NATURE

Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush green fields. In fact its nickname is the Emerald Isle: interalia because you can identify 40 shades of green in the landscape.  But there are also areas of rugged, rocky landscape. Don’t forget that about 15000 years ago Ireland was completely covered by thick glaciers. Anyhow you will be thrilled by the spectacle of nature.

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COLOURED

I stayed with an image of place where, when the light’s just right, the hillsides and farmland glow even greener, contrasting with the neon primary yellow of the furze that flowers year-round.

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SPECIAL SCENERY 

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The Cliffs of Moher appear at the top of many lists that promote Ireland’s natural scenery. 

Famous for its blanket bog landscape Connemara is famous also for its marble. That marble is  prized because the green minerals that result in its unique color also make it a very durable and more hard wearing stone.

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CASUAL WEAR 

The Irish are not big on formal wear and only pull it out on specific occasions. Don’t be surprised if people watch you with surprise if you are just a bit elegantly dressed. People there are not really very sophisticated including for food and clothes. They are anyhow quite nice including when you go to restaurants and hotels. 

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THE ROUNDS SYSTEM 

Irish people drink a lot and offer you drinks. Dont forget to offer your turn before they finish their glasss and even if yours is still full. They still have the trauma of a time when pubs were closing very early. Therefore the idea was and still is to drink as much and as fast as possible.  

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FOOD

People will talk to you about Irish breakfast which is quite the only meal rather decent. It contains bacon, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and sometimes potatoes. For lunch on your way in the country side do not expect to find something that you would call restaurants. Restaurants is something people do for lunch only on special occasions. You can of course find restaurants for diner in most of the towns.

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EXPENSIVE 

Although Ireland used to be poor it has became an expensive country for many things ( housing in particular). In Dublin  you may see a lot of poor people queeing up for free food. 

In Ireland the number of people living in poverty is steadily increasing. Since the beginning of the recession in 2008 the number has risen due to situational factors such as unemployment and poor health, and exacerbated structural economic inequalities.       

Dublin accounts for 70% of homeless people in the country. Due to decline of Dublin’s fashionnable streets rich citizens move to the suburbs.