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History lovers have much to explore, from ancient Neolithic,
Celtic, Viking and Roman monuments through to more modern
conflict-torn symbols of 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland
(which should certainly not deter a visit to this region).
The Irish people have spread themselves so far around the
globe, that most people have a sense of who the Irish are,
but few what joys are to be found for the traveller to Ireland.
Ireland is comprised of two separate countries - the independent
Republic of Ireland (Eire), and the small six counties
of Northern Ireland which are part of Great Britain,
although it is starting to enjoy a greater deal of autonomy
from the mainland, thanks to the Good Friday Peace Agreement.
Seen it all before? Then you obviously haven't yet visited
Ireland, a nation that is culturally unique and offers far
more dramatic scenery compared to the rest of the British
Isles. Ireland is relatively un-spoilt and lives up to its
name 'the Emerald Isle' with its green hills, medieval monasteries,
castles and windswept remote islands in this sparsely inhabited
country filled with breathtaking landscapes. Throughout the
centuries, this land of bleak beauty has inspired the great
poets Keats and Yeats and the 'black comedy'
playwright Samuel Beckett amongst countless other artists,
authors and dramatists.
Whether you enjoy cycling the leisurely rolling hills of
the Ring of Kerry, playing a round of golf, windsurfing
(although cold, the waves in the Northwest are amongst the
best in Europe), fishing for wild salmon or trout, hiking
the boglands of Connemara on the West Coast to discover
ruined cottages and a traditional rural way of life, or exploring
offshore islands with ancient monasteries and monuments, Ireland
is an outdoor lover's paradise.
Strong Irish traditions of folk music, dance, storytelling,
horse racing and sports can be enjoyed in virtually every
town you visit, and you are likely to find locals very approachable
and friendly. But behind the hospitable veneer of the Irish
lies a dark and troubled past cluttered with less than pleasant
encounters with cruel and sometimes barbaric English rulers.
These divisions are still a part of everyday life, especially
in British controlled Northern Ireland.
There is so much too do in this tiny country - plan to take
a lengthy holiday here, not just a stop off to Dublin from
London. Spend time out in the capital city of Dublin
where you can enjoy amazing nightlife, shopping, great monuments
like the Book of Kells and a history of literary greats like
James Joyce, or just sit in a pub, make new friends and enjoy
the best tasting pint of Guiness anywhere.
Climate
Irish weather is infamous. Regardless of where you are it
will rain at some point, but don't let that put you off. Often
it is a short shower on a lovely sunny day, or a winter drizzle,
but if you are prepared it will not hamper your enjoyment.
Weather is changeable in any area, in any season, from hour
to hour. It could be snow in March, rain in June, or blistering
heat in September. However, being an island, the temperature
is usually mild and you can expect a pleasant summer average
of 60F. Even in winter, the temperatures rarely drop below
freezing. May to September are the warmest months to explore
outdoors.
Dress
The days of a poverty stricken, restrictive religious Ireland
are long gone, and the effect on the culture is startling.
Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Belfast are very modern, fashionable
cities, and here, as in the small country towns, it's not
unusual to see a colourful, MTV styled teenager alongside
those whose dress would fit comfortably into a bygone era.
If you're planning on hiking bring sturdy walking boots, layers
in the autumn and winter, and a good storm proof raincoat.
Waterproof trousers and a backpack are a must. Remember, regardless
of the weather, a raincoat or umbrella may be a good idea
on those sightseeing trips.
Cash
It is important to remember that there are two currencies
in Ireland as it comprises of two countries. The Euro (€)
in the Republic, and British Pound Sterling in Northern Ireland
(£). In February 2002, the Republic of Ireland adopted
the Euro in enthusiastic, seemless fashion. There are 100
cents in one Euro. There are coins of one, two, five, 10,
20, and 50 cents, as well as €1 and €2. The Euro
notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20,
€50, €100, €200, and €500. The reverse
side of the Euro coins have a design particular to their country
of issue (a Celtic harp in the case of Republic of Ireland),
but Euro from other European countries is accepted here also.
For those interested in history, the harp on the Irish coins
is modelled on the legendary wooden harp of ancient tribal
warrior, Brian Boru, and is stored alongside the Book of Kells
in Trinity College. Euro will be accepted in many Northern
Irish stores and shops near the border, but expect the exchange
rate to be slightly worse than normal. Otherwise, use British
Pound Sterling as in the rest of Britain.
Worldwide currency rates vary day by day.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
Dublin is a very expensive city to visit. However
things get cheaper the further you travel from tourist areas.
On the whole, alcohol and food costs are noticeably more expensive
in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland, where
the cost of living is comparable to Britain.
