Ireland Basics
Okay, we've heard it from a few skeptical Yanks: "Ireland in March? Isn't it warmer in May?". And we've heard it from a few skeptical Paddies: "Why not get married in sunny California or Florida? We'll all come!"
Well, it comes down to this: May isn't really that much warmer or drier than March in Ireland, especially by Cali or Florida standards. And California's always sunny and warm, so we welcome the change. So if we're going to get married in Ireland, why not do it when its cheaper for all of us? March is "low" season.
As an added bonus, you can all stay for St. Patrick's Day the following week, if you want to.
Glendalough
Yanks: it's pronounced "glen da lock", not "glen da low".
Calling from/to the States
To make a phone call to Ireland from the U.S., dial country code 011353, then drop the "0" in the area code. For example, to call the Glendalough Hotel, dial 011353-404-45135.
When you're in Ireland, to call into the U.S., dial 011 then the area code and phone number.
Weather
Ireland in March is going to be cold, and probably a bit rainy, although we're going to the warmer, drier part of the country. Plan for average temperatures of 5-10�C, or about 40-50�F.
Bring a jacket with a hood. You won't need ski gloves, but a good scarf never goes amiss. It's the wind that will get you.
The Irish Meterological Service has some nice graphs of average temperature and a discussion of rainfall.
If it's too cold or rainy, we'll just go to the pubs.
Currency
Ireland uses the Euro (€). Exchange rates vary, but currently (December, 2005), it is approximately:
| U.S. Dollar ($) | Euro (€) |
|---|---|
| 1.00 | 0.85 |
| 1.17 | 1.00 |
You can convert cash at the major airports, or simply use your ATM card at any BankLink machine (or more affectionately, DrinkLink machine), of which there are plenty in Ireland. Sinead says to change money when you get to Ireland to get a slightly better exchange rate. Be sure to bring plenty of cash for the cash bar at the reception.
Most major U.S. credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are also accepted most places. Discover is not accepted.
VAT (sales tax) and Cash Back Receipts
Advertised prices usually include VAT (Value Added Tax), the local sales tax.
Most gift items bought by outsiders and taken home with them are not subject to VAT. Ask for a cash-back receipt when buying souveniers.
There are lines at the local airport where you can show your cash-back receipts, and you will be credited cash or money-back on your credit cards as you leave Ireland. Plan some additional airport time for this as you leave.
Toilets
You laugh. But you'll be laughed at if you get this one wrong. There is no "universal design" standard in Ireland requiring figures of boys in pants and girls in skirts painted on the doors of the restrooms. That, and the official language, Irish, doesn't always appear next to English...
Fir: Men
Mna: Women
Remember it.
Eating and Tipping
Tipping is not expected, as it is in the States. If a service charge is not included on your bill, and the service was good, it is always a nice thing to do. 10% is seen as a very good tip.
Driving and Cars
The Irish drive on the Left, and much like their UK brethren, they like roundabouts. Watch out — roads are a lot narrower than U.S. roads, and it is polite to pull aside to let faster cars pass.
There are a lot of tiny cars in Ireland, and most rentals will be manual (stick) transmission, unless you specifically ask for an automatic. If you're not comfortable driving on the left, we recommend asking for the automatic. Or, just travel with the group.
Roaming with your Mobile (Cell Phone)
If you're going to be on the island for more than a few days and want to make sure you can stay in touch with the rest of us, you might consider picking up a pay-as-you-go phone in the airport when you arrive.
A cheaper alternative, if you already have an unlocked GSM phone, is to buy a prepaid SIM card ahead of time. You can use this in your own phone, and you will know your Irish phone number long before you get there. Also, when you're on the island and you've used up all your minutes, you can refill at just about any convenience store. You can buy prepaid SIMs from telestial.com.
Nokia GSM phones are simple to unlock. Jan unlocked one of his here.
Open Bars
We Americans often expect open bars at weddings. We Americans are also Puritans at heart. The wee Irish will drink us under the table, and the wee Irish are not so silly as to attempt an open bar at a wedding.
There will be far too many wee Irish for us to attempt an open bar, but we will supply some table wine for the dinner. Bring lots of Euros to the party afterwards.
Safety in Dublin
Dublin is like any big city, and it's tougher than most. In fact, for the San Franciscans reading this, it's a lot like the Tenderloin. Maybe Western Addition. Be careful with your cameras, purses, wallets, etc.
Slang
Kesey's Concise Guide to Irish Slang is the best online guide to Irish slang we have been able to find thus far.