Destination Spotlight - County Cork, Ireland

Reading to get you in the mood

The Cafe Paradiso Cookbook
by Denis Cotter – read the cookbook and enjoy the taste of the popular Cork restaurant

Round Ireland with a Fridge
by Tony Hawks

The Life of O'Reilly: The Amusing Adventures of a Professional Irish Caddie
by John O'Reilly and Ivan Morris

That's Cork
by Tom Galvin

A Dictionary of Cork Slang
by Sean Beecher

White Knights, Dark Earls: The Rise and Fall of an Anglo-Irish Dynasty
by Bill Power

Merchant Prince
by Thomas McCarthy

The Murphy's Story: The History of Lady's Well Brewery, Cork
by Diarmuid O'Drisceoil, Donal O'Drisceoil

Top Tips

• It is now illegal to smoke in places of employment in Ireland and this includes restaurants and pubs.
• The currency in Ireland is the Euro and whilst most ATMs accept UK debit/credit cards, it is always best to check with your bank before you leave.
• If you need to change money, it is often best to do so at the banks in the city as the smaller branches in the surrounding towns may not open every day.

• In 2005 Ireland changed to the metric system for road signs, so distance and speed limit signs are now shown in kilometres.
• The minimum age to hire a vehicle in Ireland is 23 and you must have held a full UK driving license for at least a year prior to hiring a car. The minimum age to hire larger vehicles can be higher (25 plus).
• Seat belts are compulsory in the front and rear.
• If you wear glasses, it is recommended that you carry an extra pair with you.
• Do not underestimate the time your journey in Southern Ireland will take you as roads, particularly in rural areas, can be narrow and slow.
• Parking regulations are strictly enforced, particularly in the cities.
• Drink driving regulations are similar to those in the UK (0.8mg of alcohol per ml of blood) and are strictly enforced. Since August the police have been given extra powers to stamp out unsafe driving, including mandatory breath tests.
• Speed limits are strictly enforced and radar traps are common.
• New regulations introduced in August this year mean the police can stop any driver for holding a mobile phone whether in use or not and charge him/her with dangerous driving.

 For more information about driving in Ireland please click here

"Your Say" About Driving in Ireland:

Jason Travers from Ireland says:
"When driving in Ireland, remember to keep to the left hand side of the road!"

Bridget McDermott from London says:
"Stick to the speed limits in Ireland"
(These are rigorously enforced and radar traps are common)

Jane Simpson from County Dublin says:
"Remember that it is illegal to drive whilst using a mobile phone."
(New regulations introduced in August this year mean the police can stop any driver for holding a mobile phone whether in use or not and charge him/her with dangerous driving

Travelling to Ireland this year? Don't forget, Car Hire 3000 offer car hire from locations across Ireland, including car hire Dublin, car hire Knock, car hire Cork and car hire Shannon - as well as 4000 other locations across the world!