Things to Know Before You Go: Ireland
Ireland is a beautiful country in Europe and one of the few in which English is the primary language. It also hasn’t been tainted by money hungry consumers. The first thing you should know is that in Ireland they drive on the left side of the road. Try taking a public bus, it will blow your mind. SO, needless to say you should look right before crossing. Dublin is the largest city as well as the capital. However, it’s no Paris or London. Beer drinking starts in the morning and a pint is the smallest acceptable size. Don’t try ordering a mixed drink if you’re a guy…seriously. Be sure to grab an order of fish and chips at some point, you’ll be glad you did. The weather in Ireland is always off so don’t be surprised if it is raining in and out multiple times in a day. The Guinness Factory is a must and really shouldn’t be skipped. Also surprisingly the Dublin Castle is a must see too and is pretty cool inside. There are family crests there as well if you are from UK decent. The Irish are obsessed with shamrocks, old sayings and quotes, and of course the “luck of the Irish”. And don’t dare confuse them with the Scottish.
Comment by Rory on 24 August 2008:
I would disagree with you on some points. We are not so obsessed with the “luck of the Irish”. Myself being an Irish student having never heard the expression except from Americans. I would like to say that we don’t drink a lot, but yes that is true. There are many pubs in Dublin, and it’s a great place to meet people. My advice is to go to the well known pubs, such as Fitzgeralds, Fitzsimons, The Porterhouse and Messrs Maguires as you can be guaranteed pleasant company. And it’s not the Scottish you don’t want to confuse us with, it’s the UK. Important point: Never say Ireland is part of the UK or Great Britain as it is an independent country with it’s own language, national anthem and flag. There are numerous tourist shops, mainly Carroll’s Giftstore, selling traditional Irish gifts, and even Irish people but gifts there too.