Climate
Ireland has a mild, temperate climate: Summer temperatures generally range from 60ºF/15ºC to 70ºF/20ºC. Spring and autumn are generally 50ºF/10ºC. Winter is between 40ºF/5ºC and 46ºF/8ºC. (Snow is rare, but showers can occur at any time of the year.)

Customs
Customs operate green and red channels at most ports and airports. If you need to declare goods over the duty and tax-free allowances for non-EU visitors you must use the red channel. Pass through the green channel if you have nothing to declare (as most of us will!!

Electricity
Ireland operates on 220 volts AC. Any US device will require an adapter plug and transformer. For hair dryers, it is recommended that you purchase one that can switch between 110 and 220 volts, as most adapters will not handle the large current required for such. For battery chargers, shavers and other small electrical devices, you can purchase an adapter kit with transformer easily at Amazon.com, Walmart, etc. Also, most hotels have a AC outlet that will provide 110 for a shaver and most will also provide a hair dryer in the room or on request.

Vat and Tax Refunds
To be able to claim a tax refund you must be a non-EU visitor to Ireland. Look for the ‘Tax-Free Shopping’ sign in the windows of participating stores. You must complete a valid tax refund document obtained from the retailer and present the tax refund documents to the Tax-Back Desk and/or Kiosk if using the Horizon Card, on departure from the EU. You can receive your refund on the spot at some airports, otherwise you should mail the validated tax refund document back and a refund will be issued. VAT (23%) is charged on almost everything, but remember that refunds only apply to goods being taken out of the country, not services. The tax-back providers will keep a percentage of your refund as a service fee as well! Click here for complete details on the easy-to-use Horizon Tax Free Shopping Card!

Demographics
The population of the island is currently 5.4 million, with over 4 million living in the Republic of Ireland and 1.7 million living in Northern Ireland. The island of Ireland enjoys a rich diversity of ethnic groups and cultures and there is a dominance of young people – over half the population is under 30 years old.

Disabled Travelers
Ireland extends a warm welcome to visitors with disabilities. Since hosting the Special Olympics in 2003, many public places and visitor attractions are now accessible to wheelchair users, and an increasing number of restaurants and pubs, hotels and guesthouses are well equipped to accommodate disabled guests. NOT all hotels offer adequate handicapped accessible rooms however!

The National Rehabilitation Board has a county-by-county fact sheet and copies of this can be obtained by writing to:

The National Rehabilitation Centre Access Dept 25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4 Tel. + 353 1 608 0400 email: nrb@iol.ie

Geography
The island of Ireland is 304 miles/486 km long and 172 miles/275 km wide and is divided into four historic provinces – Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. Within these four provinces are 32 counties. The Republic of Ireland consists of 26 counties and Northern Ireland consists of six counties.

Language
Republic of Ireland
English and Irish (Gaelic) are the official languages of the Republic of Ireland and street and road signs are all bilingual. In Gaeltacht areas, Irish is spoken daily; however, everyone also speaks English.

Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, English is the official language. The Irish language, Gaelic, is also taught in many schools and summer schools. Ulster Scots (Ullans), spoken in Northern Ireland, is on the increase and is being taught to those who are keen to explore another facet of their national identity.

Currency
Republic of Ireland
The euro is the currency of the Republic of Ireland. One euro consists of 100 cent. Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Coins are 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2.

Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the currency is sterling. One pound sterling consists of 100 pence. Notes are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. Coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Credit Cards
Any credit cards that bear the Visa, MasterCard or American Express symbol will be widely accepted in Ireland. Visitors with other cards should ask in advance or check if that card is on display where they wish to use it.

Banks
Banking hours are generally 10.00am to 4.30pm Monday through Friday. Some banks are open on Saturday. ATM (cash) machines are located at most banks and accept most credit and debit cards. ATMs are also fairly common in most larger towns as well.

Provinces & Counties
Connaught
Counties in the province of Connaught: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo. The ancient province of Connaught on the west coast of Ireland contains a rich diversity of stunning landscapes and coastal views, including the spectacular spots of Connemara, Mayo and Sligo. The coastline consists of thousands of wildly shaped bays, inlets and islands that are ripe for discovery. Galway City is the capital of the West, and has a laid-back boho feel with its easy mix of ultra-modern culture and proud Gaelic traditions. Other beautiful towns that will make an impression are Westport and Sligo.

Leinster
Counties in the province of Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow.
Leinster is the most fought-over and colonised part of Ireland and this is reflected in the region's historical heritage. A mixture of beautiful countryside and modern towns, well over half the population of the Republic now lives in Leinster. Leinster includes Newgrange, Europe's greatest and most stunning Neolithic monument, the vibrant capital city of Dublin, the luxurious verdant countryside of Wicklow, and Kilkenny with its rich Norman architecture and lively atmosphere.

Munster
Counties in the province of Munster: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford.
Munster is the most lush of the four provinces, and home to some of Ireland's most breathtaking scenery. Munster's winding roads snake intricately over mountain passes descending to magnificent sea inlets. The area is rich in archaeological remains, not least of which are the mysterious stone circles that dot the landscape. Throughout the region are many traces of plantation towns as well as numerous coastal and harbour towns, such as Kinsale and Clonakilty. Munster is also home to Cork City, the second city of the Republic of Ireland, and Limerick City, which is a historical gem with its 13th-century castle fortress and old town.

