| Ireland's greatest resource is its people and, like any | | | | the rural areas where their culture has not been so |
| visit to another country, it pays to discover a little about | | | | affected by the economic boom. One of the best |
| them before you leave. You will find them courteous, | | | | ways to meet such people is by staying at rural bed |
| gentle, excellent conversationalists, helpful and | | | | and breakfast establishments, rather than at hotels. |
| engaging. Providing you have time and the patience to | | | | While you might not receive the luxury of a hotel room, |
| listen, you will learn a lot. While the official language of | | | | most bed and breakfasts are extremely comfortable, |
| the Republic of Ireland is Irish (Gaelic) and learned by | | | | each room typically having its own shower/bath and |
| everyone at school, the most common language is | | | | toilet ('en suite') and television. More importantly, they |
| English and you will have to travel to the more remote | | | | bring you into contact with natives, most of whom are |
| regions to hear native speakers. By European | | | | interested in your origins and heritage. Do not be |
| standards the speech rate is quite fast, but don't be | | | | offended if they ask where you were born or where |
| afraid to politely ask someone to repeat himself or | | | | you live - these are central questions to a nation with a |
| herself more slowly. There are many other | | | | deep interest and pride in its heritage. Once they are |
| commonalities with the majority of visitors such as | | | | satisfied that they know something about your lineage |
| currency (the Euro), culture and customs (although | | | | (and have established that you are not related to |
| there is a rich and interesting tradition, influenced by | | | | them), you can ask your own questions. Bed and |
| religious rituals). Travel is relatively easy; there is a | | | | breakfast owners are great sources of local |
| good network of public transport between and within | | | | knowledge, such as the best restaurants, visitor |
| the major cities. If you intend to visit the more remote | | | | attractions, walks, drives and (most importantly) pubs. |
| areas, then a car is useful although not essential. | | | | I would encourage you to strongly consider a |
| Recent years have seen a major economic boom, | | | | self-guided tour. You can stay, visit and go where you |
| resulting in a huge increase in jobs. The result is that | | | | want, choosing your accommodation when you feel |
| many people in the accommodation and retail industry | | | | like stopping. There is a large selection of bed and |
| (such as employees of the hotel in which your tour is | | | | breakfast houses in Ireland; many can be pre-booked |
| staying) are no longer Irish-born, and these positions | | | | but it is more fun to arrive in a town or village and pick |
| have attracted many non-nationals. In times past you | | | | your own. You can still visit the major cities and join a |
| would always meet a large number of Irish workers in | | | | guided tour or hop on a tour bus if you like but I |
| your hotel but this is no longer the case, so you need | | | | suggest that your best memories will be those where |
| to look further afield. | | | | you met genuine Irish people over the breakfast table, |
| While you will still find plenty of Irish people working in | | | | bar or restaurant. |
| the major cities, the most interesting folk are found in | | | | |