Irish Tourist Information 12 places to see, 112 places to stay and useful information to know before you visit Ireland Free document provided by The Information about Ireland Site. By using this document you agree to indemnify the provider against any loss, damage or consequence, however caused. © Copyright, 2004, The Information about Ireland Site http://www.ireland-information.com -------- CONTENTS -------- Places to See ------------- The Blasket Islands Guinness Hopstore Powerscourt Gardens Connemara The Cliffs of Moher Muckross House Trinity College and the Book of Kells Blarney Castle Lakes of Killarney Newgrange Dublin Zoo Dingle Peninsula Useful Information ------------------ Dublin Traffic Telephone Charges Tax Free Shopping Tax Free Airport Shopping Taxi Fares Accommodation charges Contact Information Smoking in Ireland Map of Ireland Public Holidays Irish Weather Places to Stay -------------- Dublin Cork Limerick Tipperary Meath Westmeath Waterford Sligo Donegal Report ------ 100 things to do, 500 places to sta Trinity College and Book of Kells, Dublin Trinity College Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, the College is in an enviable position in the heart of Irelands capital. Its forty acre site retains most of its cobbled squares and other world seclusion.Th e gardens and parks have a unique collection of buildings dating from the 17th to the 20th century. The Book of Kells a 9th century illuminated manuscript of the four gospels is on view in the Old Library along with the Book of Armagh and the Book of Durrow. The Book of Kells picturing the word exhibition is an excellent introduction to the manuscript explaining its history, the symbols and how it was made. 14 April-22 December Guinness Hopstore, Dublin 8 The Guinness Hopstore, a handsome four storey building, houses the World Of Guinness Exhibition, an Advertising Gallery The Guinness Zone which displays Guinness Advertising past and present, an audio visual show on the history of Guinness in Ireland, a model Cooperage and Transport Museum, a Souvenir Shop, a Coffee Shop and a lively bar where you can sample some of Dublins finest brew at your leisure. The Hopstore is open seven days a week and should be a part of any visitors itinerary around the city 11 April-30 September, 1 October-24 December, 27 December-31 March. Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 Just 3km from the city centre, in the grounds of the Phoenix Park, you will find Dublin's Zoological Gardens. Established in 1830, it is the world's third oldest public zoo. Set in 30 acres of attractive and colourful gardens, the Zoo has a large collection of wild animals as well as hundreds of tropical birds from around the world. There are many rare and endangered species on view with comprehensive information panels to explain all as you go along. Dublin Zoo offers a unique opportunity to meet its g roup of Gorillas, Rodrigues fruit bats, Snow Leopards and the many other endangered species that are part of the international breeding programmes. 18 March-31 December. Newgrange Neolithic Tomb, Slane, Co. Meath 5000 years old and therefore older than the pyramids! This is an afternoon tour to Newgrange Neolithic Passage Tomb. The tomb has architectural links to the prehistoric maritime peoples of Portugal, Northern Spain, Brittany and Denmark. There is also an opportunity to learn about the famous Battle of the Boyne where William of Orange defeated James II of England in 1690. Departs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 13.20 from Dublin Tourism Centre, Suffolk Street. 1 January-31 December. The Lakes of Killarney, Co. Kerry The three main lakes of Killarney occupy a broad valley stretching south between the mountains.. The three lakes and the mountains that surround them are all within the Killarney National Park. The Lower Lake is nearest the town, it is studded with islan ds and has Muckross Abbey and Ross Castle on its eastern shore. The Lower Lake is separated from the Middle Lake (sometimes called Muckross Lake) by the wooded peninsula of Muckross. At the tip of the Muckross Peninsula is the quaint Brickeen Bridge and Dinis Island is further on with its sub-tropical vegetation and views of the 'Meeting of the Waters'. A narrow straight called the Long Range leads to the island-studded Upper Lake, which is surrounded by lush vegetation. Muckross House, Killarney, Co. Kerry Discover the magnificence of Muckross, as Queen Victoria did in 1861. More than a century after her visit much remains