Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [617]
Surfers should visit www.surfingireland.net or www.victorkilo.com for beach reports and forecasts. Donegal Adventure Centre ( 074-984 2418; www.donegal-holidays.com; Bay View Ave, Bundoran, Co Donegal) is an excellent youth-oriented surf school and Bundoran Surf Co ( 984 1968; www.bundoransurfco.com; Bundoran, Co Donegal) conduct surf lessons, kite-surfing and power-kiting.
The best months for surfing in Ireland – when the swells are highest – are September (when the water is warmest because of the Gulf Stream) and October. Some of the best locations are on the south and southwest coasts, such as Tramore in Waterford, and there are also big surfing schools in Sligo and Donegal (Click here), where you can also have a blast at kite-surfing.
WATERSKIING
There are waterski clubs all over Ireland offering tuition, equipment and boats. A full list is available from the Irish Water Ski Federation (www.iwsf.ie).
WINDSURFING
The windsurfer has plenty of locations to indulge in this popular sport – even on the Grand Canal in Dublin! The western coast is the most challenging and the least crowded. The bay at Rosslare (Click here) in County Wexford is ideal for windsurfing, with equipment and tuition available in summer. The Irish Sailing Association ( 01-280 0239; www.sailing.ie) is the sport’s governing authority and has details of particular activity centres.
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BUSINESS HOURS
The standard business hours are generally the same for both the Republic and Northern Ireland and are shown below, with any variations noted:
Banks 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday (to 5pm Thursday)
Offices 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Post offices Northern Ireland 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday; Republic 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday. Smaller post offices may close at lunch and one day per week.
Pubs Northern Ireland 11.30am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 12.30pm to 10pm Sunday. Pubs with late licences open until 1am Monday to Saturday, and midnight Sunday; Republic 10.30am to 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, 10.30am to 12.30am Friday and Saturday, noon to 11pm Sunday (30 min ‘drinking up’ time allowed). Pubs with bar extensions open to 2.30am Thursday to Saturday. All pubs close Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Restaurants Noon to 10.30pm; many close one day of the week.
Shops 9am to 5.30pm or 6pm Monday to Saturday (until 8pm on Thursday and sometimes Friday), noon to 6pm Sunday (in bigger towns only). Shops in rural towns may close at lunch and one day per week.
Tourist offices 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday. Many extend their hours in summer, and open fewer hours/days or close from October to April.
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CHILDREN
Successful travel with young children requires effort, but can be done. Try not to overdo things and consider using some sort of self-catering accommodation. It’s sometimes easier to eat in (or to at least have the option), rather than be restricted by the relatively confined space of a hotel or B&B room. On the whole you’ll find that restaurants and hotels, especially in the countryside, will go out of their way to cater for you and your children – with the exception of a few places, generally in the capital, where children aren’t allowed after 6pm. Children are allowed in pubs until 7pm.
Most attractions sell cheaper family tickets, and family passes are available on public transport. It’s always a good idea to talk to fellow travellers with (happy) children and locals on the road for tips on where to go. For further general information see Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children.
Practicalities
Most hotels will provide cots at no extra charge and restaurants will have high chairs. Car seats (around €50/£25 per week) are mandatory for children in hire cars between the ages of nine months and four years. Bring your own seat for infants under about nine months as only larger, forward-facing child seats are generally available. Remember not to place baby seats in the