Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [637]
CIE Tours International ( 01-703 1888; www.cietours.ie; 35 Lower Abbey St, Dublin) Runs four- to 11-day coach tours of the Republic and the North, including accommodation and meals. The Taste of Ireland tour (five days) takes in Blarney, Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Cliffs of Moher and the region around the River Shannon (€715 in high season).
Grayline Tours ( 01-872 9010; www.irishcitytours.com; 33 Bachelor’s Walk, Dublin) Located in Dublin, it offers half- and full-day tours (€25) from Dublin to Newgrange, Glendalough and north Dublin, and three- and four-day trips to the Ring of Kerry (€219 to €369).
Paddywagon Tours ( 01-672 6007; www.paddywagontours.com) Activity-filled three- and six-day tours all over Ireland with friendly tour guides. Accommodation is in IHH hostels.
Ulsterbus Tours ( 028-9033 7004; www.ulsterbus.co.uk) Runs a large number of day trips throughout the North and the Republic.
It’s worth checking GoIreland.com ( 1800 668 668; www.goireland.com) for holiday packages.
For train enthusiasts, Railtours Ireland ( 01-856 0045; www.railtoursireland.com) organises a series of one- and two-day train trips in association with Iarnród Éireann. A three-day trip from Dublin to Cork, Blarney Castle and Kerry costs €339.
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TRAIN
Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail; 1850 366 222; www.irishrail.ie; 35 Lower Abbey St, Dublin) operates trains in the Republic on routes that fan out from Dublin. The system is limited though: there’s no north–south route along the western coast, no network in Donegal, and no direct connections from Waterford to Cork or Killarney. Northern Ireland Railways (NIR; 028-9089 9411; www.nirailways.co.uk; Belfast Central Station) runs four routes from Belfast. One links with the system in the Republic via Newry to Dublin; the other three go east to Bangor, northeast to Larne and northwest to Derry via Coleraine (see the map, Click here).
Costs
Train travel is more expensive than bus travel and one-way fares are particularly poor value – a midweek return ticket is often about the same as a one-way fare. First-class tickets cost around €5 to €10 more than the standard fare for a single journey.
Some sample one-way fares:
Reservations
Iarnród Éireann takes reservations for all its train services. You need to fax your details (name, number of passengers, date and time of service, credit-card number and expiry date) to 01-703 4136.
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Health
CONTENTS
* * *
BEFORE YOU GO
Insurance
Recommended Vaccinations
IN TRANSIT
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Jet Lag & Motion Sickness
IN IRELAND
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Traveller’s Diarrhoea
Environmental Hazards
* * *
BEFORE YOU GO
While Ireland has excellent health care, prevention is the key to staying healthy while abroad. A little planning before departure, particularly for pre-existing illnesses, will save trouble later. Bring medications in their original, clearly labelled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If carrying syringes or needles, be sure to have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity. Carry a spare pair of contact lenses and glasses, and take your optical prescription with you.
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INSURANCE
If you’re an EU citizen, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), available from health centres or, in the UK, post offices, covers you for most medical care. The EHIC won’t cover you for non-emergencies, or emergency repatriation home. Citizens from other countries should find out if there is a reciprocal arrangement for free medical care between their country and Ireland. If you do need health insurance, make sure you get a policy that covers you for the worst possible case, such as an accident requiring an emergency flight home. Find out in advance if your insurance