Useful facts for travel to Ireland

Useful facts to help you plan your visit to Ireland

• Festivals
• Public Holidays
• Visas
• Health
• Time
• Electricity
• Weights & Measures
• Money, Banks etc.
• Useful Telephone Numbers

Festivals

There is a HUGE number of events and festivals, both traditional and modern, in Ireland.

Here’s a link to the Irish Tourist Board Search facility

Bank and Public Holidays in Eire (The Republic of Ireland) 2013

Four-leafed clover

• New Year – 1st January (in lieu)
• St Patrick’s Day – 17th March
• Good Friday – Not a public holiday
• Easter Monday – 1st April
• May Bank Holiday – First Monday in May
• June Bank Holiday – First Monday in June
• Summer Bank Holiday – First Monday in August
• October Bank Holiday – Last Monday in October
• Christmas Eve – Although  this isn’t a public holiday, some shops and businesses will be closed or closed early on this day. Shops tend to be very busy as people carry out last minute shopping
• Christmas Day – 25th December
• St Stephen’s Day – 26th December

Bank and Public Holidays in Northern Ireland 2013

• New Year – 1st January
• St Patrick’s Day – 18th March (in lieu)
• Good Friday – 29th March
• Easter Monday – 1st April
• Early May Bank Holiday – 6th May
• Spring Bank Holiday – 27th May – Last Monday in May
• Battle of the Boyne – 12th July
• Summer Bank Holiday – 26th August – Last Monday in August
• Although Christmas Eve isn’t a public holiday, some shops and businesses will be closed or closed early on this day. Shops tend to be very busy as people carry out last minute shopping
• Christmas Day – 25th December
• Boxing Day – 26th December

Visas:

For citizens of the EU and most Western countries no visa is required. UK nationals born in Great Britain or Northern Ireland do not require a passport to visit the Republic.

Health risks:

None – unless you include excessive Guinness drinking – no, that’s impossible!

Time:

GMT/UTC

Current Irish time

Electricity:

220V, 50Hz, 2-pin (round) plug

Weights & measures:

Imperial and Metric

Metric Weights and Measures and their equivalents

Clothing and shoe sizes conversion: US, UK, Europe

Money:

The Euro (€)

• As of January 1, 2002, the euro (€) replaced the national currency of 12 countries within the European Union, including Ireland. You can exchange currency at any bank branch (hours are listed below). Automatic cash machines can be found in most commercial centres.Note: as Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, the pound sterling (£) is in use and denominations are similar to that of the euro.
• Bank Opening Hours Most banks in Ireland are open from Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 1.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. One day a week there’s usually extended opening until 5.00 p.m., often Thursdays, although it varies.In Northern Ireland the opening hours are 10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday. In some places, the banks close for lunch 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.In both areas of Ireland, banking in small villages can be a hit and miss affair, only on two or three days per week. So the golden rule is: get your cash in the larger centres! ATMs have become more widely available and some post offices can also provide limited cash services.

Check out the current Euro exchange rate with your currency here (close the new window to return): TRAVEL SIGNPOSTS CURRENCY CONVERTER

Useful telephone numbers :

• AA Roadside Rescue: 1800 667 788
• Police Tourism Support Services: 1850 661 771
• Emergency Services: 999
• Irish Tourist Board Information: 1850 230 330
• Access for Disabled: 01 668 4181
• Bus Eireann: 01 836 6111
• Irish Rail: 1850 366 222
• Department of Foreign Affairs: 01 478 0822

Other Irelandpages:

Travel to Ireland: a Four Leaf Clover Europe tour to be sure!

Tour Routes in Ireland

When to travel to Ireland for your tour: weather and seasons

Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Ireland online

Book your hotel in Ireland online

TRAVEL TO IRELAND WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

What about you? What do you think?