– Introduction to Ireland | Planning a trip to Ireland

Ireland isn’t called the Emerald Isle for no reason. Flying into any of the airports the greenery below is striking. All over the countryside is a patchwork of fields of different shades of green. On the coastal areas on the west side of the country the wild Atlantic Ocean has crafted the most beautiful cliffs and coastline out of the land. On a stormy day it is breath taking; the waves bashing on the rocks, the wind howling, even the rain seems tolerable! The hills and mountains above seem to flow into the ocean, especially in the south west on the Cork and Kerry coast. These are some of the reasons for planning a trip to Ireland. 

The cities are alive and walking into any bar or restaurant you feel welcome and at home. If you’re in a rural place someone will start talking to you, whether you want them to or not! Everyone is interested to know who you are, where you come from, and what you think of the place.

All around the country you will come across relics from the pre-historic past in the form of standing stones, ring forts, or burial places. The castles dotted around offer a glimpse into the medieval times, some have been restored and it’s possible to visit them. Others still lie in ruins but there is a natural beauty to these.

Ireland has many wonders to it, some are famous, others not so much. It’s hard to fit everything into one trip here. But go there once, and you will definitely want to go back!

 

– What can you expect from Ireland?

Lots of stunning scenery, and a land abundant with history. Lots of castles, and prehistoric sites. A carefree environment and a warm welcome.

 

– How we got to Ireland

We arrived to Ireland through the international airport in Dublin. The airport is the eighth largest in Europe. It took about 20 minutes to come through the immigration queue that catered for non-EU passport holders.

The airport is located slightly outside the city but there are plenty of buses to take you into the city yourself if you do not have a car booked.

There are three other international airports in Ireland; Cork, Shannon, and Knock. Shannon, as well as Dublin, does pre-clearance for the US which saves time on the US side.

Even though Ireland is in the EU, it is not a part of the Schengen Area. US passport holders can enter without a visa for a stay not longer than 30 days.

For visa information about other countries please click here;
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/visa-required-countries

 

– Map of Ireland & places we were

Places we visited;

• Dublin
• Cork
• Beara Peninsula
• Dingle Peninsula
• Mizen Head Peninsula
• Sheeps Head Peninsula
• Ring of Kerry
• Kilkenny
• Galway
• Clare – The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher

For our gallery of Ireland please click the following link;
https://www.breakingbarriers.online/gallery/europe/ireland/

 

– Where to stay

Accommodation is no problem to find in Ireland. You can get any type of hotel you want to. It’s best to shop around as sometimes the prices seem quite high. You may find that the parking is an extra charge in the cities, sometimes as high as about €20 per night in places. The breakfast will also be pricey if you choose to go for it. Best option we found is to get the breakfast somewhere else.

There are also other types of accommodation available, such as B&B’s, and hostels. There are also camp sites and caravans available in some areas for rent. The B&B’s and the hostels are a good cheaper option. While the camp sites can be in scenic areas and offer good value for money.

 

– Car hire

Its best to book a car before arriving as sometimes during peak times there will be little remaining. Depending on the time of year car hire cost can be either expensive or cheap. Fuel is quite expensive, but a lot of places will rent diesel cars and these consume a lot less fuel. Driving is on the left hand side so make sure to remember this when you come to your first roundabout!

The major cities are connected by motorways. But once you go outside of these and more into the rural areas the roads become narrower and windier. The lighting is not very good on these roads and sometimes there can be pot-holes so take care at night and if it’s raining.

On country lanes these are going to be wide enough for one car only. You may have to reverse a ways to make way for a car coming towards you.

Some of the roads are extremely scenic and go up some mountain passes. However, these can sometimes also be the most daunting. If going over the passes, take care of oncoming traffic and buses as the roads get narrow in places.

 

– Activities and sights

The following items are some of the things that are recommended to see and do in Ireland;

• See the Book of Kells and the Celtic treasures in the museums in Dublin
• Visit one of the oldest manmade structures in the world in Bru na Boinne
• Pay a visit to the English Market in Cork city
• Drive the Wild Atlantic Way and marvel at the coastline
• Take the only cable car across the sea in Europe to Dursey Island
• Navigate some of the windy and twisty roads in the mountain passes
• Learn about birds of prey in the Burren
• See the great oak forests in the national park in Killarney
• Enjoy the ‘craic’ in Galway city
• See the castle at the Rock of Cashel
• Visit the monastery at Glendalough
• If available take a boat to the monastery on Skellig Michael

For some of the things to see in Ireland please click the following links;

https://www.breakingbarriers.online/beauty-beara-peninsula-ireland/ 

https://www.breakingbarriers.online/seeing-the-treasures-of-ireland/

– Food and drink

Ireland is of course famous for its stout and whiskey. But there is a lot more to the country than those two beverages.

 

Foods to try

– Soda Bread: Ask any Irish person about this and they will tell you of their mother’s soda bread! With lashings of butter this goes down a treat.

– Bacon and Cabbage: One of the traditional dishes. This is usually had with plenty of potatoes of course.

– Irish Stew: A lamb stew with carrots, potatoes, parsnips, onions, whatever you want can be thrown in there. This is a warming dish on a cold winter’s day.

– Seafood: Be it mussels, crab, or whatever takes your fancy. Nearly always fresh and definitely always good!

– Black Pudding: A staple part of any Irish breakfast, there are many different brands but Clonakilty is one of the best to try.

– Seafood Chowder: When the rain is lashing outside, and you have a chill in your bones, some hot seafood chowder will warm you right up. Have some soda bread with it to complete the dish!

– Taytos: The most sought after thing by any Irish person living abroad! Taytos are a snack that go down extremely well with a pint!

 

Drinks to try

– Stout: The two most popular are Guinness and Murphy’s. It can be an acquired taste but if you see a lot of men drinking it in a pub it’s guaranteed to be good.

– Whiskeys: Jameson, Powers, Paddys, there are lots to choose from. Some are aged and more expensive than the standard ones.

  

– Additional information

Plugs and electricity: The plug used is the British standard plug. If you don’t have one it’s easy to find adapters in the airport or in electrical stores.

Vaccines: There are no vaccines required for entry to Ireland.

COVID: For any COVID restrictions and information please click here.

Currency: The currency is the Euro (EUR). For current conversion rates check http://www.xe.com/ before you go. ATM machines are in abundance in most places but some of the smaller villages may not have them.

Language: The main language of the country is English. In very few areas called Gaeltachts Irish is spoken. But everybody there speaks English as well so no need to worry.

Security: There is no issue with security in Ireland.