A pint (half litre) of Guinness will cost around €4 -
€5 in the Republic, and a decent meal with a drink around
€15 -€25. A bed in a hostel dormitory costs €10
- €20 a night in the high season. A B&B costs about
€20 - €40 per person, while some may cost anything
up to €70 per person. Prices vary depending on the season,
and how close you are to the tourist areas.
Money can easily be exchanged in the cities and towns and
cash machines for debit cards are readily available in towns,
but stock up in cash before you head to the rural villages
and outer Islands. Tipping at 10 - 15% is customary in most
restaurants, but check as in many places it has already been
added.
Tax and Refunds
One of the big attractions to American visitors and other
non-EU residents is the facility to get VAT back on some goods.
If the goods you purchase have a Cashback Sticker you will
be given a Cashback Voucher which you can use to get a VAT
refund in Shannon Airport.
Food and drink
The Irish are not known for their culinary excellence, so
you might be surprised at how good it has become. Alongside
Irish dishes, multicultural cuisine from Thailand, India,
China, Vietnam, Japan and America can be found in the major
cities. However, fresh seafood like mussels, salmon and
trout are great dishes to eat near the coast. Oyster
fans will also have plenty of opportunity to indulge.
Local cheeses are now a great addition to Irish cuisine
and you could spend months exploring the varieties. A good
place to find them is the local markets, or specialist shops,
as well as restaurants. Some of the best are the cheddars,
West Cork Gubbeen, Blue Cashel from Tipperary and Dunbarra.
The huge variety of Irish breads are a great accompaniment.
A good cooked breakfast with bacon, sausages, egg, tomato,
beans, mushrooms, white pudding, and black pudding (blood
sausage) is the traditional breakfast, with the Irish additions
of brown wheaten bread, potato bread and soda farls
(in Ulster). It should ideally be washed down with a lot
of Barry's tea, and will set you up for any amount
of walking and drinking for the rest of the day.
Some other treats to keep an eye out for are: bacon and cabbage,
barm brack, black and white pudding, champ, irish stew, wheaten/soda
bread, local milk, butter, beef, tayto cheese 'n' onion crisps,
and, of course, the Irish potato (try to get the Summer
Comber pick if you can). There are plenty of good vegetarian
restaurants in the main towns.
The idea of Guinness (stout) tasting better in Ireland
than elsewhere is widely held by visitors and locals alike
so do try it. Furthermore, locals will tell you that it varies
from pub to pub, so if you do get a chance try to find out
which pubs are renowned. If you're lucky they may offer to
bring you, and buy you a drink. A good pint of Guinness should
be fairly cold, and solid, with the cream clinging to the
glass in rings as you drink it. In Cork, however, a pint of
stout can mean Murphy's or Beamish, both of
which are a tasty, lighter stout than Guinness, and by all
accounts worthy of a similar fame.
A number of lagers from abroad are available as well
as local favourites Harp and Tennants. A couple
of ales (which unlike the English ales have gas) might be
available. Smithwick's will be available throughout
Ireland, and Bass in Northern Ireland. Other beers
worth trying are Caffreys and Kilkenny.
The Irish were also pioneers in developing whiskey,
the most famous of which are Power's, Bushmills and
Paddy's or Jameson's. Irish coffee is a
beautiful mixture of strong coffee, whiskey and cream. An
interesting alternative is coffee with a shot of Bailey's
Irish Cream. Irish Cream has become world renowned for
its unique flavour. In Ireland, it thrives as elsewhere, although
an interesting but tasty variation on the theme is to perk
it up a bit with a shot of brandy, known as a Brandy and Baileys.
As far as soft drinks go, its the usual suspects, but you
should try brown and red lemonade, and Rock Shandy
(a mixture of orange and lemon).
People
Ireland's population is about 5.5 million. About four million
of those are in the Republic, with about 1.5m in Northern
Ireland. The early Irish derived from a race of Celts
who settled there long before 1 AD. Irish history is loaded
with war and tragedy and makes for compelling reading. As
many of the historic incidents involve interference from England
there are some people who resent their neighbours, and its
best to avoid any controversial political arguments. Also,
don't make the mistake of thinking that all of Ireland is
ruled by Britain, that leprechauns exist, or that Ireland
has somehow avoided the changes of industrialisation. Dublin
is fairly multicultural with Chinese, Black and
Asian areas. Most of the people you will meet will be
very friendly, chatty, and good humoured, although like anywhere,
don't be too naive in pubs, clubs and city streets.
Safety
As with any modern industrialised country, there are areas
of cities to avoid. In Dublin, there are some inner
city areas which you should avoid at night especially around
the train station and in the North side of the City. The same
can be said of parts of Limerick, Cork and Belfast.
In Northern Ireland, it is best to avoid heavily segregated
areas where religious bigotry is still very strong. You will
usually know when you have gone into the wrong area due to
sectarian graffiti and murals, but not always. Also, be a
little more careful when choosing a pub in Northern Ireland.
