Ireland Information

Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0900-1730/1800. Many towns have a late night opening on Thursday or Friday until 2000/2100 and smaller towns may have one early closing day a week. On Sunday, main shopping centers and some of the larger deprtment stores open from 1200 - 1700/1800. Many smaller supermarkets in towns and villages also open.

Nightlife in Ireland
Ireland's nightlife is world renowned. From cosy country pubs to lively city nightclubs and cafes there is something for everyone here. The pub is still the centre of the Irish nightlife and is a great place for talking, meeting people, catching up on some local gossip, eating, drinking and generally having a good time.

Traditional pubs are still the most common type in the country with the basic pleasures of good beer, good conversation and few frills. Local musicians often play at such places so if that's what you're after it's usually worth asking round.

Food & Drink
In the last decade, Ireland has made a giant gastronomic leap. A new crop of young chefs are turning high-quality, homegrown ingredients into sophisticated and unique meals, and new restaurants are popping up all the time in our cities and villages alike. Choose between good value traditional food in the numerous pubs, light, modern cuisine in our cafés or the best in international gourmet food in our restaurants.

Imagine yourself strolling through an array of colourful food markets on a lazy weekend morning, tasting as you go! Ireland’s unpretentious approach to food expresses itself in the vibrant and colourful farmers’ markets, which are now a feature in towns around the country. Here, you will find the best in local produce, from organic fruit and vegetables to handcrafted cheese and freshly caught seafood to tempting cakes and breads.

But if you want to take your love for food that one step further you can enroll in one of the highly rated cookery schools around the country. Relax in beautiful idyllic surroundings while learning to cook both traditional and international dishes under the watchful eye of the country’s most notable chefs.

Activities in Ireland

Water Activities
There are thousands of kilometres of coastline waiting to be discovered by the intrepid scuba diver with sheltered harbours for the beginner, and steep rocky cliff faces for the more experienced diver. Water-skiers and wake boarders can also enjoy great facilities around the country.

Canoeists will thrive on the passion the Irish have for canoeing, and you’ll be spoiled for choice with whitewater, downhill, slalom, surfing and sprint canoeing. Where better to take to the seas than in a country with an impeccable sailing heritage and a coastline that will rouse your spirits and inspire your soul?

	Inland Cabin Cruising Wind your way through the magnificent Irish countryside as captain of your own cruiser.
	Canoeing/Kayaking & Rowing Get those paddles out and experience all that Ireland’s waterways have to offer
	Sub-Aqua Diving Discover sunken wrecks and a plethora of sea life when you make Ireland your very own waterworld
	Water-Skiing & Wakeboarding Nothing beats the exhilaration of skimming the water while water-skiing or wakeboarding, and there’s no better place to get the rush than Ireland
	Surfing When the white horses rush in from the Atlantic Ocean, get ready for some adrenalin-induced action in Ireland

Horseriding
Equestrianism is one of Ireland’s principal tourist attractions and facilities for horse riding are found all over the country. A full list of stables and riding holidays is available from Fáilte Ireland (see General Info section). The principal racecourses are atLeopardstown, Fairyhouse (Irish Grand National every year), The Curragh (Irish Sweeps Derby) and Punchestown (an international cross-country and three-day-event riding course).

Cycling
Although some of Ireland’s coastal parts are mountainous, the sheltered valleys and the gently undulating central plain are excellent for easy cycling. Roads are well-maintained and most are very quiet. Inland, the landscape is dotted with small farms, and one is never too far away from some form of civilization if one requires it. There is a surprisingly high number of pre-celtic monuments in lonely places; owing to old Irish superstitions, these were not cleared away when the land was farmed. The Boyne Valley alone contains over 300.

Fishing
Being blessed with miles of rivers and streams and over 5500km (3500 miles) of coastline, Ireland offers excellent fishing. There is no closed season for freshwater angling, but March to October are the most suitable months for bream, rudd, roach, dace and perch. For coarse angling, there are new regulations regarding share certificates; further details can be obtained from Fáilte Ireland (see General Info section). Game fishing requires a license and, generally, also a permit. The brown trout season is usually from mid-February or March until 30 September. Open salmon season is 1 January to 7 September, according to district. The best sea trout period is from June to 30 September or 12 October in some areas. Salmon licenses/permits also cover sea trout. Along the Atlantic coast, sea angling is possible from piers, rocks, in the surf or during a day’s boat fishing excursion (which can be organized locally).