Fairways and FunDays Ireland Travel Tips

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The Police in Ireland

There are two police services on the island of Ireland:

3  Republic of Ireland – An Garda Siochana (translated to English means “The Guardians of the Peace”) 3  Northern Ireland – Police Service of Northern Ireland (P.S.N.I.) Police officers are unarmed in the Republic of Ireland while they are armed in Northern Ireland. Police officers in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are always courteous and helpful to visitors. You should immediately call “999” in the event of an emergency that you require the services of the Police (whether in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland).

Driving in Ireland Driving in Ireland is relatively straight forward but there are a few laws and rules of the road that you need to keep in mind. 3  In Ireland, you drive on the left-hand side of the road. 3  You must yield to all vehicles coming from your right and always turn left on entering a roundabout. 3  You must be at least 17 years old to drive in Ireland. 3  Always allow ample time for your journey. 3  If you are travelling a long distance on one day make sure to plan a stop/stops on the route. There is always somewhere nice to stop in Ireland! 3  Speed limits in the Republic of Ireland are in kilometres. The speed limits are as follows: v 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, v 80km/h (50mph) on regional and local roads,

Speeding in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland will result in considerable on the spot fines and/or a court appearance. 3  All vehicle occupants are required to wear seat belts at all times. 3  Use of mobile/cell phones while driving is strictly prohibited. 3  At all times, you are required to carry a valid driving licence; your car must display both proof of insurance and a motor tax disc and, if the car is over four years old, the National Car Test (NCT) disc must also be displayed. 3  The minimum insurance that you must have before you drive a car in Ireland is Third Party cover. 3  If renting a car, it is recommended that you carry a copy of your vehicle rental agreement. 3  In the Republic of Ireland, the traffic light sequence is different to most other European countries. Red is the same and means stop, but straight after the red light comes the green ‘for go’ light. The amber light only comes before a red light to warn us to stop unless it is unsafe to do so. 3  Although Ireland produces some wonderful beers and spirits, drink driving limits are strictly enforced. Whether you are a local or a tourist you must adhere to these regulations. Our recommendation is, don’t drink if driving.

v 100km/h (62mph) on national roads, v 120km/h (74mph) on motorways.

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