Avoid those which have a sectarian clientele. The best bet
is to go to a pub in the touristy areas, and then ask for
recommendations.
Language
The national language is English, although you may be confused
into thinking you've entered a foreign country as the regional
accents are very strong. The language is also derived from
Irish Gealic and has created its own variant on English.
There is a huge difference in accents from the South East,
West, North West, North East and the East Coasts all of which
will keep you struggling to come to terms with understanding
them. However, their peculiar lilt makes it one of the most
interesting versions of English to be heard. Irish
is still spoken regularly by around five percent of the population
in areas known as 'the Gaeltacht'. Only Irish is spoken there,
and many school children go on Summer vacations to live, and
learn Irish there. The majority of people in the Republic
of Ireland have a reasonable grasp of the Irish language,
which is taught in schools. There are plenty of Irish radio
channels and one terrestrial television channel.
Travel
It is easier to get to Ireland on a plane, but arrival by
boat from Scotland, Wales, or France is a great, cheap way
to arrive and see the beauty of the coastline. The best way
to travel around Ireland is by car. The roads have improved
beyond the legendary dirt tracks of the past. The danger now
is to make sure you get off the main roads, and see the real
beautiful Ireland. Ireland is not a big country so cycling
is a great healthy way to see the land and remote areas. Its
also full of surprises as you stop well off the tourist trail.
The rail network in Ireland is not what it used to be but
its still fairly extensive if a little pricey. The national
bus service (Bus Eireann) covers most of the country and is
fairly good value.
Visas
Visas rules are the same as England, no visa is needed for
EU citizens, Long term travel visas are readily available
for Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian citizens.
Check with your local Irish embassy for details.
Health
Ireland is a safe place to visit. The tap water is fresh
and drinkable, the air good quality, and there are virtually
no contagious diseases.
Recreation
Outdoor
Fishing
Fishing is arguably one of the first things that drew many
visitors. Fresh water fishing is a great past time
that can be carried out in many scenic areas. Some of the
most well known are in Donegal, but there are many
more. Wild Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout and Sea
Trout are plentiful in the rivers, estuaries and lakes.
There is also the opportunity for coarse fishing and
deep sea fishing should you desire.
Surfing and wind surfing
These sports have become a main feature of Ireland. The North,
and West Coast are known to have some of the best waves in
Europe. However, it is not just the waves that surprise visitors
to Ireland. The West coach beaches are often miles long, full
of silvery white sand, and are a surprising addition to Ireland's
attractions. It can be a bit chillier than some surfers are
used to, but it depends on the season.
Hiking
Hiking is an obvious leisure activity with amazingly varied
hikes in Connemara, Mayo, Kerry, Cork and The Ulster
Way.
Cycling
Cycling is a natural progression from hiking, and certainly
recommended for those fit enough, and who want to take in
a little bit more of the countryside. Ireland is small enough
to cover a lot of distance in a short time, and the roads
are usually fairly good, with climbs that are manageable.
Some great routes are The Ring of Kerry, Mayo - Sligo,
Donegal, Clare - Galway and the North East Coast.
In fact, many people with the time choose to cycle throughout
the country as the views and access to the people are great
throughout the country.
Sailing
Sailing and boat trips are growing rapidly in certain areas,
in particular, around Dublin, the South Coast of
Cork and Kerry, where there are plenty of sailing
schools for visitors and locals learn to sail. Enthusiasm
in Ireland has grown with recent successes in the Commonwealth
Games and competitions, and some beautiful fishing villages
have a strong sailing population. There are also occasional
Tall Ship races. Alternatively, there is the option
to go cruising on the Shannon, which is the longest
river in the British Isles, or, to cruise along the man made
Grand Canal.
Golf
Golfing is perhaps one of the least known but better catered
for pursuits in Ireland. A mixture of increased tourism and
EU law has combined to pursuade many Irish farmers to change
their farmland into golf courses. The result is an array of
smooth, green, healthy golf courses that are accessible and
reasonably priced.
Nightlife
Ireland is a nation of pub-goers, and most people who arrive
there soon find themselves part of the scene. As well as producing
their own whiskeys and beers Ireland has the full range of
imported drinks. Unlike the strict 11pm curfew that exists
in England, the Irish, especially outside the main towns are
much more relaxed about drinking times. In smaller villages
it is not unusual to drink well into the morning. Dublin,
Belfast and Cork have great nightlife scenes for
music, and clubbing, and along with Galway have such
a large population of students that the energy is palpable,
and ever changing. One potential downside is the 'no smoking'
law that takes effect in 2004, in the Republic only. Smoking
in Irish pubs will be illegal, and the penalty hefty. Time
will tell how strictly enforced it will be. |
