Ireland | Europe

Ireland occupies roughly five-sixths of the island of Ireland, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean to the west of Great Britain. The country's geography is defined by a central plain of glacial firmament surrounded by a ring of coastal mountains and the rugged limestone plateaus of the west; the capital city is Dublin.

Visa & Entry Policy

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area and maintains its own visa policy. Citizens of the US, UK, and EU do not require a visa for tourism or business stays up to 90 days. Under the Common Travel Agreement (CTA), British and Irish citizens move freely between the two countries without passport controls, though a valid ID is required for air and sea travel.

Language & Communication

The official languages are Irish (Gaeilge) and English. English is the dominant language and is spoken with universal proficiency. Irish is a compulsory subject in schools and remains the primary community language in designated Gaeltacht regions, primarily along the western seaboard.

Currency & Payment Systems

The currency is the Euro (EUR). Ireland has an advanced digital payment culture; contactless "tap-to-pay" and mobile wallet payments (Apple/Google Pay) are standard in retail and hospitality. While cash is less frequent in urban centers, it is still utilized for small transactions in rural pubs or independent local shops. ATMs are widely available in all towns.

National Transport Grid

Intercity travel is facilitated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), which operates a hub-and-spoke network centered on Dublin’s Heuston and Connolly stations. An extensive national bus network (Bus Éireann) and private operators like Citylink and GoBus provide comprehensive coverage to towns without rail links. Domestic flights are minimal, primarily serving the Aran Islands from Connemara.

Digital Infrastructure

Major mobile network operators are Vodafone, Three, and Eir. 5G deployment is concentrated in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway. 4G coverage is robust nationwide, though signal strength can be inconsistent in the mountainous terrain of West Cork, Kerry, and Donegal.

Climate & Seasonality

The climate is temperate oceanic, characterized by high humidity and frequent precipitation. May and June are historically the sunniest months, while December and January are the wettest. Temperature extremes are rare; summer averages range from 15°C to 20°C, and winter averages stay between 4°C and 8°C.

Health & Safety

No mandatory vaccinations are required. Public health services are managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Environmental risks include hazardous Atlantic swells on western cliffs and unpredictable weather changes for hikers. The emergency contact number for Police (Gardaí), Ambulance, and Fire services is 999 or 112.

Top 3 Major Regions & Cities

The East Coast: Primary hub is Dublin.

The Wild Atlantic Way (Mid-West): Primary hub is Galway City.

The Southwest: Primary hub is Cork City.

Local Cost Index

1L Water: €1.40 ($1.55 USD)

1 Domestic Beer: €6.00 ($6.65 USD)

1 Sim Card (Data Plan): €20.00 ($22.15 USD)

Facts & Legends

According to geological folklore, the Giant’s Causeway was built by the warrior-giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) as a bridge to Scotland to confront a rival giant, Benandonner. In political history, Ireland remained officially neutral during World War II (referred to domestically as "The Emergency"), though it provided clandestine intelligence and meteorological data to the Allied forces.