly along twisting and
not overly smooth country roads and a good map is required to ensure
that that you reach the correct destination.
As a consequence of the economic boom, there are larger volumes of
traffic on the roads particularly around the major cities with many
roads becoming overcrowded at peak times and drivers are asked to
be vigilant and patient.
Speed limit in Ireland
- Motorways/Freeways 70 mph (112 kph) and 50mph (80 kph) when
towing
- Regular non-urban roads 60 mph (100 kph) and 50mph (80 kph)
when towing
- Urban areas 30mph (48 kph)
The Irish police frequently conduct speed checks and there are
a number of speed cameras in place on the major routes to ensure
that the speed limit is adhered to.
Drivers should be in possession of the following
documents
- Valid drivers license
- Vehicle title document/registration certificate or vehicle rental
agreement
Alcohol and Seatbelts
Caution should be exercised when driving under the influence of
alcohol. The legal tolerance limit is 0.08%, which roughly translates
into one pint of beer or one glass of wine. Generally, it is better
to avoid alcoholic drinks completely if driving. The penalties for
drink driving are severe so avoid this at all costs. The wearing
of seatbelts is compulsory in both front and rear seats.
Direction Sign Colours for the Road System
- Freeways/Motorways = Blue
- National Primary & Secondary Routes = Green
- Regional and Local Routes = White
Toll Bridge Charges
Tolls are payable at two points in the Dublin area – the M50
Ring Road between the N4 and N3 interchanges only and on the R131
East Link Bridge. In each case the toll is under IR£0.80 (€1.00)
for cars, with higher tolls for vans and trucks. There are no tolls
on other motorways or national routes.
Breakdown & Emergency Services
In the unlikely event that your car should breakdown, please call
either of the following numbers for motoring assistance. Irish Motorways
have emergency phones at intervals, but if driving on your own,
it is advisable to have a mobile phone.
- Tel. 1-800 667 788 (0800 887 766 in Northern Ireland)
- Tel. 1-800 535 005 (0800 828 282 in Northern Ireland)
Renting a Car
All of the major car hire companies have a presence in Ireland.
Most cars are manual but you can hire an automatic at a marginally
higher rate. Note that you must have a full clean license for at
least two years and be aged between 23 and 70 to be eligible to
hire a car in Ireland. Most car hire companies will also insist
upon payment by a credit card.
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GRATUITIES
There are no definite rules for tipping. If you feel that you have
received good service, then you may wish to leave a tip. In Ireland
most restaurants and hotels add a service charge of approximately
15% to the bill. In these cases, a further tip is usually not necessary.
Tipping in a pub is not necessary, unless your drinks are served
to you away from the bar, in which case a small tip is sufficient.
Taxi drivers generally expect a 10% to 15% tip but again, this is
discretionary
Tipping Caddies
Caddies are requested for customers but cannot be guaranteed, as
they are effectively self-employed. The standard cost for a caddy
at most clubs is between IR£20 (€25) and IR£30
(€38) per bag. Gratuity varies depending on your satisfaction
but a tip of between IR£5 and £15 (€6.50 and €20)
is recommended. The rates vary from course to course and you should
check with the caddy master at the course on the day of play.
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SHOPPING
Shops generally open Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:30pm or
6:00pm. In popular visitor areas, many shops stay open until later
in the evening during the summer, while in larger towns and cities,
there is usually late night shopping until 7:00pm or 8:00pm on Thursday
evenings throughout the year. Some shops are open on Sunday from
11am to 5.30pm. On Bank Holiday Mondays, Sunday shopping hours apply.
In the smaller communities across Ireland many of the local shops
tend to close on Sunday and also may close on a particular afternoon
during the week.
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TAX FREE SHOPPING
Non-European Union residents are entitled to a refund of Value Added
Tax (VAT) on the purchases they bring back home with them. Be sure
to obtain the tax refund documentation from the store where the
item is purchased. The refund is processed at the refund agency's
counter at the airport of departure. A refund service charge is
payable, and the balance due to you can usually be credited to your
credit card account or paid in a currency of your choice.
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VOLTAGE & ELECTRICITY
The standard voltage in Ireland is 220V 50Hz and 230/240 V 50Hz
in Northern Ireland but the same plugs can be used. Plugs are 3-pin
1363 type. Most shaving sockets also support 110V with the 2-pin
international shaving plug. Many hotel rooms provide hair dryers.
A lot of bathrooms have two-pin 110V to 120V plugs for shavers and
if adapters are needed, they can be purchased in electrical shops,
borrowed from hotel reception or purchased from a shop at your departure
airport.
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TRAVEL & HEALTH INSURANCE
Travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself against financial
loss and is highly recommended. The most useful plan is a comprehensive
policy that includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption,
default, trip delay, and medical expenses (with a waiver for pre-existing
conditions). See the Travel Insurance section in Travel Tools.
Without insurance, you will lose all or most of your money if you
cancel your trip or have to cut it short, regardless of the reason.
Default insurance covers you if your tour operator, airline, or
cruise line goes out of business. Trip-delay covers unforeseen expenses
that you may incur due to bad weather or mechanical delays. Study
the fine print when comparing policies.
Before embarking on your travels, one of the most important components
of travel insurance is its medical coverage. Check if your existing
health insurance policy covers you in the unlikely event of medical
attention and hospitalisation. If not, health insurance is strongly
recommended and will provide peace of mind and cover the cost of
medical bills incurred should you get sick or injured while travelling.