the same in this fine Victorian mansion, set in the spectacular scenery of Killarney National Park. The gardens benefit from the natu ral setting of the mountains and lakes of Killarney. Rolling grasslands lead on to an expanse of mature rhododendrons, punctuated by boles of Scots pine. The rock garden, on a natural outcrop of limestone, has winding steps, small paths and a collection of Rollinn dwarf conifers and shrubs. Entry to gardens free. 1 July-31 August, 1 September-23 December The Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, Co. Clare Just north of Lahinch, on the coast of West Clare, are the Cliffs of Moher. Natural ramparts against the might of the Atlantic, they rise in places to over 215m and stretch for almost 8km. It is here that the visitor can most easily get a feel for the wildness of the terrain over which the Celts wandered. O'Brien's Tower, constructed in the early 19th century as a viewing point for Victorian tourists, is located on Mohers highest cliff. From its vantage point you can view the Clare coastline, the Aran Islands and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara. The Cliffs can be visited daily, all year round. Powerscourt Garden, Co. Wicklow One of the worlds great gardens, Powerscourt is situated 12 miles south of Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.The garden was begun by Richard Wingfield in the 1740s and stretches out over 45 acres. It is a sublime blend of Formal gardens, sw eeping terraces, stauary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs.The 18th Century Palladian House, designed by the German born architect Richard Castle, now incorporates an innovative shopping experience, terrace cafe and house exhibition.The exhibition the actual evolution of Powerscourt House, from the original owners, its buildings, from a castle and then into a Country House. Visit from 1 March-31 October, 1 November-31 December. A word of caution: If you plan to visit this attraction then plan your trip carefully. If you are travelling from the Dublin direction then set off either before 7am or after 10pm as the traffic on the approach road can be very heavy. Similarly try to leave no later than 3pm in the afternoon to avoid the rush hour. Blarney Castle, Co. Cork Blarney Castle is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles. An ancient stronghold of the MacCarthys, Lords of Muskerry and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster, its walls are eighteen feet thick in places. The famous Blarney Stone is embedded in the Battlements. The last admission to the castle and grounds is 30 minutes before closing. Open from June to September and located in Cork. The Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry The Blaskets are red sandstone rocks sprawled in the Atlantic, two miles beyond the westernmost tip of the peninsula. There are four big islands, Inishmore the Great Blasket, Inishvickillane, Inishtooskert, and Inish na Bro, and three smaller ones: Beginish, Youngs Island and Illaunboy. There is also a great sea rock, the Tearaght, 19 hectares long and 602 feet high, and a multitude of lesser rocks and reefs. Ruined hermitages and forts which exist on several of the islands, show that they w ere occupied in early historic times. The marauding Vikings were undoubtedly familiar with the Blaskets and may even have had bases in the area in the 9th and 10th centuries. Connemara National Park, Co. Galway Covering 2,000 hectares of Connemara mountain countryside, this beautiful area is one of Ireland's five national parks. Two short signposted nature trails, which start at the Visitor Centre in Letterfrack, allow views of Ballinakill Harbour, Inishbofin and Inishark.The exhibition at the Visitor Centre depicts various features of the park and includes an audio-visual presentation. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing. 1 July-31 August, 1-30 September. Located in Letterfrack, Galway. The Euro The unit of currency in Ireland is the Euro which replaced the Irish Punt on January 1st 2002. The new currency may be used in any of the 11 participating countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales do not use the Euro. Dublin Traffic Traffic in Dublin has become worse in recent years due to a variety of reasons. If you are travelling into the capital city then try to do so outside the busy hours, typically from 7:30 to 10:00 in the morning and from 4:00 to 7:00 in the evening. Dublin operates a series of Bus Lanes in which it is forbidden to travel