Introduction – Visiting Ireland

If you are thinking of planning a visit to the beautiful island of Ireland, this article is worth reading.

Many people think of coming to Ireland and thankfully many do. Others are frightened by what they have seen in the last 30 years. Fortunately, things have changed and although there are still some sporadic incidents, it is generally safe to visit Ireland now. The crime rate in Ireland is low, in fact one of the lowest crime rates in Europe and lower than the US.

Story

I could write books on the history of Ireland, but I will try to make a potted version as a background medium. Ireland is a small island essentially surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and has a total population of approximately 6 million people. It is located about 300 miles from north to south and 100 miles from east to west. For such a small island, it has had a turbulent history and no books have yet been written about what can happen.

Christianity came to Ireland around 450 AD and at that time it was divided into four provinces, Ulster, Munster Leinster, and Connacht. Ireland was at that stage and, in fact, for the next several hundred years it was ruled by kings and great kings, many of whom fought for supremacy. It was around 750 AD when the Vikings arrived and Dublin was born as a major port.

There has always been a great debate about the English invasion of Ireland, but it is more complex than that. The King of Leinster was essentially banished and turned to Henry II in France for help. He agreed to help and sent Strongbow, a Welsh baron, who effectively took control of Ireland. He had been promised the hand of the daughters of the King of Leinster in marriage and that he would also become heir to the King of Leinster.

This was seen as a threat by Henry II of England and he mounted a campaign and took control of Ireland, establishing Ireland as a kingdom in 1199. However, this weakened and once again the Norman barons took control and adopted an Irish culture. . It was not until the Tudor period that this battle would resume once more with Henry VIII and his own personal views on his marital status. It was their actions then that have sown the seeds of the conflict that exists to this day. Henry was elected King of Ireland by the Irish Parliament and due to his dispute with the Catholic Church he created plantations and gave land to his Protestant supporters as a reward for their support.

In the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell ruthlessly attacked anyone who did not support the Protestant cause, and Catholics were essentially exiled to the barren lands of the West Coast. Irish Catholics supported James II as he fled England, his throne having been taken by William of Orange.

The famous Battle of the Boyne occurred in 1690 and William’s victory established the Protestant victory that is still celebrated on July 12 of each year. In 1800 an Act of Union was passed which made Ireland part of the United Kingdom. The Great Famine decimated Ireland in 1841 with more than a million people dying and a million more emigrating, mainly to the United States. Ireland became a place of desert and death and, indeed, no one had a real key interest in ruling such a place.

The emigration continued until the early 1900s and it was then that many young activists began a plan to reclaim Ireland for the Irish. Many Protestants wanted to stay aligned with the UK and this led to the famous Easter Rising in 1916. A bloody civil war ensued and in 1921 the Irish Free State was declared which separated Ireland. Six counties in what is now known as Northern Ireland remained with the United Kingdom and the remaining 26 counties formed a Republic of Ireland in 1948.

In the 1960s, civil law began to gain momentum around the world and Northern Ireland was no exception. Some young Catholics had been allowed to attend colleges for the first time, and many college students began civil rights campaigns with the slogan “one man, one vote.” At that time, voting rights were assigned by state and ownership of land and companies. Even in areas where there was primarily a Catholic population, Protestants sat on all councils as they owned the land and had great power in allocating housing, schools, and work. Problems arose in these marches when the unionist government tried to suppress them and violence broke out. In 1969, the British Army was dispatched to protect Catholics who were being burned outside their homes – a strange quirk, if there ever was one.

The violence continued and Catholics quickly turned on the army when internment was introduced as a measure to stop the re-enactment of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This violence continued for more than thirty years with countless atrocities and the loss of more than 3,000 lives. This lasted until 1998 when the Good Friday agreement was signed and the ceasefire occurred. In 2009, there is a local government that shares power with the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein in control. It’s hard to think that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness would ever have formed a government, but miracles seem to happen.

So for your holidays, there is still a Northern Ireland with six counties that are part of the UK and use the British pound as their currency. The other 26 counties make up southern Ireland and use the euro as their currency. Be sure to bring both if you plan to tour Ireland. At this point, one pound sterling will buy one euro with ten cents.

There are ATMs available, but if you are staying in a rural area, they are very limited. When in doubt, stop in a city and get your money there, as prevention is always better than cure.

