A little bit of local knowledge goes a long way - and with this in mind, we at IrishCentral have prepared a brief guide to vacationing in Ireland.
Although remember - if you really want to fit in with the locals, you might want to avoid expressions like "vacationing" - use "going on holiday" instead.
You might also want to include the expression, "Where are yar' lucky charms?" in as many conversations as possible - the Irish will surely love you for that. (Note the sarcasm here...)
Driving
Don't go onto the roundabout (traffic circle) the wrong way round. The rule is you enter to your left, and give way to traffic from your right. And it’s petrol, not gas.
Not going to Northern Ireland
There’s really no excuse not to go to Northern Ireland. Even if you only have a few days, it’s still worth a visit, and Belfast is only a little over two hours away from Dublin by train. Derry (also called Londonderry) is worth checking out – especially at Halloween, when the entire city dresses up in costume.
Visiting Dublin – and only drinking in Temple Bar
Temple Bar is Dublin’s cultural center just south of the River Liffey. It has plenty of museums, stores, bars and restaurants. But all this is best left for the day time – at night, it becomes considerably less attractive. If you are looking for a good night out, try any number of the bars along Camden Street. George’s Street and Wexford Street.
Not going to a hurling or Gaelic football match
Hurling is sometimes described as a cross between lacrosse and hockey, but that doesn’t really do the sport any justice because it is unlike any other sport in the world. It’s well worth going to see a game – and the same goes for Gaelic football, which looks like a cross between soccer and rugby. The best time to see these games is during the summer when the season's just getting going. It gets increasingly difficult to get tickets towards the end of the season. Dublin’s Croke Park, the main GAA stadium is Ireland, includes a museum that explains the evolution of Ireland’s native sports.
Forgetting to claim your tax back
Taxes are generally already added into the cost of most goods and services in Ireland. As a tourist, you are eligible to reclaim this tax back at the airport – just remember to keep your receipts.
Deciding you don't need a map or a GPS locator
Ireland is notoriously difficult to navigate with signposts often impossible to find. Map vital, GPS essential
Being afraid to ask for directions
Get used to it guys. In Ireland you will need to drop the shyness and the macho outlook and ask
Using a fake irish accent
Irish people hate it when Yanks or anyone for that matter try it on. Not recommended .
Expecting only warm weather
Big mistake, no matter what the forecast says, rain can happen at the drop of a, well raindrop, very unpredictable and sometimes annoying.
Originally published in 2010.
13 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Seanmor | Apr 14, 2013, 09:11 AM EDT
Since the article calls the British-held region of the homeland by its official British name, its seems a major cotradiction that that the city on the Foyle is not also given its official British name.
RobinForester | Mar 05, 2013, 02:55 PM EST
If I was advisng an Irish person on where to go, a must see place, there's only one spot, the bridge overlooking the lake about 250 yards from Killarney main street, And if the Amercians wish to improve Ireland then lets see the game of Baseball played throughout Ireland, with big leagues and little leagues for the youngsters. Baseball and Ireland is the most natural pairing of sports and people one could imagine. At a guess I'd say 'Babe Ruth' (the worlds most famous baseball player ever) was the most Irish looking man I've ever seen. So bring your baseball bats with you, and lets paly ball.
Portia_O'Neill | Jan 08, 2013, 01:01 AM EST
Look at the funny hats Americans wear to Ireland! What a couple of suckers.
largo100 | Jan 02, 2013, 04:54 PM EST
After reading a few of the comments, I'm thinking the Irish aren't found of the Yanks
howareya | Dec 26, 2012, 12:47 PM EST
Portia...do you ever have anything positivie to say? God Bless You but you must be a very unhappy person.
Will Hamilton | Nov 13, 2012, 07:59 AM EST
There are no museums in Temple Bar. The biggest mistake tourists make is coming out with the "I'm Irish too" crap. It's treated like a form of madness for people from another country to want to claim they are part of the Republic of Botched. Another good idea while in Dublin would be to visit a book shop. Buy "Political Corruption in Ireland 1922 to 2010" by Elaine Byrne and "Why Was Ireland Poor for So Long" by Tom Garvin. Government publications in Molesworth street is another good place to shop. You can pick up copies of the Ryan, Murphy, Ferns and Cloyne reports. If you think Bram Stoker wrote scary stories wait till you get through them.
Murph46 | Nov 03, 2012, 03:26 PM EDT
Just came back from NI,arrived on a day in which 36,000 marched (Orange)in Belfast! Loved it,the people ,the Murals,Falls Road,Shankill,the Peace wall!Let's all get along!
bonjouryall | Nov 03, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
Definitely go see a Gaelic football match. It's easy enough to pick up the main rules and we all thought it was more fun and exciting than Americna football. My time in Co. Donnegal and the Mary of Dungloe festival was the best part of the whole trip. I was expecting the drive on the left but was too dumb to realize the driver's seat was on the right and you shift with your left hand. Nor did I realize for a couple of days you open the trunk and rear doors with the backside of the electronic key!
mylesie | Nov 03, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
It's not the first time this codswallop has been trotted out. PLEASE; please please. The Gathering is coming up during 2013 when we would love to see you all. Apart from that Derry aka Londonderry becomes the UK City of Culture 2013(I know the Derry wans are a bit tight with the freebies but fellow scribes give us a break and accept we exist here in the North WEst) Derry was the starting point of many many desperate families from Donegal and surrounding areas, but we tried to make up for your hospitality by making welcome the many US servicemen and women to our City during World War Two. So forget the "Lucky charms" crap come; be yourself and enjoy.
katieherk | Nov 03, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
Glad you included the North, actually my favorite place to tour. Been there 19 times and have been to every county on the island. So much to see in both the North and South, takes many trips to see it all. But, still think the North offers more in terms of beauty, unusual places (Carrick-a-Rede, Giant's Causeway, etc.)
Portia777 | Nov 03, 2012, 09:51 AM EDT
Hilarious. Well, you holiday makers are seen as all right as long as you leave and don't decide to live here. That's when it all turns sour. The natives are still bonded to Vatican oppressor and shun the "aliens."Only white Irish Catholics wanted really. Take my American sister who thought it would be great to live in Cork. Well, she is learning how racist Cork people are and I have heard an Irish woman yesterday verbally assault the American-re truth of Irish people.Typical Irish woman listening in to other peoples conversations and getting involved. Quite funny really as the Irish woman referred to "her" country? When did she buy Eire from Mother Earth?
Seanmor | Nov 02, 2012, 04:49 PM EDT
To me (an English-born U.S. citizen) Ireland is Ireland, North, South, East and West. During our recent visit to that country, my wife (a New England Methodist) and I visited 15 or 16 counties, including 4 of the 6 which are still controlled by a foreign power. And we attended services in Catholic, Medhodist and Church of Ireland houses of worship. No ecclesiastical partitions in Ireland, buíochas mór le Dia.
Seanmor | Nov 02, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT
"Yer lucky charms" is one of a few very idiotic expression that are used by the self-styled superior Yanks to ridicule what they perceive to be their vastly inferior Irish cousins. "The top of the marnibng" and "May the road ride to meet you" are equally idiotic and bellttling to those of us who are totally lacking in any of that genuinely superior American DNA, none of which we aquired during our honorable military service or our many years as Legionnaires.