Travel

Ireland

Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain.

Ireland accommodation
Finding the perfect place to stay has never been easier in Tramore, Dunmore East and The Hook Peninsula. This region is bursting with excellent accommodation options whether you want to languish in a family-friendly hotel resort, or you want to create a home away from home in a self-catering cottage. Whether you’re staying in a hotel in Tramore, guesthouse or B&B in the Hook or self catering in Dunmore East, you and your family can be sure of great hospitality and a stay that is comfortable and enjoyable.

Ireland Transportation
Most of the transport system in Ireland is in public hands, either side of the Irish border. The Irish road network has evolved separately in the two jurisdictions Ireland is divided up into, while the Irish rail network was mostly created prior to the partition of Ireland.
In the Republic of Ireland, the Minister for Transport, acting through the Department of Transport, is responsible for the State’s road network, rail network, public transport, airports and several other areas. Although some sections of road have been built using private or public-private funds, and are operated as toll roads, they are owned by the Government of Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, the road network and railways are in state ownership. The Department for Regional Development is responsible for these and other areas (such as water services). Two of the three main airports in Northern Ireland are privately operated and owned. The exception is City of Derry Airport, which is owned and funded by Derry City Council. A statutory corporation, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (which trades as Translink) operates public transport services through its three subsidiaries - NI Railways Company Limited, Ulsterbus Limited, and Citybus Limited (now branded as Metro).

Things to See and Do
You’ll be spoiled for choice for things to do when you holiday in Ireland. Breathtaking scenery and landscapes await outdoor enthusiasts. The only question is whether you’ll be hiking, biking, surfing or merely relaxing and taking in the magnificent views. For those on a cultural buzz, your challenge will be to choose from events on both by day and by night.
Will it be an opera or traditional music festival, an outing to the theatre, or a browse around a food fair? As for the history and heritage buffs, you’ll be bowled over by the treasures on offer. Whatever you choose to see or do, you’re in for a treat.

Food in Ireland
When many people think of food in Ireland , they think of the traditional dishes of bacon & cabbage, Irish Stew and Crubbeens!
Though there has been something of a revival of the traditional favourites, a sense of “Modern Irish” cooking has been developed over the last 20 years, influenced by flavours and indeed chefs from Europe and the rest of the world.
The Irish restaurant scene is a real cosmopolitan mix with an influx of Italian, French and pan Asian eateries sitting alongside native restaurants, who themselves have devised menus to cater for world tastes. While Ireland’s coastal areas, particularly West Cork and Kinsale are renowned within epicurean circles for their excellent seafood.
In the pubs too, you’ll find food of great quality up and down the country. Gone is the idea of pub grub, replaced with wholesome traditional staples, like those mentioned above, or gastro pub dishes. Though most will still knock up some cheese & ham toasties on request!
All this focus on quality has inevitably pushed up prices. The price of a main may be between 15 to 25 euro, with starters from around 5 to 15 euro, while good lunches are available from around 10 to 15 euro. But the value is most certainly there.

Shopping in Ireland
As delightful as the natural scenery is, as intellectually stimulating as the museums might be and as thrilling as racing, boating, biking and seeing as much of Ireland as you can with your car rental, and all other such activities can be, there comes a time in every tourist’s vacation that it’s time to start thinking of the people back home. Souvenirs are simply a necessity of tourist life, and indulging yourself when you’re shopping for your friends– well, that’s just a bonus! Fortunately Ireland offers a wide variety of shops, and there is bound to be something for every tourist and every friend you have left back home.
If it’s something reminiscent of Ireland in days of old you wish to purchase, there are numerous antiquities shops available for browsing. You may also want to buy something that pays tribute to the artisans and cottage industry of Ireland; items such as Irish linen, china and even Irish whiskey are all excellent choice if you want to purchase something to take home to remind you of Ireland, and all of these are available in shops in Dublin City and all major urban centres.
You may also want to couple your shopping trip with a bit of sightseeing; many museums and exhibitions –for example, distillery tours– couple education with the opportunity to purchase the product itself.
If you want a more modern shopping experience, Ireland has plenty to offer as well. All the major cities are thoroughly modern and up to date, and many are home to numerous boutiques carrying top designers. If you are an even halfway dedicated shopper, it may well be wise to set aside at least one full day to dedicate to your shopping. Everything from sumptuous antiquities to the most cutting-edge fashions are available in Ireland’s shops, and depending on how varied your tastes, you may even want to map out a plan of attack in order to accomplish the most possible in one day! Also be sure to remember to keep track of all your purchases for purposes of customs declaration on your return home.