Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [628]
Ireland West ( 091-537 700; www.discoverireland.ie/west; Ireland West Tourism, Áras Fáilte, Forster St, Galway) For Galway, Roscommon and Mayo.
Shannon Region ( 061-361 555; www.discoverireland.ie/shannon; Shannon Development, Shannon, Clare) For Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and South Offaly.
South East ( 051-875 823; www.discoverireland.ie/southeast; South East Tourism, 41 The Quay, Waterford) For Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.
Tourist Offices Abroad
Outside Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the NITB unite under the banner Tourism Ireland. More information about offices around the world can be found at the international website, www.discoverireland.com.
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TRAVELLERS WITH DISABILITIES
Travelling in Ireland with a disability can be a frustrating experience, as facilities and access are quite poor by European standards. Improvements are being made, but progress is quite slow in some areas. If you have a physical disability, get in touch with your national support organisation (preferably the travel officer if there is one) before you go. It often has libraries devoted to travel and can put you in touch with agencies that specialise in tours for travellers with disabilities.
Guesthouses, hotels and sights in Ireland are gradually being adapted for people with disabilities. Fáilte Ireland and NITB’s accommodation guides indicate which places are wheelchair accessible.
Public transportation can be a bit hit-and-miss. In the big cities, most buses now have low-floor access and priority space on board, but the number of kneeling buses on regional routes is still relatively small.
Trains are accessible with help. In theory, if you call ahead, an employee of Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) will arrange to accompany you to the train. Newer trains have audio and visual information systems for visually impaired and hearing-impaired passengers.
The Citizens’ Information Board ( 01-605 9000; www.citizensinformationboard.ie) in the Republic and Disability Action ( 9066 1252; www.disabilityaction.org) in Northern Ireland can give some advice, although most of their information concerns the rights of Irish citizens with disabilities. Travellers to Northern Ireland can also check out the website www.allgohere.com.
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VISAS
UK nationals don’t need a passport to visit the Republic, but are advised to carry one (or some other form of photo identification) to prove that they are a UK national. It’s also necessary to have a passport or photo ID when changing travellers cheques or hiring a car. European Economic Area (EEA) citizens (that is, citizens of EU states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) can enter Ireland with either a passport or a national ID card. Visitors from outside the EEA will need a passport that is valid for at least six months after their intended arrival.
For EEA nationals and citizens of most Western countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, no visa is required to visit either the Republic or Northern Ireland; citizens of India, China and many African countries do need a visa for the Republic. Full visa requirements for visiting the Republic are available online at www.dfa.ie; for Northern Ireland’s visa requirements, see www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
EEA nationals can stay for as long as they like, but other visitors can usually remain for up to three months in the Republic and up to six months in the North. To stay longer in the Republic, contact the local garda (police) station or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (Map; 01-666 9100; www.garda.ie; 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin). To stay longer in Northern Ireland, contact the Home Office (UK Border Agency; 0870-606 7766; www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk).
Citizens of member states of the EEA do not need a work visa to work in the Republic. Non-EEA nationals are allowed to work for up to one year in the Republic, if they have a specific job to come to and their employer has obtained permission