I'm new to the forum and have many questions.

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: I'm new to the forum and have many questions.

Wellsley · Guru

Katie welcome,

We are taking the Mary Gibbons tour to Newgrange.(from Dublin) You can't get much more historic. The hop on hop off bus will get you around Dublin to other sites.(Some of them free) We plan to visit the Brazen head pub (oldest pub in Ireland) Dublin again historic. (and you can get a pint or two) LOL There are several day tours that leave from Dublin, it's up to you how much you wish to travel and how much you want to spend.

Frank

Wellsley · Guru

Michele, Thanks for moving her. I will post there in the future. Frank

Wellsley · Guru

My next concern is customs. I read any thing less than $ 10000 in cash doesn't have to be declared. So there is no worry there. Is there any thing I will have to declare going into Ireland? We intend to bring a couple of lap tops, camera's.
I see you can bring back a litter of booze. Not sure we will be bringing any back. What about Tea's. If we really like some of the home brews we might want to bring some back. We may buy some woolen items and other gifts. What can I bring back and not bring back?

Frank

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Frank,

We take a computer, two digital SLRs (and extra lenses and batteries), a video camera, an audio recroding device, and our GPS unit on each of our trips. We've never had an issue coming through Customs in Ireland with those things.

If you'd like some dull reading, you can check out the Customs and Excise Information for Travellers Arriving in Ireland from Countries Outside the European Community page on Irish Tax and Customs website at http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/leaflets/pn1878a.html

As for coming home, we don't buy duty free, but here's a copy of the US Customs Declaration form that you'll have to complete when you come back to the US: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml This website will tell you what you can and cannot bring back and what you would have to declare. Many places will ship items home for you (or you can box them up and send them yourself at some point during your trip). Just be aware that it's very expensive and slow. You'll probably be home for a few weeks before your package arrives at your door!

With regard to teas, if it's looseleaf tea, don't put it in your luggage. You could potentially end up with the same kind of hassles people have with coffee (which has been known to be used to mask the scent of narcotics). I always bring back tea from Ireland when we go (Barry's and Bewley's), but they're always in bags - not looseleaf.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Frank,

Have you checked your local supermarket? Mine carries Bewley's and Barry's tea, Irish cheese and butter, Irish oatmeas, Bantry Bay mussles and more. It may save you lugging stuff home that has already been shipped for you and available locally.

My husband always lines his suitcase with Sainsbury dark chocolate bars. I bring home Thornton's goodies (if I haven't eaten them all in Ireland already!).

Be careful about bringing in things like turf, meat and other organic things.

As for entering Ireland - go through the green channel. I have never been spot stopped.

Michele

Roy · Guru

I can get Kerrygold cheese and McCann's oatmeal locally, but have to travel for anything else. Michele, you are fortunate!

Wellsley · Guru

Kate,

Thank you for your response. It doesn't look like it will be much of a problem going through customs in either direction.

Thanks

Frank

Wellsley · Guru

Michele,

Thank you for your reply. I will check out the supermarket for products made in Ireland. My wife and daughter might buy some wool items, I would like to find another wool cap. I own a Mizen Head cap and would like another similar one. I would have liked to have gone to Mizen Head and see where these are made but don't have enough time in our schedule. If I can't find a cap I like while in Ireland (I can't imagine not being able too) I can just order one. This leads me to my next question. What brands of woolen goods would you recommend that are made in Ireland? Are there tours or can you visit where they are made? Since I have the most free time when I'm in Galway is there any near Galway?

Frank

Monty · Senior Member

Frank:

When you are in the Dublin and Wicklow areas, I would suggest a short drive down to Avoca, the small village where Ballykissangel was filmed. The Avoca Woolen Mill there not only offers tours and the ability to watch close up how products are made, but they have a wonderful store to purchase sweaters, gloves, hats, shawls, just about anything you can imagine.

We enjoyed it when we were there.

Monty

Wellsley · Guru

Monty,

Thanks it's just what I was looking for. But it's not enroute and would hate to deviate from our current route that much.

Frank

Michele Erdvig · Host

Frank,

Just about every shop you go into will have wollens for sale. Some good names are Magee, Foxford, Triona, Avoca, Blarney, Kerry. There are Avoca shops all over Ireland. It is the Woolen Mill where you can see demos that is in Avoca. So there will be no need to deviate from your route. The woolens will find you!

Michele

Wellsley · Guru

Michele,

Thank you for your reply. I hope the weather where you are was not to severe. The reports here in the north show alot of damage in the south.

Frank

Michele Erdvig · Host

Frank,

Thanks for you concern about the weather here. It has been wicked lately in the metro Atlanta area with strong thunderstorms and tornadoes blowing through about once a week for the past month. The tornado sirens are getting a workout! Fortunately we get warnings and can head for the basement. North Carolina didn't fare so well this time. Having lived in Miami for half my life, I'm used to thunderstorms and hurricanes. But I hate tornadoes. They are so unpredictable. And ever since our house was struck by lightning 20 years ago, I don't care for thunderstorms either.