at certain hours of the day. Some Bus Lanes prohibit traffic at any time of the day. If you arrive in Dublin Airport and Dublin City is not your immediate destination then be sure to consider using the M50 motorway which is a ringroad around the city. This toll-road should be used by visitors arriving in the airport and wishing to travel to all destinations except the South-East, this section of which is still under construction. Similarly visitors travelling to the airport and wishing to avoid the city centre gridlock should try to interface to the M50 at some point and therefore avoid the city centre. Telephone Charges Telephone charges are among the most expensive in Europe. If you must ring home then do so after 6pm in the evening as this is when the economy rate begins. If you have an international dialing service from your local operator you should definitely consider using it. There are other options such as SWIFTCALL who are long distance telephone call merchants. You could arrange to purchase a EURO 10 call-card from then before your trip, especially if you think you will be ringing home frequently. Do not use public or hotel payphones or credit card telephones in hotel lobbys as they are very expensive. Tax Free Shopping VAT (sales tax) is refundable to non-European Union visitors on purchases that they bring back home with them. Be sure to obtain the tax refund documentation from the store where the item is purchased. The refund is processed at the refund agency's counter at the airport of departure. A refund service charge is payable, and the balance due to you can usually be credited to your credit card account or paid in a currency of your choice. Tax Free Airport Shopping All principal Irish airports have extensive tax free shopping areas. In the case of Dublin Airport you can call their Duty-free Express number 1800 747747 to check availability of and/or pre-order your tax free shopping in advance. Taxi Fares Taxi fare rates vary around the country but in the urban centres drivers will usually charge EURO 7 as a minimum for a short journey. Travel from Dublin Airport to the city centre should cost about EURO 20 to EURO 25. Taxi drivers are allowed to use the Bus Lanes that are prohibited to other drivers. Accommodation Charges It is vital to book your accommodation well in advance when you are planning to visit Ireland. There are a variety of different accommodation options available to visitors including traditional Irish 'bed and breakfasts' which can charge anywhere from EURO 20 to EURO 100 depending on the quality of the accommodation and the time of the year (a big consideration!). Hotels of decent quality can cost anywhere from EURO 50 upwards per person. These generally include breakfast although the new Jurys hotels offer accommodation without breakfast. Contact Information If you are within the Dublin area you can ommit the prefix 01 for any of the numbers below that have that prefix. The emergency services can be contacted by telephoning 999. This number is accessible free of charge from any telephone and is the initial contact when requiring the Police (Garda), Ambulance, Fire Brigade or Lifeguard emergency services. The American Embassy can be contacted by telephone at 01/6688085. The English Embassy 01/2053700 The Australian Embassy 01/6761517 The Canadian Embassy 01/4781988 Lost or stolen Thomas Cook Travellers cheque can be reported to 1800/409170 or 01/6771307 Visa Credit Cards 1800 558002 Mastercard Credit Cards1800 557378 American Express Credit Cards 1800/626000 and 1800/709907 The national airline is Aer Lingus at 01/7052222 Map of Ireland A map of Ireland is available as a separate file. For further details visit The Information about Ireland Site. http://www.ireland-information.com Smoking in Ireland There is a complete legal prohibition on smoking in government offices, cinemas, restaurants, national heritage centres, etc. Smoking in Pubs is now completely banned. Smoking on streets is allowed. Public Holidays The following days are public holidays in Ireland, when many shops, banks and amenities may be closed: January 1st (New Years Day), March 17th (St. Patrick's Day), Easter Monday (often in mid or late April), first Monday in May (May Bank Holiday), first Monday in June (June Bank Holiday), first Monday in August (August Bank Holiday), last Monday in October (October Bank Holiday), 25th December (Christmas Day), 26th December (St. Stephen's Day). Irish Weather In Ireland it can rain at any time anywhere so bring a light