OVERVIEW

Long gone are the days when Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe and its natives fled to all corners of the globe in search of refuge. Today, it is cool to be Irish and, thanks to the likes of The Corrs, Boyzone and U2, evocative images of Ireland now pervade popular culture across the globe. The Ireland of the new millennium is a modern, progressive European nation whose ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy is booming, but it is not only Irish eyes that are smiling as more and more tourists discover Ireland for themselves.

Dublin is undoubtedly the spiritual and cultural heart of the Emerald Isle. Crowding around the banks of the murky River Liffey, the city, like the country, is bound in rich layers of history, back to the days when Celtic tribes wandered the peat bogs, to the present that sees the city overflowing with trendy bars and nightclubs. Elsewhere, the cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick boast their own charms, but it is out in the rolling countryside that you can unearth the idyllic Ireland of the movies. Here, in the atmospheric old pubs, you can experience the legendary craic where music and song lead the course of an evening. Alternatively, ramble over the hills of Glenmalure or sail through the mist-shrouded Pater-Noster Lakes; places that seem a million miles away from the tourist maelstrom of Dublin.

Geography
The Republic of Ireland lies in the north Atlantic Ocean and is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea to the east. The northeastern part of the island (Northern Ireland) is part of the United Kingdom. The country has a central plain surrounded by a rim of mountains and hills offering some of the most varied and unspoilt scenery in Europe – quiet sandy beaches, semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, and rugged cliffs make up the 5600km (3500 miles) of coastline.

Social Conventions
The Irish are gregarious people, and everywhere animated craic (talk) can be heard. Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills (better known as Oscar Wilde) once claimed: ‘We are the greatest talkers since the Greeks.’ Close community contact is very much part of the Irish way of life and almost everywhere there is an intimate small-town atmosphere. Pubs are often the heart of a community’s social life. Visitors will find the people very friendly and welcoming no matter where one finds oneself in the country. A meal in an Irish home is usually a substantial affair and guests will eat well. Dinner is the main meal of the day and is now eaten in the evening. Even in cities there is less formal wear than in most European countries and casual dress is widely acceptable as in keeping with a largely agricultural community. Women, however, often dress up for smart restaurants and social functions. Handshaking is usual, and modes of address will often be informal. Smoking is banned in all public enclosed/working spaces, including pubs, bars and restaurants.

Tipping
The customary tip in Ireland is 10 to 12 per cent. Many hotels and restaurants add this in the form of a service charge indicated on the menu or bill. It is not customary to tip in bars unless you have table service when a small tip is advised. Tipping porters, taxi drivers, hairdressers etc is customary but not obligatory.

International Travel:

Air
The Republic of Ireland’s national airline is Aer Lingus (EI). Aer Lingus provides a service from Los Angeles and New York’s JFK to Shannon and Dublin. Delta Air Lines operates a service from New York’s JFK Airport to Shannon and Dublin. Services to London are frequent and moderately priced. There is a wide range of promotional air fares to Ireland from main cities in the UK, and an ever-increasing number of airlines connect regional UK airports with Ireland.

Approximate flight times
From Dublin to London is one hour 15 minutes, to New York is seven hours 30 minutes.

International airports
Dublin Airport (DUB) is 10km (6 miles) north of the city. Bus no. 41A leaves Abbey Street at regular intervals (travel time – 35 minutes). Bus no. 747 runs to O'Connell Street, the central bus station and onto Parnell Square. Airport express coaches and taxis are available to the city center. Airport facilities include airside duty-free shop, car hire, bank, bureau de change, bars, restaurants, tourist information center and chemist.
Shannon Airport (SNN) is 24km (15 miles) west of Limerick (travel time – 25 minutes). Bus services are available to and from both Limerick and Clare, approximately every hour. A daily express coach travels between Limerick and Shannon and between Galway and Shannon, plus to Ennis bus station. Taxi service is available to Limerick. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, bar, restaurant and tourist information center.
Cork Airport (ORK) is 8km (5 miles) southwest of the city. Buses travel between the city center and airport (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bar and restaurant.
Knock International Airport (NOC) is 11km (7 miles) north of Claremorris (Co Mayo) and receives international flights from the UK only: Ryanair from London, Stansted, mytravellite from Birmingham and British Airways from Manchester. Taxi services are available to Claremorris, where onward rail and bus connections are available to the rest of the country. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, bar, restaurant and car hire (pre-booking advised).

Departure tax
None.