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MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Visitors who become ill while in Ireland are eligible for free emergency
treatment at National Health Service Accident and Emergency hospital
departments. If however, you are admitted to hospital as a patient,
or referred to an outpatient clinic, you will be asked to pay unless
you are a citizen of a European country or a resident of a country,
which has a reciprocal health-care agreement with the Ireland.
You do not need an International Certificate of Vaccination for
entry to Ireland but you should check if one is required for re-entry
to your own country. Ireland does have midges (small flies) that
bite and it is recommended that you purchase some insect-repellent
at a chemist.
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TELEPHONES
Ireland has an excellent telecommunications network, however long
distance telephone charges from hotel rooms are subject to a hotel
service charge, which can be extremely expensive. To avoid this,
prepaid phone cards can be purchased in post offices and certain
newsagents and can be used on the numerous public telephone boxes.
Making Phone Calls
Irish telephone numbers comprise an area code and then the local
number. A typical Irish phone number would be (028) 20600. Whenever
dialling another Irish phone number, one should always dial the
complete number (both the area code and local phone number). Should
you encounter any difficulties, the local operator can be contacted
toll free by dialling 10, while directory enquiries can be reach
at 11811.
If calling an Irish number from outside Ireland, first dial your
own country’s access code for Ireland, then the international
code for the Ireland (353), followed by the area code, dropping
the first 0. Taking the above number as an example, the number would
be:
International Access Code + Irish Code + Area Code + Phone Number
011 (Code from the US) +353 (Irish Code) +28 (Area Code) +20600
(Local Number)
When dialling a telephone number in Northern Ireland from the Republic
of Ireland the area code will always be (048) and an eight-digit
number will follow this.
Important Telephone Numbers
- Emergency services: 999
- Operator Assistance: 10
- Domestic directory enquiries: 11811
- International directory enquiries: 18818
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MOBILE PHONES
There are three GSM mobile networks in Ireland operated by Éircell
ESAT Digifone and Meteor (IRL-03) and one analog network operated
by Éircell. Excellent coverage can be achieved in the vast
majority of the country. GSM subscribers of other networks can use
the Irish networks without formality for incoming and outgoing voice
calls, fax, data and SMS. On a cautionary note roaming charges are
expensive and making frequent international calls can be an expensive
option.
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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Ireland has nine public holidays for the year when all banks, commercial
offices and the vast majority of the stores close for the day.
The following days are public holidays in Ireland. Good Friday is
a church holiday and commercial businesses are not compelled to
close, however many companies take the opportunity to close for
the day.
- Christmas Day – 25th December
- St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) – 26th December
- St. Patrick's Day – March 17th (If on a Saturday or Sunday,
holiday is on Monday)
- Easter Monday
- First Monday in May, June and August
- Last Monday in October
- New Years Day (If on a Saturday or Sunday, then holiday is on
Monday)
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WHAT TO WEAR
If golfing, one should always pack golf waterproofs, which allow
easy movement. While polo shirts, light trousers and even tailored
shorts may well be required; it is essential to have adequate rain
gear. Because of the variable weather, clothes should be flexible
enough to allow for temperature change. Between May and September,
it is usually warm but a light waterproof jacket should still be
packed. From October to April, heavier sweaters are recommended,
particularly if spending some time outdoors.
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RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Ireland has become increasingly cosmopolitan. Well-travelled, well-educated
and affluent Irish people are returning home from abroad and bringing
back with them different experiences and tastes. The result is that
there has been a quantum leap in terms of quality and variety of
cuisine on offer at restaurants and bistros.
For details on restaurants recommended on this site, one should
check out the Restaurant Section under "While You’re Here".
Irish restaurants, including those in hotels, usually open from
12:00 noon to 2:30pm for lunch and from 6:00pm to about 11:00pm
for dinner, although these times do vary. Country establishments
often tend to close that bit earlier so it is important to pre-check.
Last orders are often taken up to 45 minutes before closing. Many
restaurants, bistros, and pubs remain open throughout the day for
coffee, light meals and beverages.
Ireland’s pubs are world-renowned and play an important role
within the community. The standard opening times for licensed premises
are from 10.30am to 11.30pm Monday through Saturday, while most
pubs have late licences, which entitle them to serve until 12:30am
from Thursday through Saturday. Some bars in the cities remain open
even later, while some pubs in rural communities tend to be quite
lax on the closing times. Bars generally open on Sundays from midday
until 11pm.
What to Pay
The price of food and drink varies considerably depending on the
type of establishment you choose and the part of the country you
are in. As a general guideline, eating out in a pub at lunchtime
will cost from around IR£6.00 (€7.60), while it is usually
that bit more expensive in a restaurant. Dining in the evening obviously
varies greatly but one can expect to pay from IR£15.00 (€20)
to IR£25.00 (€32) per person for a good meal.
Pubs are generally cheaper than hotel lounges when purchasing alcoholic
drinks, while prices in the major cities of Dublin and Cork are
generally more expensive than other regions. A measure or "shot"
of whiskey costs approximately IR£1.80 (€2.30), while
a pint of beer (ale or stout) costs around IR£2.30 (€2.90)
or more. Lagers are generally a little more expensive than ale or
stout, such as Guinness, Murphy’s and Smithwicks.
The vast majority of patrons drink beer by the pint, while visitors
should make sure to sample a few pints of Guinness on their travels.
Other recommended local brews include Murphy’s, Beamish and
Harp.
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