Essential info for Ireland

Time: Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from the end of March to the end of October).

 

Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. Square and round three-pin plugs are standard.

 

Language: English is the official language but Gaelic is spoken in some western areas.

 

Safety Information: The level of personal safety is reasonably good for most expats living in Ireland. However, petty theft is common and expats are advised to take precautions against this.

 

Local Customs: Smoking is prohibited in public areas such as pubs, cafés and restaurants.

 

Business: Irish people are generally very sociable and business meetings and conversation are quite relaxed, but usual business etiquettes such as punctuality and a formal appearance are expected. Introductions are made with a handshake and first names should only be used if the hosts do so first. The usual business hours are from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, with an hour for lunch.

 

Communications: The international access code for Ireland is +353. The code for calls out of Ireland is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 44 for the United Kingdom). There are city and area codes in use (e.g. 1 for Dublin). Local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and there are roaming agreements in place with most international operators. There are Internet cafés available in towns and cities throughout Ireland, as well as personal broadband.

 

Emergencies:  The emergency numbers in Ireland are 112 and 999.

 

Climate: The climate in Ireland is temperate and the weather tends to be cold and damp for most of the year. Summer, from May to September, is the warmest and driest season, and winters are characterised by short, wet and foggy days and long night. However, temperatures rarely fall below 32˚F (0˚C).