Things you have to know

Weather

Rest time starts around March and lasts until June and you can expect temperatures of around 10-15 degrees during this period. Summer is from July to September and temperatures are usually around 15-22 degrees, and you may be lucky to experience the occasional heat wave when temperatures can reach 25 degrees. Fall begins from October to December and temperatures drop significantly to a few degrees above freezing and it is cold in the afternoons, often reaching freezing at night. Winter begins in January through March and temperatures rarely exceed a few degrees above freezing. At some point we usually get a few snow waves, but never more than a few inches, although every now and then we get a big gust that can go up to a foot deep.

Regardless of the time of year, you can almost always guarantee that it will rain, so always come prepared. It is strongly recommended to wear a light rain jacket in spring and summer.

Airports

There are twelve airports in Ireland and they vary greatly in the choice of destinations. They can include local, European and international and it is always best to check individual airports as flight destinations and arrivals can change. The two largest Irish airlines are Aer Lingus and RyanAir.

• Belfast City Airport
• Belfast International Airport (International)
• Cork airport
• Derry Regional Airport
• Donegal Regional Airport
• Dublin Airport (International)
• Kerry International Airport (International)
• Ireland West Knock Airport
• Galway airport
• Shannon Airport
• Sligo Regional Airport
• Waterford Regional Airport

Car, taxi, bus and train rental services are available at the larger airports. Depending on where you are visiting in Ireland, it is always best to decide what airport services in that area and to check the availability of flights from wherever you are departing from.

accommodation

A wide range of accommodation is available from hotels, Bed and Breakfast, rental of apartments or houses, Caravaning, camping, hostels, boat rental, etc. Once you have decided what type of accommodation you need, there is a wide selection of options available to you. The only words of caution I would offer is to check for festivals in a particular area at any given time. For example, trying to book a hotel in Dublin on March 17th would be quite difficult, as it is St. Patrick’s Day and rooms are at a premium.

Car rental

In Ireland, all driving is on the left side of the road and all cars are right hand drive as standard. There are hundreds of roundabouts and they are always difficult for visitors. They allow traffic to move in different directions without the need for traffic lights and when approaching them you should always look to your right and if a vehicle is approaching you should stop and yield; otherwise, it is safe to continue without stopping. We also have traffic lights and they run a green amber red. Red is for stopping, amber for getting ready and green for going. Always check with your insurance company if you plan to drive your own car when visiting as we are two different countries. If you are renting a car, make sure the insurance covers all of Ireland if you plan to travel all over Ireland.

Gasoline and diesel cost around £ 1 a liter and a typical car rental costs around £ 20 a day for a small car and around £ 45 a day for a family car. Generally, all road signs are written in English. In purely Irish speaking areas (a very small number) you may find some written only in Irish.

The use of seat belts is mandatory for everyone in the car. Lastly, be very careful as many of the roads are narrow and windy and you need to be very careful when driving.

Of smoking

Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, restaurants and pubs. Some hotels have smoking rooms, but if you are a smoker, be sure to ask first. Be careful if you smoke in certain cities as they have garbage guards who will hit you with a 60 pound fine if you drop your butt on the street. That’s around 90 US dollars, so be careful. A pack of cigarettes will cost you around 5 to 6 pounds, making it an expensive habit.

Health insurance

Before coming, always check with your travel insurance if you are covered in Ireland. Both Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland are in the EU, so make sure you’re covered.

What to do when you are finally here?

Golf, fishing, water sports, sightseeing, hiking, walking, beaches, historic buildings, churches and the list is truly endless. There really is something for everyone to do and see. The common language spoken throughout Ireland is English and it will always be welcomed by all. Tourist offices are located in all major cities and towns and will provide you with a wealth of things to do and see.

Don’t miss the famous Giants’ Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Bushmill Distillery, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, and the North Antrim Coast, all of which can be seen in a day or two. Then there is the haunted Ballygalley House Hotel and some of the most scenic golf courses in the world. A trip to Belfast and a city tour is recommended.

Then we have the kiss of the blarney stone, or go to Dublin and see the Book of Kells, Trinity College and the famous Guinness Brewery. Go jogging for a day and risk your luck. I’m pretty sure if it’s a vacation for those of you who just want to kick back and relax, or those who want an activity-packed vacation, you will find it here on the Emerald Isle.