Travel in Ireland Guide

Renting a car to Travel the Northern part is something that one must see. It may seem like a systematic work where you fix your itinerary for that day to be able to make use of you time wisely as you travel. It helps you get a whole you perspective in traveling and enjoying it all the more.

Ireland is known for it’s rich culture and history so driving through the roads to get to the map of history was including it with major tourist sites and other place that were not usually crawling with tourist making the trip even all the more meaningful and special. There’s places like Ulster where you can go to Cos. Antrim, Derry, Donegal and Tyron. It is always worth seeing Giant’s Causeway: you could also see hexagonal basaltic columns of varying heights, near each other and extending out to the sea. On the road you can enjoy the local fauna and flora of scenic views on the way, and when you reach the hexagon basaltic, you can spend time there just unwinding all day while enjoying the view.

Lammas fair in Ballycastle has a good giftshop/bookstore with numerous information on destinations of Northern Ireland. This will get you the best tips ever. The visitor’s centre at this place is open from 10am to 7pm in July and August and shorter hours at the rest of the year.

One of the natural high that you can experience is sitting at the edge of a sea cliff and this can be done in a place in Dun Castle found just a short distance west of Giant’s Causeway. The place had been abandoned since 1600s when part of the cliff fell into the sea, taking the kitchen part of the castle and some of it’s servants while they were making dinner for that night. You can also watch a brief history of that castle and Giant’s Causeway in months of April to September and opens at 10-7 Monday to Saturdays and 2-7 in Sundays.

In Belfast at the Presbyterian History Society there’s a Presbyterian Church House, on the corner of Great Victoria Street/College Square East. It opens from 10 to 12:30 in most days. A place of great historic records when one wants to research on detailed Irish history. On the ground floor of Church House you can find an indoor shopping arcade called “Spires”. There’s also a small Café there and Family Books, the Presbyterian Church publishing arm in Ireland has a there and should not be mistaken with a store called Familia which is located near the church. However “Familia” has its own good collection of books and published genealogies.

Another place to go would be Inishowen Peninsula where you can spend most of the day exploring of Co Donegal which is just north of Derry. After visiting Fahan Church, you can drive to a 100 mile route on your way to the peninsula. Upon reaching the destination, you can walk around Buncrana, one of the town’s markets and there’s a beautiful place out if its flaw in the breath taking Gap of Mamore and walking along Tullagh and enjoy the sandy beach with blue clear waters, then drive on your way to Malin Head, a part which found at the northern most point of Ireland.

There’s a place where lies an Ancient stone fort that stands on a hill 240 above sea level, with an over looking view of the country side surrounding it and this can be found in Grianan na Aileach. It’s view is amazing and it worth the long drive. I guidebook would be handy once you visit this place.

Some tips regarding MONEY and SAFETY:

It would be best to use cards like Cirrus or Plus in comparison to AMEX Express which is used and accepted more in Northern Ireland.

About safety, when you see RUC soldiers and armored personnel carriers, it is quite unnerving but once you see the other locals not paying much attention to it, you know you can sit back and just keep on relaxing.

This site had provided you with options for car rental, but before you grab the wheel and make that turn, know your way around as you sit back and relax in your Ireland drive. This will help you fasten up and be in the know of things as you are to explore a different place. Enjoy the joy ride.

When you make a certain itinerary for the day of places to visit, it requires fixing your schedule so know the timeline of your driving time in between places is always important to set your day right and do what you need to do and be where you aught to be.

The following driving time had been arranged alphabetically:

DRIVING TIME

Belfast to Limerick – DISTANCE: 316km DRIVING TIME: 4hours 48minutes

Cork to Belfast – DISTANCE: 410km DRIVING TIME: 5hours 43 minutes

Dublin to Cork – DISTANCE: 256km DRIVING TIME: 3hours 49 minutes

Dublin to Galway – DISTANCE: 209km DRIVING TIME: 3hours 14minutes

Malin Head to Mizen Head – DISTANCE: 593km DRIVING TIME: 9hours 38 minutes

Rosslare to Cork – DISTANCE: 193km to DRIVING TIME: 3hours and 6 minutes

Sligo to Rosslare – DISTANCE: 308km DRIVING TIME: 4 hours 37minutes

SPEED LIMIT

Don’t just speed away, slow down and enjoy the ride.

Here is the list of speed limit according to road numbering range:

Road Numbering Range Speed Limit

M1 –M99 120 km/h

N1 – N99 80 km/h on N route

100 km/h on R route

R001 – R999 80 km /h Unnumbered roads

outside of urban areas

Urban Areas 50 km/h

Pedestrian & Residential Zone 30 km/h

DRINK & DRIVE

There’s only a tolerance limit of 0.08% alcohol when driving.

