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Ireland

Ireland is an island on the north-western edge of Europe. It is 385 kilometres/300 miles at its longest; 304 kilometres/190 miles at its widest. Ireland has 3,172 kilometres of coastline – the longest coastline per head of population in Europe. The Republic of Ireland occupies three-quarters of the island and its capital city is Dublin. Northern Ireland is part of the UK and its capital is Belfast.

Ireland, with its beautiful scenery, offers a range of attractions to the tourist including ancient archaeological sites and monuments, a variety of sporting activities such as fishing, riding and golf, as well as traditional dancing and music. Ireland is divided into four provinces – Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht, which make up 32 counties. The Republic occupies 26 counties and its capital city is Dublin

The population of the island is currently approximately six million, with approximately 4.2 million living in the Republic and 1.8 million living in Northern Ireland. The Republic is a constitutional democracy and a member of the European Union. The national language is Irish, or Gaelic. However, almost everyone speaks English as their main language and all business is conducted in English, unless you request it to be conduct through the Irish Gaelic language. However, you will see street and road signage and official literature available in English along with the Irish Gaelic.

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Dublin

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is built on the River Liffey and is also situated beside the sea, yet close to both the countryside and mountains. A city of fine Georgian buildings, Dublin has been influenced by its Danish, Norman and English antecedents. It has excellent stores and shops, museums, antique shops and a range of pubs and restaurants. Among the goods for which Ireland is particularly well known are tweed, knitwear, linen, glass, lace and silverware. These can be purchased from most department stores or specialist handcraft shops. It has major theatres, including the world famous Abbey theatre, concert facilities, art galleries and cinemas. There is a wide variety of sporting facilities including golf courses, sailing and racecourses. See here more more details: http://www.visitdublin.com/

Travel

Travel information is provided here.

Climate

The climate is mild temperate. Summer temperatures range 15-25 degrees Celsius (60-75 Fahrenheit).Spring and autumn temperatures average around 10+ degrees Celsius (50+ Fahrenheit). Winter is 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (30 to 50 Fahrenheit). Mean daily temperature in October is 10 degrees Celcius (43 to 57 Fahrenheit). Showers can occur any time of the year it is always wise when travelling to Ireland to pack a rain mac or umbrella.

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Passports and Visas

UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, but most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph (usually either a passport or driving licence with photo). Visitors from other countries do require a passport, or in the case of European Union Member States, a national identity card. Visas are required for visitors from some countries. Delegates should check with their local Irish consulate or embassy. Please note that it can take up to 8 weeks to process a visa application, and early application is recommended. If you require a letter of invitation for your visa application please contact the workshop Program Chairs. For Irish Government information relating to visa applications please see the Department of Foreign Affairs. A list of countries whose passport holders do not require visas to enter Ireland can be found here.

Shopping

Dublin has a busy city centre shopping area around Grafton Street and Henry Street. There is a huge range of products to bring home – from traditional Irish hand-made crafts to international designer labels. Shopping hours:

Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm

Thursdays – Dublin and Belfast have late-night shopping to 8pm/9pm.

Thursday and Friday – late night shopping in most malls/shopping centres.

Sunday – many shops are open 12pm-6pm.

Duty-free shopping is available at all the international airports.

Smoking Policy

The Republic of Ireland has a blanket ban on smoking in all places of work to protect public health and reduce the incidences of smoking-related illness. Smoking is prohibited in public areas within the Republic of Ireland – this includes all bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Although hotel bedrooms may be exempt from the ban, it is applied to all other areas within hotels.

Electricity and telecommunications

220 volts. Plugs in Ireland are 3 pin plugs.

Only digital mobile/cell phones with GSM subscriptions and a roaming agreement will work on the island of Ireland. Visitors should consult with their supplier before departure.

Time

From March to October, Ireland operates on Greenwich Mean Time + 1 hour.

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Currency and Banks

The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro (€), the common European currency, while Northern Ireland uses UK Sterling. Bank opening times are generally: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday banks are open 10am-4pm.Thursdays 10am-5pm in Dublin. Banks in smaller towns generally open until 5pm one day a week. In small towns and rural areas, banks may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

Any credit cards that bear the Visa or MasterCard logo will be widely accepted in Ireland. Visitors with other cards, including ones with the American Express symbol, should ask in advance if it will be accepted. If a card is lost or stolen, inform the police and the issuing company as soon as possible; otherwise you may have to bear the cost of the thief’s purchases. Here are some 24-hour hotlines for cancelling your cards:

Amex (1800 282 728)
Diners Club (0818 300 026)
MasterCard (1800 557 378)
Visa (1800 558 002)

Nearly all banks in Dublin will have an automated teller machine (ATM), which can be outside the building or just inside the door. Please note that machines are often not replenished over the weekend so it is advisable to take out all the cash you need early on Friday so that you won’t be disappointed.

Most Banks offer a foreign exchange facility and generally offer the best exchange rates. You can also often change money in many Post Offices, which are open on Saturdays until around noon. Dublin also offers many Bureaux de change and other exchange facilities but the rates may be higher than many banks.

Traveller’s cheques from most major banks are accepted in Ireland. It is best to carry them in Euros to avoid expensive exchange rates. It is important to remember that traveller’s cheques are not generally accepted for everyday transactions so we recommend cashing them at the beginning of your trip.

Tipping

Tipping in restaurants, taxis and hotels is common. Restaurants will often add in a service charge, usually 10%, especially if you have more than 5 in your party. If not, the normal tip is 10% for restaurants or taxis. In hotels, porters are generally tipped €1 per bag.

Tax back incentive

The VAT element of accommodation expenses incurred when attending a business conference in Ireland can be claimed back by taxable businesses. For more information on refunds from VAT incurred on accommodation in connection with attendance at qualifying conferences and for details on where to send the applicable forms please visit our VAT Refund support page or see the Irish Revenue Commissioners website.