Why Choose Ireland? | About Ireland | Where in Ireland? | Dublin | Cork |
The Shannon Region | Kilkenny | Kerry | Donegal | Northern Ireland | Belfast
Why Choose Ireland?
Ease of arrival
Today there are international flights to a dozen different Irish airports. Ireland is less than two hours from London, Paris or Brussels and just five and a half hours from the east coast of the US. Ferries from six different British and continental ports serve Ireland. Once here, it is difficult to be more than one hundred miles from where you want to be. An extensive road and rail network ensures ready and easy access to your final destination, while flights within Ireland are also available.
You can also chose to see the beauty of Ireland’s rugged coastline or urban centers from the comfort of a chauffeur-driven car or a luxury coach, by helicopter or hot air balloon, or by steam train, executive train or cruise ship.
Selection of venues
Five Star - Ireland's most luxurious hotels, with high international standards
There are eighteen five star hotels in Ireland , counting 2,270 rooms and some of the country’s best restaurants. These are located in elegant and stately castles, prestigious country clubs, and top class city hotels.
Four Star - excellent quality contemporary hotels and charming period houses
There are sixty four star hotels in Ireland, counting 5,166 rooms of a high standard, with excellent cuisine and service, and all modern comforts.
The People
Many travel to Ireland for the Irish people, with their unique sense of humor, combined with a warm and welcoming nature. Despite the turbulent nature of Ireland’s past and extreme states of poverty, the Irish have always remained passionate about life. This is reflected in the Irish way of life… Sport: the national sports of rugby, Gaelic football and hurley, horse races… The electric atmosphere in a traditional Irish pub… Lively music & dance… Eloquence, through our literature and writers: Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan, James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett…and much more …
Landscapes
Ireland is famous for its green landscapes, full of colorful and interesting flora and fauna. The most spectacular of these are the 176km Ring of Kerry circuit in the south west, Co. Wicklow situated near Dublin (better known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’) and the wild landscapes of Connemara in the west. Ireland is a country of major geological interest too, as emphasized by the unusual rock formations of the Giant’s Causeway in the north, the imposing Cliffs of Moher rising 210 meters above the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and the lunar Burren rock landscape in the south west.
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About Ireland?
Size
The island of Ireland is 300 miles/450 km long and 190 miles/300 km wide and covers approximately 32,600 sq. miles/84,500 sq. km. Ireland is divided into four provinces - Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught, and into 32 counties. The Republic of Ireland consists of 26 counties and Northern Ireland consists of 6 counties.
Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and in accordance with daylight saving, clocks are put forward one hour mid-March and back one hour at the end of October. During summer it stays light until as late as 11.00pm but by mid-December it can be dark by 4.00pm.
Language
Irish (Gaelic) and English are the two official languages of the Republic of Ireland and street and road signs are all bilingual. In Gaeltacht areas Irish is spoken daily; however, everyone speaks English. In Northern Ireland , English is the official language.
Climate
The dominant influence on Ireland's climate is the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, Ireland does not suffer from the extremes of temperature experienced by many other countries at a similar latitude. Average annual temperature is about 9 °C. In the middle and east of the country temperatures tend to be somewhat more extreme than in other parts of the country. Summer mean daily maximum is about 19 °C and winter mean daily minimum is about 2.5 °C in these areas. Sunshine duration is highest in the southeast of the country. Average rainfall varies between about 800 and 2,800mm.
Currency
The currency in Ireland is the euro (€). The currency in Northern Ireland is the pound sterling (£).
VAT and Tax Refunds
To be able to claim a tax refund you must be a non-European Union visitor to Ireland . Look for the ‘Tax Free Shopping’ sign in the windows of participating shops. You must complete a valid tax refund document obtained from the retailer and present the tax refund document and goods to Customs on departure from the European Union. A customs officer will check the goods and validate the tax refund document. You can receive your refund on the spot at some airports, otherwise you should mail the validated tax refund document back to the shop and a refund will be issued.
VAT is charged on almost everything, but remember that refunds only apply to goods being taken out of the country, not services.
Opening Hours
Shops are generally open Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 6.00pm, with late-night shopping until 8.00pm or 9.00pm on Thursday at many of the larger shopping stores. On Sunday main shopping centers and some of the larger department stores open from 12.00 noon until 5.00pm or 6.00pm. Many smaller supermarkets in towns and villages also open on Sundays.
Electrical Current
The standard electricity supply is 220 volts AC in the Republic of Ireland and 240 volts AC in Northern Ireland?d (50 cycles). Visitors may require a transformer and a plug adaptor.
A plug adaptor is necessary to convert 2-pin plugs to the standard 3-pin plugs and these can be bought at any airport or electrical supplier.
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Where in Ireland
Cities/destinations offered
We can organize a venue for you in the cities of Dublin, Donegal, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Killarney, Limerick, or any Irish location.
Getting to Ireland?d
Ireland has international airports at Dublin, Donegal, Cork, Shannon and Knock. There are regular flights from the US airports of JFK, Newark, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and charter flights from Orlando.
Dublin is served daily by all the major European capitals, with other regular flights from secondary European cities.
The airports of Shannon, Cork and Donegal have regular flights to most mainland European, and some US, airports.
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