Sea
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. Fares will vary by season and promotional offers are available. Routes from Britain and France include:
From England: Liverpool–Dublin (travel time – eight hours); Fleetwood–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – eight hours). From the Isle of Man: Douglas–Dublin (travel time – two hours 45 minutes, summer only, or four hours 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Douglas–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – two hours 45 minutes).
From Scotland: Cairnryan–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – one hour on fast ferries and one hour 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Troon–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – two hours 35 minutes); Stranraer–Belfast (travel time – one hour 45 minutes on fast ferries and three hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries).
From Wales: Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dublin (travel time – one hour 50 minutes on fast ferries and minimum three hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries); Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dun Laoghaire (travel time – one hour 40 minutes on fast ferries); Fishguard–Rosslare (travel time – one hour 40 minutes on fast ferries and three hours 30 minutes on conventional ferries); Swansea–Cork (seasonal, travel time – 10 hours); Pembroke–Rosslare (travel time – three hours 45 minutes).
From France: Irish Ferries operate at least four direct ferry crossings a day between France and Ireland. The routes are Cherbourg–Rosslare (travel time – 19 hours); Roscoff– Rosslare (travel time – 18 hours). For information on routes, fares and reservations, contact one of the following: Brittany Ferries (tel: (08705) 360 360; website: www.brittany-ferries.com); Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717 (UK office) or (1) 638 3333 (Dublin office); website: www.irishferries.com); Isle of Man Steam Packet (tel: (01624) 661 661; website: www.steam-packet.com); P&O Irish Sea (tel: (0870) 242 4777; website: www.poirishsea.com); Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.co.uk); and Swansea-Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116; website: www.swansea-cork.ie). Most ferry companies now also offer an online booking facility on their website.

Rail
Rail links serve Ireland from all the above ferry ports, as well as from Northern Ireland.

Duty Free
The following goods may be imported by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty if obtained duty- and/or tax-free outside the EU:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of spirits and distilled beverages (more than 22 per cent) or 2l of other alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic strength not exceeding 22 per cent, including sparkling or fortified wine, plus 2l of table wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; other dutiable goods to the value of &Euro;40.63, or &Euro;20.32 if under 15 years old.

Prohibited items
Meat, poultry, dairy products (even if in tins); raw vegetables.

Abolition of duty free goods within the EU
On June 30 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on May 1 2004, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another (with the exceptions of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, where limits are imposed). Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only.

Internal Travel:

Air
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 (located 27km/17 miles west of Galway city).

Domestic airports
Galway (GWY) is approximately 8km (5 miles) from the city center. Bus and taxi services are available into Galway center.
Sligo (SXL) is 8km (5 miles) from Sligo. Essential facilities only. Taxis need prior booking. Bus and taxi services are available into Sligo.
Carrickfinn (CFN) is in Co Donegal.
Kerry (Farranfore) (KIR) in Co Kerry is 19km (12 miles) from both Killarney and Tralee. Taxi services are available to both these towns and to the nearby railway station. Car hire is also available. As well as the airports listed above (and in Travel – International), there are various small licensed airstrips which receive passenger services; enquire at Fáilte Ireland for details of operators and routes (see General Info section).

Sea
Ferry services run to the various west coast islands; enquiries should be made locally.

Rail
Rail services in the Republic are owned by Iarnród Eireann (Irish Rail) (website: www.irishrail.ie) and express trains run between the main cities. There are two classes of accommodation, with restaurant and buffet cars on some trains. Children under five travel free. Children aged five to 15 pay half fare. A range of rail-only and combined rail and bus tickets are available for unlimited travel within the Republic of Ireland. The Britrail and Eurorail card systems are valid in Ireland.

Road
The network links all parts of Ireland; road signs are international. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: Internal bus services are run by Bus Eireann (Irish Bus) (website: www.buseireann.ie) 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. The central bus station is in Store Street, Dublin. A variety of special passes are available, including the Irish Rambler, which offers unlimited travel for three, eight or 15 days. Several independent bus companies, which are often cheaper, faster and more frequent than Bus Eireann, operate regular, scheduled services to and from Dublin. Further information can be found in local papers. Coach tours: Many companies offer coach tours, varying in length and itinerary. Full-day and half-day guided tours are organized 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. Cruising taxis are infrequent. Places to get taxis are at hotels, rail and bus stations or taxi stands. Car hire: Available from all air- and seaports as well as major hotels. All international hire companies are represented in Ireland, as well as local operators. Age requirements vary from a minimum of 21 to a maximum of 75 years. A full license from the driver’s home country is required, and the driver will normally be required to have had at least two years’ experience. Bicycle hire: Ask for a Tourist Board leaflet. Documentation: EU nationals taking cars into the Republic require: motor registration book (or owner’s authority in writing); full EU driving license or International Driving Permit; nationality coding stickers; and insurance cover valid for the Republic. A Green Card is strongly recommended, as without it, insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal requirement in Ireland – the Green Card tops this up to the cover provided by the visitor’s domestic policy.

Urban
Extensive bus services operate in Dublin. There is a new, fast suburban rail service (DART), connecting Howth and Bray, including a link to Dun Laoghaire (the ferry port). The Dublin Explorer ticket is valid for four days on all Dublin buses and DART suburban trains. This ticket may not be used before 0945, but there are no evening restrictions. This links LUCAS Sandyford to St Stephens Green, and Tallaght to Connolly Station.

Travel Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Dublin to other major cities/towns in Ireland.