I’ve been lucky to have experienced this beautiful country several times now, and I’ve compiled the list of things I wish I’d known before my first trip. I also sought the consultation of my dear friend and The Elders lead singer, Mr. Ian Byrne. He had some fun insight and a few points to add. If you’re preparing for your first trip, fear not: the scenery, food, and language are every bit as beautiful as you could imagine! Enjoy! 

1. Read up on the history. Learn about the “troubles” and have a base knowledge of the Irish history, particularly the famine and the oppression the country has faced. A sensitivity to this will be well-received by locals and give you a great context for all you see and experience. I listened to “Irish History for Dummies” at 1.5x speed on the plane ride over.

2. The currency is the Euro. It’s currently worth a little more than the dollar, meaning you’ll get about 80 euro for $100 USD. Call your credit card company before you go and see what they advise. My first year I took euro out of an ATM every few days using my debit card, only to find that my bank was charging $25 each time. The second year I used a standard credit card to avoid ATM fees, but they charged me around $.50 cents for every transaction. Now I have a travel rewards card that allows me to swipe free of fees. All bars, restaurants, etc accept cards, and will give you the option of having the transaction recorded in cash dollars or euro. I’ve been told to choose euro and avoid conversion fees, and because paying in euro technically means you’ll be paying less than the same amount in dollars. I think every card and establishment is different, so it’s worth a phone call!

 3. The electricity is different here.  Your normal chargers won’t work in Irish outlets. You’ll need an adaptor to charge your devices, which can be picked up in most airports or ordered online. Look for “UK” or “Western Europe.” I look for ones that have a plug and a few USB ports as well.

4. There’s different voltage in the bathrooms. Leave your hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors, etc at home. This may seem scary for some of us, but most hotels provide hair dryers and trust me, any curl or styling in your hair will be demolished by the humidity anyway. Bring extra hair ties and enjoy not worrying about things like that on this trip. If you insist on bringing your hair dryer, you’ll need a transformer. Ian also points out that transformers are €40 and hair dryers are about €10.

5. The air here is just different. It’s not your average humidity. It’s a thick, wet blanket that will envelope you all day. Bring proper layers and several different types of hair product. You’ll learn to love it.

6. This is “hurling,” and it’s a big deal. No, not vomiting. Hurling is the national sport of Ireland that none of us have ever heard of. It uses a hurl, heavy ball, and is played on a pitch. It’s like a fast-paced a mix of soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse, and is really fun to watch. It’s not uncommon to find entire towns at their local hurling matches.

7. Learn the “round” system. In a drinking scenario, everyone takes turns buying a “round” for the group. If you’ve had pints bought for you, make sure to step up and buy the round at least once. Ian adds that even if you don’t want another drink, buy a round for the rest.

8. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Most of us Americans tip anyway. I can’t fight the urge to leave a few extra dollars most meals, but buying drinks and paying cab drivers doesn’t usually  involve leaving a tip. Ian mentions that most Irish have come to expect Americans to tip and certainly won’t turn it down, but won’t be upset if you don’t.

 9. Don’t be the loud American. The Irish are generally happy to have you in their pubs, but be respectful to what a pillar in Irish culture these environments are. I’ve watched in horror as too many of us storm into quiet pubs and shout across the bar for a bud light. Chill and learn to love Guinness.

10. Prepare for more dairy. Maybe I just have less in my diet to begin with, but my system definitely noticed the amount of heavy dairy I was consuming with every meal. Whole milk, thick cheese, Irish butter on everything… all sourced from within a mile or two. It’s a beautiful thing and there’s nothing like it. Just be prepared!

11. You’re going to eat carbs. Brown bread, soda bread, scones, potatoes, pastries…. these are all staples in Irish fare and to skip them would be missing an essential part of their culture. If you avoid carbs, at least take a few bites to appreciate the art and heart that goes into making them (but good luck stopping at one bite.) The quality of the ingredients is unreal and they’ll be worth every bite.

12. Swearing is normal. It doesn’t mean you have to participate, but don’t be alarmed or offended to hear some f-words (and sometimes worse) thrown around colloquially by most everyone.

13. Fashion? “shrug.” The Irish I’ve encountered are a beautiful but modest and unassuming bunch. One sweater and a raincoat will serve you well. Unless you’re hoping to mingle with the student population in Dublin or Galway, leave the heels, leather, and glitz at home.

14. Don’t be afraid to ask. The Irish I’ve met seemed pretty familiar with having visitors regularly. If you’re unsure of a word they’ve used or the protocol of a situation, just politely ask! Curiosity shows a humility that seems to be appreciated.

Enjoy your trip, drriifters!  💙🌏💨