Ireland

Northern Ireland versus The Republic of Ireland ... what's the difference? Technically, they are different countries, and Northern Ireland is still under British rule.
Because of the lengthy conflict in Northern Ireland, the country has been off the radar of travellers for a number of decades, however has only recently started experiencing the renaissance of its tourism trade. Thankfully Northern Ireland is enjoying the longest period of peace in its history.
The six counties of Northern Ireland contain some of the most unspoilt scenery you could ever hope to find - the granite Mountains of Mourne, the Giant's Causeway and more than 320km of coastline with beaches, hidden coves, and leaf-sheltered lakes.
Poblacht na hÉireann (Republic of Ireland) or simply Éire, is one of the friendliest countries in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful. This lyrical land will captivate you with its warmth, colour and astonishingly diverse cultural landscape. There is no better place on earth to have a craic!
This is a country that has everything a traveller could want: rustic villages, stately homes, delectable traditional cuisine, adventure sports, a rich literary culture, and of course, the breathtaking landscape that gave it the name: the Emerald Isle.
The natural beauty of Ireland is the stuff of legends itself, with shorelines trimmed in golden sands and rocky outcrops, surrounding tranquil lakelands and rural idylls, and the cities are trendy urban centres bursting with history and tradition. With its 40 shades of green and age-old monuments scattered from coast to coast, the magic of Ireland’s landscape, the depth of its history and the graciousness of its people will steal your heart.
History & Culture

Natural Wonders

What's the Craic?

Must-do Experiences

Points of Interest
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Useful Phrases
Whats the Craic? | Can be a greeting (like a hello) or a 'How are you doing?' | |
Sure it'll be grand | Don't worry everything will be alright | |
He's a gas fella | He is a funny person | |
Do you wanna go on the lash? | Do you wanna go and drink and invariably get drunk | |
That fella is a Feckin Eejit | That guy is an idiot | |
Is it my round? | If someone buys you a drink one would be expected in return. 2 Irish people can't go for 1 drink!! | |
She is only chancing her arm | She doesn't know what she is doing but having a go at it | |
Conas a ta tu? | How are you? | |
Dia Duit | Hello | |
Dia is Mhuire Duit | Hello reply |
Pages
Best Time to Visit
Activity | Time |
---|---|
General Sightseeing | May to October |
Gardens & Flowers | April & May |
Arts Festivals | October |
Gaelic Sports | February to September |
Visiting the Pub | Anytime |
Getting Around
Getting around in Ireland is easy, it's a small country with a wide variety of transport options. There are cars, buses, trains, boats and planes; however as it's so small you probably won't need to get on a plane ... imagine all that beautiful emerald countryside you'd miss, not to mention the craic!
Car hire is the recommended way to get around. It's worthy to note that most lead-in hire cars are manual in Europe, you'll need to pay for an upgrade if you want to hire an automatic. The narrow roads with sometimes hard to see shoulders makes driving in rural Ireland one for confident drivers.
Dining
- Ireland has a plethora of fine restaurants ranging from expensive to cheap. Traditional Irish to world cuisine are represented in the cities and towns. Irish cuisine doesn't just consist of potatoes, although the consumption of potatoes is higher in Ireland than most of the world.
Some famous traditional Irish dishes are Irish stew, soda bread, corned beef with cabbage and champ. On holidays you might get to sample Colcannon, Barm Brack or Irish Christmas cake. Irish cuisine uses basically no spices except salt and pepper, but the ingredients are typically fresh and abundant.
If you've had your fill of traditional Irish cuisine, western European standards are available everywhere and the international foodie scene is well represented in the major cities.
Shopping
If you've been bitten by the shopping bug, there will be plenty to tempt you around Ireland.
In Dublin, Grafton Street is the country's foremost shopping street, and is a pedestrian-only zone line with dozens of retails and restaurants, along with Dublin's most distinguished department store, Brown Thomas. In Cork, head to St Patricks Street for the big-name stores, along with a number of locally-owned stores. Victoria Square occupies an eight-block site in central Belfast, and has four levels of shopping heaven.
If you're after local wares to take home to family - or keep for yourself - look out for the following:
• Jewellery - the Claddagh ring is a traditional ring that represents love, loyalty and friendship. Celtic-inspired pendants and rings are also popular.
• Knitwear - look out for local woollen mills for blankets, rugs, capes, throws, scarves, jackets and extensive knitwear ranges. The Aran Sweater Market offers authentic Aran Sweaters. You can visit their store on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, or there is a store in Dublin.
• Crystal - the obvious one here is The House of Waterford Crystal, in Waterford. You can do a tour of the factory - you will need to buy a ticket - or you can visit the retail store free of charge. Galway Irish Crystal, in Galway city, has a fine selection of Galway Irish Crystal, Donegal China, Belleek Pottery and Aynsley China.
• Markets - St George's Market in Belfast is one of Belfast's oldest. Their Friday Variety Market has around 248 stalls selling a variety of products including antiques, books, clothes and fish. In Dublin, the Designer Mart at Cow's Lane in Temple Bar offers a range of wares, including photography, paintings, ceramics, furniture, jewellery, hand-bags, children’s clothing and glass sculpture.
For Australian visitors, keep your receipts for your purchases, as you may be able to get your VAT tax refunded, either in-store or at the airport on departure. Ask when you make your purchases. Some stores may even arrange shipping back home ... if you buy too much!
What to Pack
Although not a land of extremes, it's always hard to predict the exact weather for your trip to Ireland. If you are travelling in the summer months, pack shorts and summer dresses, but make sure you include jeans and a jumper for those cooler days or nights, and if you are travelling in winter, be sure to pack gloves, scarves, a beanie and a good coat. Spring and autumn are variable and you are probably best to pack for all seasons!