My blog posts about Ireland:
- Ireland (2014)
- Capital: Dublin
- Population: 6.6 million
- Currency: Euro (€) although in Northern Ireland the pound sterling is used.
- Language: English. Very few people speak Gaelic nowadays (the ancestry language) however the written script is still prevalent
- Highlights:
- Dublin: charming, vibrant city with plenty of pubs, Dublin Castle and numerous museums. Best spot for drinking is the Temple Bar, which is an area, not a specific place.
- Belfast: the capital of Northern Ireland with a host of museums (including the Titanic museum) and St. Anne’s Cathedral.
- Galway: there’s a reason Ed Sheeran sang about it…or maybe it really was just the girl.
- Killarney: lush, green and peaceful. Killarney has a wonderful National park for walking and hikes as well as some rather stunning castles.
- Cliffs of Moher: sea cliffs stretching for about 14 km. Majestic and seriously breath-taking.
- Did you know?
- Ireland is a highly religious country – 88% of citizens are Roman Catholic. Abortion only became legal 20 December 2018.
- The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia.
- The Guinness Brewery in St. James Street Dublin has a 9,000 year lease
- In 1447, moustaches were illegal in Ireland.
- An odd Irish birthday tradition is to lift the birthday child upside down and give his head a few gentle bumps on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps should allegedly correspond to the child’s age plus one.
- The national symbol of Ireland is the Celtic harp, not the shamrock
- Useful tips:
- Northern Ireland is actually part of the United Kingdom and subsequently it uses the pound sterling rather than the Euro.
- The Irish speak fast and colloquialisms are frequent.
- Buses won’t stop unless you flag them down.
- Renting a car is probably the most convenient way to tour Ireland. The country has lots of narrow roads so aim for a small car if possible.