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TheIrishGuide has a number of useful tools and sections for general information
for visitors to Ireland. Links for these sections are above.
Additional information on
,
,
and
is included below.
Our "Getting Around" section has a special page on
. An overview of dining in Ireland
is below. We also have information on buying property and real estate agents in our
section.
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Ireland has some of the best restaurants and hotel catering
in Europe. Most hotels include excellent restaurants, some
of the best in the country. European, continental and international
cuisines as well as Irish specialties and our superb seafood
are all available. If you have arranged your own holiday,
you will be free to choose from our many restaurants, pubs
and eateries during your stay. Use our to plan ahead.
As in many countries, you may enjoy a cocktail first before dining. Many of Ireland's
more elegant restaurants add a unique and pleasant custom to this tradition.
Upon entering the restaurant, you will be invited to sit in a lounge which will often be more
of a parlor than a pub or bar. You will be handed menus and your drink order taken.
When the server returns with your drinks, they will then take your food order and you
are free to relax and enjoy your cocktail in a comfortable setting. When your food
is ready, the host/hostess will escort you to your table where you food will be
served directly.
Most accommodations include breakfast but if you do not always
fancy a large traditional Irish breakfast, you can usually
choose from a variety of fruits and cereals in a continental
breakfast. Many restaurants offer vegetarian options and some
that specialize in vegetarian food are excellent. If you have
these or other special food requirements it best to check
ahead with the hotel or restaurant.
Very few Irish hotels, guesthouses or B&Bs have kitchen
facilities in the room though many will have an electric teapot
for your own afternoon spot of tea.
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The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment responsible for issuing
work permits for foreigners wishing employement in Ireland.
Ireland's Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for
immigration, student and other visas as well as applications for citizenship.
Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for visa applications and has other
useful information for travellers on their website.
Visa application forms can be obtained at the Irish Embassy in your country.
Links and contact information for these departmenst are located below:
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Davitt House, 65a Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. Phone: (0)1 631 3308 / (0)1 631 3197, FAX: (0)1 631 3268.
Email: workpermits@entemp.ie
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Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; 72/76 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2, Phone: (0)1 6789711.
Email: info@justice.ie
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80 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2, Phone: (0)1 478 0822
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Government website with links and resources for additional information especially for
conducting business in Ireland and other economic development issues.
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There are plenty of payphones in every town and village around
the country. You can either use a coin phone or card phone.
Phone cards can be purchased from nearly all newsagents, tourist
locations or telephone centres in the main Cities and Towns.
Dial 11811 for Directory Enquiries from any telephone. The call
is Charged. Dial 10 for operator services, 114 for international
calls (ex Britain)
A full list of International dialing codes is available in each
phone box. If you call home from a hotel you will pay a higher
rate for your call than from a public payphone. You can also
purchase prepaid calling cards from Sprint, Call Home and a
number of other companies. These cards offer Cheaper rate calls
than Eircom (The state telephone company) and are available
from Newsagents and most service stations nationwide.
Most
European mobile phones will work in Ireland if you have
the appropriate agreement with your service provider. American
mobile or cell phones do NOT work in Europe including Ireland
because they are based on different standards. One exception
is Motorla phones connected through the Nextel system. These
still require the appropriate service agreement with Nextel.
For information on calling into Ireland, please see our section on
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Emergency services can be contacted by dialling 999 or 112 on
any payphone, Irish Telephone or Mobile Telephone. The call
is free. You must state your name clearly, location and the
emergency service you require. Prank or hoax calls, as in many
countries are taken very seriously and is punishable by law.
There is a national police force in Ireland, the Gardi. They are highly professional and
if you should happen to encounter them, as in any country, they should be treated with
respect and given full cooperation. |
Our Electrical current is 220V - 240V AC. Travel electrical
converters are available at most tourist shops or at any Airport
or Ferry Terminal. Some hotels have adapters for Telephone,
PC and Standard electrical appliances for your use. Many portable
personal computers include power supplies that will work directly
of of European current with a simple plug adapter. Check your
documentation or with the manufacturer
Our Video Format is PAL which will not work on most American
VCRs.
Audio cassettes and CDs are based on international standards
and are therefore compatable. Bring some Irish music home!
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