rain-jacket with you! Temperatures vary from about 19-20 degrees Celsius during Summer to 0 to 3 degrees Celsisu during Winter. The average national temperature is 9 degrees Celsius. Dublin ------ Hotels and Guesthouses: The Shelbourne Hotel 01/6616006 The Westbury Hotel 01/6791122 The Skylon Hotel 01/8379121 Jurys Christchurch Inn 01/4540000 Mont Clare Hotel 01/6073800 Budget: Egans GuestHouse 01/8303611 Earl of Kildare Hotel 01/6794388 Eglinton Manor 01/2693273 Fitzwilliam Guesthouse 01/6625155 Landsdowne Lodge 01/6605755 Maple Hotel 01/8740225 Redwood Lodge 01/6685019 Cork ---- Hotels and Guesthouses: Quality Hotel 021/275858 Metropole Hotel 021/508122 Imperial Hotel 021/274040 Jurys Hotel 021/276622 Fitzpatrick 021/507533 Budget: Garnish House 021/275111 Hotel Isaacs 021/500011 Lough Mahon 021/502142 Saint Kildas 021/273095 Redclyffe 021/273220 Waterford --------- Hotels and Guesthouses: Towers Hotel 051/875801 Jurys Hotel 051/832111 Dooleys Hotel 051/873531 Forte Travelodge 1800/709709 Budget: Coach House 051/384656 St. Albans 051/358171 Marsuci 051/370429 Sligo ----- Hotels and Guesthouses: The Southern Hotel 071/62101 Tower Hotel 071/44000 Sligo Park Hotel 071/60291 An Cruiscan Lan 071/62857 Millhouse, Ballymote 071/83449 Tree Tops Town House 071/60160 Budget: Clarence Hotel 071/42211 Lisadorn 071/43417 Atlantic Hotel, Enniscrone 096/36119 Beach Hotel, Mullaghmore 071/66103 Pier Head House, Mullaghmore 071/66171 Cawleys, Tubercurry 071/85025 Ocean View Hotel, Strandhill 071/68115 Tipperary --------- Hotels and Guesthouses: Mount Juliet Estate 056/24455 Grants Hotel 0505/23300 Cashel Palace Hotel 062/62707 Dundrum House Hotel 062/71116 Budget: Baileys of Cashel 062/61937 Orchard 051/645355 Legends Guesthouse 062/61292 Hearns Hotel 052/21611 Glen of Aherlow 062/56146 Brighton House 052/23665 Meath ----- Hotels and Guesthouses: Old Darnley Lodge 046/32283 Granvue House 042/75109 Station House Hotel 046/25239 Ardboyne Hotel, Navan 046/23119 Conyngham Arms, Slane 041/84444 Westmeath --------- Hotels and Guesthouses: Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone 0902/9244 Royal Hoey Hotel, Athlone 0902/72924 Shamrock Lodge, Athlone 0902/92601 Bloomfield House, Mullingar 044/40894 Crookedwood House, Mullingar 044/72165 Greville Arms, Mullingar 044/48052 Riverview House, Athlone 0902/94532 Temple Farmhouse, Moate 0506/35118 Meares Court Farmhouse, Mullingar 044/55112 Shelmalier House, Athlone 0902/73190 Donegal ------- Hotels and Guesthouses: Redcastle Hotel, Moville 077/82073 Sand House Hoel, Rossnowlagh 072/51777 Rathmullan House 074/58178 Fort Royal Hotel, Letterkenny 074/58100 Shandon Hotel, Dunfanaghy 074/36137 Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town 073/21014 Kees Hotel, Ballybofey 074/31018 Malin Hotel, Inishowen 077/70770 Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny 074/22700 Hyland Central hotel, Donegal Town 073/21027 Budget: Moorland Guesthouse, Donegal Town 073/34319 Castle Inn, Greencastle 077/81426 Park House, Dungloe 075/21351 Beach Hotel, Bundoran 074/55303 Teach Campbell, Bunbeg 075/31545 Creevy Pier hotel, Ballyshannon 072/51236 Limerick -------- Hotels and Guesthouses: Castletroy Park Hotel 061/335566 Glentworth Hotel 061/413822 Greenhills Hotel 061/453033 Hanrattys Hotel 061/410999 Jurys Hotel 061/327777 Limerick Ryan Hotel 061/453922 Derbert House, Kilmallock 063/98106 Dunraven Arms, Adare 061/396633 Budget: Alexandra Guest House 061/318472 Clifton House 061/451166 Cruises House 01/315320 Carrabawn House, Adare 061/396067 Courtenay lodge, Newcastlewest 069/62244 Rathkeale House, Rathkeale 069/63333 Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine 069/84122 Tourist Report -------------- This document is free for your use and is an extract from the companion report - Ireland: 100 things to do, 500 places to stay which is available from the Information about Ireland Site at a cost of only US$12 and is sent electronically within 24 hours of a request being received. This excellent report contains details about every major tourist attraction in Ireland and has a comprehensive listing of recommended places to stay. It is an invaluable guide to bring with you on your travels around Ireland. It is available at:- http://www.ireland-information.com/irishtouristinformation.htm#report Free document provided by The Information about Ireland Site. By using this document you agree to indemnify the provider against any loss, damage or consequence, however caused. © Copyright, 2004, The Information about Ireland Site