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS

It’s compulsory to fasten your seatbelts whether you’re at the rear or front seat. Although it’s compulsory, wear them too for safety, you don’t want to ruin your vacation by getting yourself into an accident.

KIDS UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THE FRONT SEAT

BRING FIRST AID KITS AS YOU SHOULD

BRING SPARE GLASSES TO PUT IN THE CAR YOU MIGHT SUDDENLY NEED IT

BRING WARNING TRIANGLE INCASE THE CAR BREAKS DOWN

BRING FIRE EXTINGUISHER

MINIMUM DRIVING AGE IS 17 years old and above

DOCUMENTS YOU WOULD NEED TO BRING WHILE DRIVING

A valid driver’s license/I.D.

Car/Vehicle title documents/registration or agreement of car rental

Insurance green card are also necessary but not compulsory to cars registered

in Ireland or EU state.

Oval country of registration plate on National vehicle

DRIVING IS ON THE LEFT SIDE

STEP ON THE BREAKS WHEN STOP LIGHT TURNS AMBER

A lot of cars get into an accident when they don’t practice this.

RIGHT OF WAY / PRESEDENCE

Cars coming from the right side is priority on roundabouts.

COLOUR CODES ON DIRECTION SIGNS

National Primary & Secondary routes = GREEN

Motorways/Freeways = BLUE

Regional and local routes = WHITE

TOLLS

Toll gates are at two points in Dublin area the first would be in M%) Ring Road in between the N4 and N3 interchanges and the other one would be R131 East Link Bridge. A minimum of 1 would be for each vehicle and the higher toll would be charged for bigger vehicles like vans and trucks.

There are new faster routes being introduced an example would be the E1 (M1) route that is a route from Belfast to Dublin and vise versa. The toll is paid in cash and credit cards are not allowed.

AUTOMOBILE CLUB BREAKDOWN SERVICE

AIT Tel 1-800 66 77 88 (0800 88 77 66 in NI)
FIA Tel 1-800 53 50 05 (0800 82 82 82 in NI)

TIPS ON DRIVING IN IRELAND

They say that the best way to travel Ireland was by car. Driving rules usually differ from one country to another so it is essential to know driving styles and regulations as it takes a while within a day to get the hang of driving in Ireland especially if you haven’t driven in Ireland before.

If you’re going to use an automatic car, be positive that you reserved for an

automatic car.

If you just got in the car, drive around the block or just somewhere near by to

get the feel into things.

Avoid narrow street on the first day of your drive to avoid accident as you are

still trying to get familiar with the driving environment.

Take is slow, don’t drive fast right away and do a 360, drive slow first then

just accelerate after sometime once you get the grip of it.

Get used to staying at the left side of the ride cause you might just forget when

you leave a parking space or a gas station.

PARKING

Parking is very strict in Ireland so you would have to take notice of this especially in Dublin city. You car can be towed away if you parked it in a no parking area. It can be bye to your car. Typical cost of parking is 1.30 to 1.90 per hour.

How to operate a parking meter:

There is a solar powered meter that serves around 20 spaces. Upon inserting coins the expiry of the parking time allotted is in display. When you have placed enough coins, press the green button and a two part ticket will come out of the machine. The larger part of the ticket should be attached to your car’s windshield. The other part is kept as reminder on what time the parking time allot expires.

TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER OF DUBLIN

If you want to report any incident that may be causing traffic or causes congestion on the road you can call 1-800 29 39 49. You can also ask regarding roads that are under construction through this number to avoid hassles and that you may be able to plan your journey well.

TRAFFIC REPORTS ON RADIO

There’s a radio broadcast in Ireland to keep you updated with the latest traffic news, the stations would be RTE Radio 1 and 2.

FUEL PRICES

The fuel price in Ireland is just almost at par with most gasoline stations in the rest of Europe. If you want to know the exact rate, find the figure of currency against 3.785 Irish Pound. The gravity of fuel prices do not gravitate as much considering the fact that cars in Europe or cars manufactured in Europe are mostly economy or fuel saving vehicles. Diesel care is more economical since diesel gas is cheaper.

DRIVER LICENSE

Most car rental companies would require a driver’s license that was issued to you by the state that you normally reside in and not the expected “international driving license” that other countries may require.

If you hold a license issued in a state in Ireland that is apart from the European Union and it has been issued by AUS, CH, FL, GBM, GBJ, GBZ, N, J, ZA and KR. You are able to exchange your driver’s license without test exams or testing formalities for a Irish license. Take note that the rule applies to regular motors only and it does not include vehicles of the larger sizes.