Michele

Wellsley · Guru

Time is getting near with a little more than 3 weeks to go. When I was driving to work this week I ran into a very dense fog. You guessed it. My nexted question is since we will be on the road early is there or will there be alot of fog to contend with? Also what about flooding of the secondary roads when it rains? Any other driving hazards I should beware of? I've heard of narrow roads and potholes. My luck the way things are going here in the northeast I'll bring the cold weather and snow with me. LOL

Thank you for all replies.

Frank

stewh · Guru

Wellsley wrote:
Time is getting near with a little more than 3 weeks to go. When I was driving to work this week I ran into a very dense fog. You guessed it. My nexted question is since we will be on the road early is there or will there be alot of fog to contend with? Also what about flooding of the secondary roads when it rains? Any other driving hazards I should beware of? I've heard of narrow roads and potholes. My luck the way things are going here in the northeast I'll bring the cold weather and snow with me. LOL

Thank you for all replies.

Frank

Sheep & lambs, tractors, cattle and occasionally horses.

-- Edited by stewh on Friday 22nd of April 2011 11:46:04 AM

chaika · Veteran Member

Frank,
We were in the West last year and drove on a lot of roads that were about as wide as my driveway. Someone here I think suggested thinking of roads not "your side" and "my side" but one road that we share. There are lots of pull offs, and you may have to back up into one occasionally, but we found no potholes. Just think of driving in Ireland as your Final Exam in driver's ed. And watch out for cows. =:^)

tony2phones · Guru

Just to double up an answer I gave to another post....

Perhaps not for the faint Hearted but this 3 minute offering from Tom Flanigan is a fair example of driving around rural Ireland, speeded up by timelapsed video.

http://vimeo.com/21073302

If you hear that I drive like that in normal time, it's just a nasty rumour put about by people who know me.

Wellsley · Guru

Stewh,

Thanks I'll watch out for the farm animals.

Frank

Wellsley · Guru

Chaika,

The narrow roads shouldn't be to much trouble. I live in rural NY and our roads are 16' wide with many spots less. But the driver's test well I failed my first drivers test. Thanks for the info.

Frank

Roy · Guru

But do the roads have stone walls and hedges where shoulders/berms are usually located?

Wellsley · Guru

Roy,

We have stonewalls but they are on the other side of a ditch that runs along side the road. Thats why I wondered about flooding when it rains. But it won't rain while we are in Ireland. LOL

Frank

Michele Erdvig · Host

Frank,

You can get flooding on some roads if there is a downpour. Depends on where you are. Generally, warning cones or signs are put out at flooded areas.

I was talking to a friend in Ireland the other day. The weather has been grand.

Michele

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Frank,

The presence of fog is about like it is here in the U.S. Some days there is fog. Other days there isn't. When there is fog about, you're more likely to run into it in low-lying elevations and/or where there is water nearby. So, yes, you may have fog... or you won't! It doesn't usually last all day. The weather in Ireland can run the gamut in one day. You might start out with fog (and, possibly, drizzle). Then you get some sun. Then it might rain again and the wind will blow. And then the sun comes back out. And so on...

Roy said, "But do the roads have stone walls and hedges where shoulders/berms are usually located?"

Don't assume that just because there's a hedge a the side of the road, there isn't a stone wall in the middle of it! wink

But, thus far, we've not had much trouble with flooding on roadways anywhere in the country.

Wellsley · Guru

Michele,

Great to hear the weather has been grand. Let's hope it lasts til I get there.

Kate,

We will try to be prepared for all kinds of weather, except snow.

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Michele and Frank,

We are hoping that the weather holds through June when we are in the country. But, as I have said before, Ireland with no rain is not really Ireland. And I look forward to the soft days! smile

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kate,

I know what you mean. What is Ireland without a rainbow or two? Or a pot of gold maybe? When tourists do get nothing but sunshine they are disappointed because they missed the "soft days". Oh well, you can't please everyone.

Michele

Roy · Guru

I'll take what I get, but some bright days will be greatly appreciated!

Wellsley · Guru

What denominations of euro's should I take with me to Ireland? The bills are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro denominations. The coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents, and 1 and 2 euro denominations.

Thanks for your replies.

Frank

tony2phones · Guru

I wouldn't worry about coins or notes above 50 so a selection of maybe 4x 5Euro 4x 10Euro 2x 20Euro gives you a 100 in small notes and the rest in 50Euro notes. Remember that there are lots of ATM machines around to take out a few hundred at a time. Personally I never carry more than 300Euro.

Remember to use all your coin before you leave as your bank might sell you coin but I would be surprised if the buy them back.