Travel Ireland

Ireland Navigation Bar

Ireland

Irish Humour

Irish History

Ireland Travel

Ireland Weather

Irish Cottages

Irish Castles

Irish Landscapes

Irish Seascapes

Hook Head

Waterford City

Waterford Villages

Kilkenny City

Spring Flowers

List of Resources

Bord Failte - Irish Tourist Board Homepage. Aer Lingus - Irish State Airline. Autopoint - Car Hire. CIE - Irish Transport Service. Hidden Ireland - Magnificent Country Houses to stay in (If you've plenty of money). Hostel Ireland - Hostels to stay in if you haven't. Bord Failte - Accommodation Search for the rest of us.

Farmer's Journal - Weather Forecast for week ahead. Updated on Thursdays. Adlib Eaterie - Searchable Restaurant Directory Site now WAP enabled. But see Concerns about mobile phone use Entertainment Ireland - Self Explanatory. Ticketmaster - Book for concerts, theatre,sport etc.

Foot and Mouth Disease (2001)
ALL TOURIST RESTRICTIONS NOW LIFTED


The following is an unqualified layman's personal advice, for what it's worth......


SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY: - Tragically, people are killed on the Irish mountains and coastline every year, a disproportionate number of them tourists. Although the highest peak is only 3,400 feet, don't underestimate the dangers and don't overestimate your fitness. Don't assume that walking down a mountainside will be quicker than going up - you'll be tired after the ascent, you use different leg muscles descending, and if you're not used to it, they'll start to scream after a half hour or so, and your legs can turn to jelly.



Furthermore, the weather can change for the worse very quickly, windspeeds can be much higher than inland or on low ground, and temperatures lower. On the coast, a further danger is the heavy swell, especially on southwest, west and north coasts.



So if you're intending to walk the coast or hills, take proper precautions ie.

1. Keep well back from the sea if it's rough.

2. Don't go alone if possible.

3. Don't travel with inexperienced walkers.

4. Wear strong, comfortable, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support.

5. Bring

• warm clothing
• waterproof clothing
• a change of clothing
• good map
• good guidebook
• compass
• food
• water
• first aid kit
• mobile phone
  
• Torch
• Strong walking stick

6. Carry your gear in a rucksack, fitted snugly to your back. Don't carry it in an unsuitable bag which can tire you out or swing you off-balance.

7. Take regular breaks for rest, food and drink. Don't wait until you're exhausted/dehydrated before stopping. Don't be a hero. Take it steadily and watch every step on rough/slippery ground.

8. Tell someone where you're going and when you're due back.


WEATHER : - The Irish weather can make or break a holiday, depending on whether or not you're prepared for it. Ideally, check out the Irish Weather Forecast before coming, and when fine, sunny weather is forecast for a few weeks (a rarity), and that's what you want, hop on a plane.

Failing that, come prepared, especially if intending to tour the West, or mountainous/coastal areas. Read the Irish Weather page. Bring some warm clothing, raingear, and windproof outer gear.

Weather-proof your holiday by setting aside time for indoor sightseeing in the cities and towns, or having a quiet or noisy drink in a country pub somewhere. Check the main evening radio or TV weather forecasts every day and plan accordingly.

And, bring beachwear. The sun does shine here, and from late spring to autumn we can get periods of very pleasant, warm, sunny weather.

A CHANGING IRELAND : - If you've been thinking of visiting Ireland, don't put it off too much longer. Ireland is changing fast - it has recently overtaken the U.S. as the world's largest software exporter, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and new house and new car sales are at record levels.

And just as we need effective planning more than ever, our system has finally been revealed as corrupt, with a collection of thieving scumbags from Charles Haughey, retired Taoiseach, (leader of the government) to Padraig Flynn, currently(!) Ireland's EU Commissioner, to George Redmond, retired Assistant Dublin City and County Manager, among many other elected TD's and councillors, being found to have taken large cash bribes from big business, usually in relation to planning applications.

More on bad Planning in Ireland

Partly as a consequence of all this, while there's still great beauty, honesty and soul to be found here, and a greater appreciation of our past and of our land, there's also rapidly growing ugliness, traffic, pollution and litter, indiscriminate building everywhere, with more and more greenery being chewed up into concrete, tarmac and plastic. There is also a more hurried approach to life, and a decline in traditional Irish friendliness.

On a different subject, you should be aware that some Irish people are racist, so, especially if your skin is dark, you may experience unfriendliness, and ignorant or unpleasant comments in public. There have also been attacks on tourists, mainly in Dublin, but I have no figures to compare the crime rate against tourists in Ireland with the crime rate in other tourist destinations (I think it's still relatively low, especially outside Dublin).

Some points about Racism in Ireland 1997.

More January 2000.

Amnesty International Report 2001- People's experiences .
Sample : - Mary sells African products in her Dublin shop. Her windows are constantly broken. She tells the gardaí about it but she feels they cannot do anything to help her. Nor does she bother to get her windows fixed as it would be too expensive. She has also been the subject of personal abuse. She says she is regularly spat upon by the residents of nearby flats. They spit from the balconies as they call her a "fucking nigger" and tell her to "go home to where you came from". "My children have been bullied on the way to and from school. They have been called 'niggers' and 'monkeys' and so now I have to escort them to and from the school grounds".


(You will be leaving this site if you follow the above links,
so Bookmark/Add to Favorites if you want to return easily.)



Some More positive news

All images are copyright and may not
be reproduced without written permission.