Ireland

At A glance

Capital City: Dublin

Land size: 68,883 sq km

Population: 5,275,004 (2022 est.)

Official languages: English & Irish

Currency: Euro (€ / EUR)

UNESCO properties and sites:

• Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
• Sceilg Mhichíl

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ireland/


Ireland is a country of rugged beauty, ancient heritage, and warm hospitality. Experience Irish traditions, listen to traditional music in cozy pubs, and savor the flavors of Irish cuisine. Ireland's rich folklore, ancient castles, and breathtaking vistas offer a truly unique travel experience.

Discover the stunning landscapes of the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher, where dramatic coastlines, lush green hills, and mystical landscapes provide a picturesque backdrop for horseback riding adventures. Ride through the rolling countryside, trotting along quiet lanes, traversing meadows, and exploring ancient ruins. Venture into the wild beauty of Connemara, where majestic mountains, shimmering lakes, and rugged bogs create a perfect setting for equestrian exploration.

 

Brief History

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600 and 150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century was responsible for a drop in the island's population by more than one quarter through starvation, disease, and emigration. For more than a century afterward, the population of the island continued to fall only to begin growing again in the 1960s. Over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU.

The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment and fostered a guerrilla war resulting in independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland in part because it helped solidify the partition of Ireland, with six of the island's 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland. The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland formally left the British Dominion in 1949 when Ireland declared itself a republic.

Deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the "Troubles" that began in the 1960s. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments.

Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth, which came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system.

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ireland/

 

Cultural Insights

General rules of social etiquette apply across ethnic, class, and religious barriers. Loud, boisterous, and boastful behavior are discouraged. Unacquainted people look directly at each other in public spaces, and often say "hello" in greeting.
Outside of formal introductions, greetings are often vocal and are not accompanied by a handshake or kiss. Individuals maintain a public personal space around themselves; public touching is rare.

Generosity and reciprocity are key values in social exchange, especially in the ritualized forms of group drinking in pubs.

Source: https://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Ireland.html

 

Transportation

By Air
Dublin airport is the largest airport in Ireland. It caters for most of the country’s domestic and international flights and is also close to the city center.

An international airport with a laidback feel, Shannon, near Limerick city, was the first transatlantic airport in Ireland and is popular with visitors to the west and south west.

Gateway to the south of Ireland, this busy airport just outside Cork city caters to domestic and international flights and is noted for the punctuality of its flights!

Close to the famous Ring of Kerry in the south west, this small but perfectly formed airport offers direct flights from Europe and also caters to domestic flights.

Source: https://www.ireland.com/en-ca/plan-your-trip/travel/getting-to-ireland/

 

Money

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the island of Ireland; American Express is accepted in some places but not all. Credit cards can be used for purchases and also to withdraw cash from ATMs (although this usually is accompanied by a fee). You can also withdraw cash from ATMs with your Mastercard or Visa debit card. Fees will still be charged but at a lower rate to credit cards.

Ireland uses a “chip and pin” system for debit and credit card transactions. Retailers may still accept swipe cards but please note this is not always guaranteed. It is recommended that you notify your bank of your travel plans prior to your departure.

You can make contactless payments, where you "tap" your debit card, of up to €50.

If you hear someone talk about the "hole in the wall" they mean an ATM machine!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland
https://www.ireland.com/en-ca/help-and-advice/practical-information/money-in-ireland/

 

Health

Modern medical facilities and highly skilled medical practitioners are available in Ireland.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 999 or 112 and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical assistance company immediately.

Patients who do not receive benefits from Ireland’s Department of Social Protection are expected to pay all costs up-front at the time of treatment and apply for reimbursement from their insurance provider later.

Expect long waits for access to medical specialists and admissions to hospitals for non-life-threatening medical conditions. It is not unusual for emergency room services to be very busy or for post-treatment admissions to include a long wait (sometimes overnight) on a gurney in a hallway.

We advise you carry your medical history, along with a detailed list of any medication you currently take (including dosage and brand name) in your wallet or purse and luggage.

Most types of over-the-counter medications are available but many U.S. brands are not. Some medications available over the counter in the United States may require a prescription in Ireland.
Irish pharmacists may not be able to dispense medication prescribed by U.S. physicians and may direct you to obtain a prescription from an Irish doctor.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ireland.html

 

Electricity

Ireland operates on a 230V supply voltage and uses type G plugs.

The Type G electrical plug has three rectangular blades in a triangular pattern and has an incorporated fuse (usually a 3 amps fuse for smaller appliances such as a computer and a 13 amps one for heavy duty appliances such as heaters). British sockets have shutters on the live and neutral contacts so that foreign objects cannot be introduced into them.

Source: https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs

 

Communication

Time zone in Ireland: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

International country code – 353

Ireland’s telecom market has rebounded from a long period in which fiscal constraints inhibited investment in the sector. Significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the NBN which aims to deliver a fiber-based service of at least 150Mb/s nationally by the end of 2022.
The renewed optimism has been seen in company investment in extending fiber-based networks providing 1Gb/s services.
The MNOs are rapidly expanding the reach of 5G.

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ireland/

 

Entry Requirements

Most people need a valid passport to enter the Republic or Northern Ireland but there are some exceptions:
- If you're a UK citizen, you can also use official photo identification.
- If you're an EU citizen, you can use your national identity card to travel throughout the island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland), as long as you are arriving and exiting the island via an airport or ferry port in the Republic of Ireland. If you are travelling direct to Northern Ireland from the EU or travelling on to Great Britain from Northern Ireland, you’ll need a passport.
Your passport must be valid up to the return date of your trip to the island of Ireland.

Whether you need a visa to enter Ireland depends on your citizenship.
If you’re a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state (27 countries of the European Union, together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) and many other countries including Great Britain, the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, you don’t need a visa to visit the Republic of Ireland. South African visitors can visit the Republic of Ireland without a visa, but need a UK visa in order to enter Northern Ireland.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a full list of countries whose citizens do NOT need a visa to visit Ireland: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/visas/visas-for-ireland/

If your country is not on this list, contact your local Irish embassy/consulate before you travel to find out your visa requirements. If you’re planning on travelling to Northern Ireland, contact your local British embassy/high commission or consular office.

Source: https://www.ireland.com/en-ca/help-and-advice/practical-information/visas-and-passports/

 

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy in Dublin
42 Elgin Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: +353 1 668-8777

Embassy of Canada in Dublin
7-8 Wilton Terrace
Dublin 2
Phone: +353 1 234 4000

Source: for USA https://www.usembassy.gov/
For Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates

 

UNESCO Sites

Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
The three main prehistoric sites of the Brú na Bóinne Complex, Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, are situated on the north bank of the River Boyne 50 km north of Dublin. This is Europe's largest and most important concentration of prehistoric megalithic art. The monuments there had social, economic, religious and funerary functions.

Sceilg Mhichíl
Sceilg Mhichíl is an outstanding, and in many respects unique, example of an early religious settlement deliberately sited on a pyramidal rock in the ocean, preserved because of a remarkable environment. It illustrates, as no other property can, the extremes of a Christian monasticism characterizing much of North Africa, the Near East, and Europe.

Source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ie