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Ireland travel guide

Ireland

Meet Ireland Ireland weather report Getting into Ireland From the Irish kitchen From the Irish bar Currency in Ireland Major airports in Ireland Did you know?

Meet Ireland

Ireland is a land of breathtaking natural beauty, of myths, legends, stories and imagination. It is in short a destination for the romantics, dreamers, young and free at heart.

The perfect location to lose yourself, Ireland offers you a medley of recreational choices that will entice, delight and intrigue. From the rugged, untamed splendour of the country’s many national parks such as Ballycroy, Connemara and Wicklow Mountains National Parks to the bonhomie of cities such as Dublin and Cork the country is a constant delight, full of energy and enthusiasm.

Historic sights like UNESCO Heritage Listed Newgrange, one of the world’s oldest astronomically aligned monuments, Kilkenny Castle and Roscommon Abbey allow sightseers to revel in the history of a country with an enthralling past.

Adventurers and adrenaline junkies will fall in love with the point breaks which make County Sligo a popular spot for surfers and windsurfers while the lure of the beautiful coastline brings many a big game angler to the region.

Music lovers will find a country whose very identity is infused with a rare love of rhythm allied to an irrepressible joy in the pleasure and flair of dance.

This is the land of Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and William Butler Yeats; stories and tall tales are still told with an exuberance that is at once both fresh and invigorating.

The country seems to have an infectious spirit of joie de vivre that completely envelopes visitors, pulling them in and encouraging exploration, discovery and excitement; it is easy to understand why the country remains a popular destination for travellers the world over.

Ireland weather report

Ireland has a mild, insular climate with pleasant, languid summer months, the warmest of which are July and August where the temperature rises into the mid 20s. Due to its northern setting the days in summer stretch almost endlessly with up to 18 hours of sunshine making it a perfect destination for summer explorers.

Winter is at its coldest throughout January and February when temperatures can drop as low as 3-4˚C. If planning trips to north and north-western towns such as Galway, Sligo and Westport be sure to take warm, thick clothing to shield yourself from the often bitterly cold winds.

For the latest weather info use the Pampo weather forecast tool.

Getting into Ireland

Ireland is part of the European Union and therefore any E.U passport holder may enter the country without requiring a visa. In addition visitors from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and North America do not require visas to enter for a holiday although it is imperative that a valid and current passport is shown upon arrival.

From the Irish kitchen

Ireland’s culinary treats offer the visitor a chance to explore some versatile dishes. A great deal of the food served in the country is influenced by local produce and history, with beef and seafood being special favourites. Fresh vegetables also make up a large part of the traditional Irish diet with turnip, cabbage, potato and carrots being a staple part of many traditional dishes.

Dublin Coddle is a firm favourite and is still considered something of a comfort food. Coddle is steam cooked/boiled in a large pot of stock and consists of layers of pork sausages, streaky bacon rashers, sliced onions and potatoes. Coddle makes a fantastic winter warmer and is widely available

Potato Champ provides a vivid reminder of the famine which ravished Ireland during the late nineteenth century and the dish evokes the strong link between Ireland and its love of potatoes. Mashed potato mixed with finely chopped spring onion is served in a “volcano” shape with the cavity being filled with melted butter and milk.

Colcannon is another Irish treat and is similar to the English Bubble and Squeak. Traditionally a dish served during Halloween, Colcannon is made using kale (cabbage), mashed potato, butter, salt and pepper and milk

For those looking for a rare traditional Irish treat you can’t overlook the dish with a cheekily redolent name. Dublin Lawyer is a sumptuous dish made with fresh lobster which has been baked with Irish whiskey and cream.

From the Irish bar

Dublin is of course the home of Guinness and the drink is still a very firm favourite throughout the bars and music venues in the country. Drinking is really a part of the culture here and having a drink with the locals is a must.

Guinness is now enjoyed throughout the world but it started life in Dublin when Arthur Guinness signed a lease on an abandoned brewery in St James’s Gate Dublin. A dark, swirling stout, Guinness draught is best enjoyed cold. Make sure you allow the beer to settle before taking the first sip as the creamy white froth at the top takes time to bed in. A delicious drink and something that all of Ireland is proud of.

Another famous Irish drink with Irish roots is Jameson’s Whiskey. The very smooth and easy drinking whiskey is triple distilled and can be drunk neat over ice, with a mixer or as an ingredient in a variety of interesting cocktails. The Irish are very well known for their whiskies so don’t forget to try other blends such as Bushmills and Locke’s.

A great love of Irish drinkers is cider and arguably some of the best ciders in the world are made in Ireland. Bottled varieties include the ever popular Magners which is an exceedingly popular drink served in a pint glass over ice. Magners is an apple cider but the company has recently launched a pear version of its famous drink which is just as appetizing.

Nobody should visit Ireland and not at least try a famous Irish coffee. Served strong, black and hot with a healthy shot of Irish whiskey and complete with rich, thick double cream, this is one cuppa that really is an experience all on its own.

Currency in Ireland

The Republic of Ireland which is a member of the European Union and so uses the Euro.

The symbol for the Euro is € and one Euro is made up of 100 cents. Notes are available in the €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 denominations.

Coins currently in circulation include the 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2 coins. For the lastest info on your rates, please use the Pampo exchange rates calculator.

Major airports in Ireland

Dublin International Airport (DUB) lies roughly 12 miles to the north of the city centre and while there is currently no direct rail link to and from the airport, the distance to the centre is so short that taxi and bus services are convenient. To reach the taxi stand at the airport head through the Arrivals terminal out into the forecourt, there is a taxi information desk available if you need assistance. All license taxis are required to give passengers a machine printed receipt upon which should be information including the distance of the journey, time, date, license number and fare. Over 700 buses services run between the city and Dublin International Airport every day. The best of these are the Airlink services and buses run by the city’s transport authority Dublin Bus. The company Aircoach also provides a 24hr service between major hotels in the city and the airport.

The smaller Cork International Airport (ORK) lies around 6km south of Cork and is Ireland’s second busiest airport. Transport links from the airport include services to Killarney, Wexford, Limerick and Galway. For those staying in Cork services including Bus Ēireann, City Link and Skylink make travel to the city centre easy, affordable and comfortable. The bus station can be accessed from outside the arrivals terminal.

Did you know?

Muckanaghederdauhaulia is a real place and the longest name of a location in Ireland. Muckanaghederdauhaulia is found in county Galway on Ireland’s west coast

One of Ireland’s most famous sons, Oscar Wilde, was christened with the much longer name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

James Hoban, an architect born near Kilkenny in Ireland, was chosen by George Washington to design the White House

Despite evidence to the contrary that you might have witnessed on St Patricks Day, Irish folklore considers the colour green unlucky

Before the beginning of the 20^th century it was generally accepted that Leprechauns dressed in red

The River Shannon is the longest river in the British Isles at 344km