Ulster
Counties in the province of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Monaghan, Tyrone.

The northern part of Ireland – the great and majestic Ulster – offers a different and quite unique experience. The interwoven influences of several different cultures – the Ulster Scots, the Gaelic, the Normans and the Anglo-Normans have sculpted and coloured the landscape in a particularly unique way. The geographical location of Ulster, as the most northern part of Ireland surrounded by ocean on three sides, has formed a breathtakingly beautiful coast of dramatic cliffscapes, sweeping strands and tumbling mountain. The tranquil rural landscapes of Southern Ulster bounded by Lough Neagh in the east, Lough Erne in the west and the Lakelands of Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan in the south, offer a superb and almost continuous countryside. What is undoubtedly the most impressive aspect of Ulster is its spectacular coastline, from the wild reaches of Donegal, along the northern shoreline from Londonderry to Bushmills, and down the Antrim coast to Larne, north of Belfast.

Regional Tourist Offices
Regional Tourism Organisations (Northern Ireland)
Armagh Tourist Information Centre 40 English Street, Armagh BT61 4BA Tel: +44 28 3752 1800 Fax: +44 28 3752 8329 

Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau
47 Donegall Place, Belfast, BT1 5AD Tel: +44 28 9024 6609 Fax: +44 28 9031 2424 info@belfastvisitor.com

Causeway Coast & Glens
11 Lodge Road, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1LU Tel: +44 28 7032 7720
Fax: +44 28 7032 7719
mail@causewaycoastandglens.com

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau
44 Foyle Street, Londonderry, BT48 6AT
Tel: +44 28 7126 7284
Fax: +44 28 7137 7992
info@derryvisitor.com

Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism
Wellington Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh BT74 7EF
Tel: +44 28 6632 3110
Fax: +44 28 6632 5511
info@fermanaghlakelands.com

Kingdoms of Down
40 West Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT74 7EF
Tel: +44 28 9182 2881
Fax: +44 28 9182 2202
info@kingdomsofdown.com

Regional Tourism Authorities (Republic of Ireland)
Cork Kerry Tourism
Áras Fáilte, Grand Parade, Cork
Tel: ++ 353 21 425 5100
Fax: ++ 353 21 425 5199
info@corkkerrytourism.ie

Dublin Tourism Centre
Suffolk Street, Dublin 2
information@dublintourism.ie

East Coast & Midlands Tourism
Clonard House, Dublin Road, Mullingar, County Westmeath
Tel: ++ 353 44 48761 (Admin only)
info@ecoast-midlandstourism.ie

Ireland West Tourism
Áras Fáilte, Forster Street, Galway
Tel: ++ 353 91 537 700
Fax: ++ 353 91 537 733
info@irelandwest.ie

North West Tourism
Áras Redden, Temple Street, Sligo
Tel: ++ 353 51 875 823
Fax: ++ 353 51 877 388
info@southeasttourism.ie

Shannon Development
Shannon Town Centre, County Clare
Tel: ++ 353 61 361 555 (admin)
Fax: ++ 353 61 363 180
info@shannondev.ie

South East Tourism
41 The Quay, Waterford City,
Tel: ++ 353 51 875 823
Fax: ++ 353 51 876 720
info@southeasttourism.ie

Smoking Ban
The Republic of Ireland has introduced 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. (The date for introduction was March 29, 2004.)

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

Pay Phones
Pre-paid phone cards are widely available both in the Republic and Northern Ireland and both are convenient and effective to use.

Telephone Codes
If calling Northern Ireland from abroad, all telephone numbers must be prefixed with 0044 (drop the first 0 of the local code).
If calling Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland, replace the prefix code 028 with the code 048.
If calling the Republic of Ireland from abroad all telephone numbers must be prefixed with 00 353 (drop the first 0 of the local code).

Telephone Enquiries
Northern Ireland
Directory Enquiries - Tel: 118 500
International Directory Enquiries - Tel: 118 505
Talking Pages - Tel: 0800 600 900 

Republic of Ireland
While in the Republic of Ireland contact: Directory Enquiries - Tel: 11850
International Directory Enquiries - Tel: 114
Golden Pages Talking - Tel: + 353 1 618 8000 

Time Zone
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 11pm but by mid-December it can be dark by 4pm.

Visa, Passport and Embassies
A valid U.S. passport is required to visit the island of Ireland. Visitors of all other nationalities should contact their local Irish Embassy/Consulate prior to traveling to the Republic of Ireland and visitors to Northern Ireland should contact their local British Embassy, high Commission or Consular Office.

Embassies & Visa Contacts
Further information for the Republic of Ireland, including a full list of Irish Embassies, is available from:
Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008. Tel: (202) 462 3939.
British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20008. Tel: (202) 588 7800.
Consulate of Ireland, 345 Park Ave, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10154. Tel: (212) 319 2555.
Consulate of Britain, 845 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022. Tel: (212) 745 0200.
The Embassy of the United States of America, Dublin
42 Elgin Road, Dublin 4. Tel: 353 1 668 7122
The U.S. Consulate General, 14 Queen Street
Belfast BT1 6EQ. Tel: 44 28 9032 8239.

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