Ireland

Ireland is a country of outstanding natural beauty with a friendly atmosphere and a fascinating array of cultural and cosmopolitan places to visit.

A glimpse of the picture postcard harbour at County Cork or of the hills at Connemara and Kerry is enough to make you want to come back to this enchanting country again and again. Kilkenny the medieval capital is only an hour and a half away from Dublin and is a favourite spot for tourists.

Legend has it in County Cork that anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone will be gifted with eloquence and the "gift of the gab". No wonder the Irish have such lilting voices and such lovely music.

Dublin Airport

  Dublin Airport is located around 8 miles to the north of Dublin. The bus journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 35-40 minutes.

There are several hotels located close to Dublin Airport, the closest being the Hotel Radisson Blu and the Hotel Clarion which both provide a shuttle bus service to the airport terminals.

Car and Minibus Rental at Dublin Airport

  Car rental companies onsite at Dublin Airport (DUB) include the following:-

• Avis
• Budget
• Enterprise
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Sixt
• Thrifty

Many of these rental companies provide minibus shuttle bus transfers to local premises. If you require airport terminal pick-up Europcar have on-site collection.

Getting to Ireland

There are several international airports in Ireland - Dublin Airport is the busiest and is a major hub for low cost airline Ryanair. Belfast has 2 airports - George Best Airport which is just outside the city centre and Belfast International Airport located just south of Antrim.

If you are travelling to Ireland from the UK you can sail from Liverpool or Holyhead (in Wales) to Dublin or from Liverpool or Cairnryan (in Scotand) to Belfast. There is also a ferry from Cherbourg in France to Dublin.

Visitor Suggestions

Must visit

The Cliffs at Moher in County Clare. These cliffs face the Atlantic and are over 230 metres in height. There are no safety barriers, since the locals feel that it will spoil the beauty of the place, so take care.

In Dublin, Bewley's Oriental Cafe offers the finest freshly ground coffee in the city.

Must drink

Alcohol is expensive in Ireland, but the local Guinness is a must for any visitor - and yes it does taste better in Ireland. A visit to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin provides a fascinating insight into the cities most famouse export.

Must watch

Sports of all types specially Gaelic Football and Hurling. The Irish are the world's most sports loving nation, so join them in enjoying the many sports which are played here.

When to go

Ireland is a country where you can experience four seasons in one day. The seasons are all fairly mild, but in any one day it could change from sunny to fairly cold rapidly. Always be prepared for rain, since the rain comes down quickly and with little prior notice.

During the summer season from May until mid September the days are reasonably warm and long enough for you to enjoy the place. These are the peak tourist seasons, and the most crowded times in Ireland. The spring and autumn months are slightly colder and if you want to avoid the crowds you should visit Ireland during those months.