Driving in Ireland

That moment you feel like you’re driving downtown in just another city until your co-pilot yells “LEFT!” when you hit the roundabout, and then you look around and remember you’re driving on the left side of the road, and on the right hand side of the car. You can’t help but think, “we’re not in Canada anymore.” Ireland is a magical, mystical land with luscious landscapes and green fields as far as the eye can see. There are bustling cities, and calm country sides, but everything is always twisting and turning on narrow roads. Now, this post isn’t meant to intimidate whatsoever, but rather prepare you for one of the most entertaining driving experiences of your life (should you decide to try it; and I recommend that you do)!

If you’re not comfortable with renting a car, there are multiple touring companies that will take you around the country, and though they try to show you as much as they can, you will miss some hidden gems only accessible by self-exploration. While selecting a car rental company, it is imperative to know that if you’re under 25 years old (like we are) your options will be limited, therefore the sooner you can rent, the better. Your options will be limited when it comes to the quality (older cars, more milage, etc.), type (automatic or standard) and in price (more expensive because you’re apparently more reckless and therefore a bigger liability to rent to). Take note that the following advice does not apply only to drivers under 25, but rather for everyone that want to discover Ireland at their own pace.

1. When renting, always (and I mean ALWAYS) get insurance. It’s imperative to get at least the minimum coverage, but feel free to add extra should you not feel completely comfortable driving. If need to fill out a damage report (due to your incessant need to off road and explore where you Nissan Micra shouldn’t technically go), make sure that you have all of the necessary information (documents, phone numbers, emails, etc.) before returning back to your home country. Contacting certain companies are a little more difficult than others, especially given time differences and international call costs.
2. Driving on roads that have more twists and turns than your everyday soap opera. In Ireland, they don’t discriminate, and so roads come in all shapes and sizes. Be wary of quick corners and the dotted lines. There will be short opportunities to pass, but do not attempt to do so around corners. Be ready to wait until it’s safe. The only times you’ll actually have a designated passing lane is when you find yourself on one of the major highways coming out of Dublin.

3. Look for a sign! Whether it’s the speed limit, a stop sign, yield sign or the life saving yellow and black arrow signs that announce unexpected sharp corners, look and obey. Speed limits vary from 120 km/h on the major highways, to 100 km/h to 80km/h on the smaller country roads and highways. Speeds can drop to 50-60 km/h in towns and villages. Though you are legally allowed to go 80km/h in the countryside, you will quickly find that you’ll have to reduce your speed to 40-60km/h to make sure you don’t tip your car in the corners, swerve into another oncoming car, or throw a cyclist into the hedges. It is important to watch your speed, especially on the roads where the visibility is poor.
4. The first days are the hardest; but look up sunshine, it gets better! As you drive the busy streets of dublin, making your way downtown (☺) and trying hard to remember exactly why you thought this was a great idea, you’ll slowly get a feel for it and ease into your comfort zone. A similar process will happen when you first hit those country roads, turn right onto what seems to be a one way, but low and behold, another car is slowly creeping up, facing you head on. Don’t panic, people are cautious, so you should be too. Once you’ve driven once on most type of roads, you’ll quickly feel at ease and drive like a real islander! Toughen up your nerves, take deep breaths and let your co-pilot remind you which way to turn; the rest will follow smoothly.
5. Mother Nature is more indecisive than a child given a free choice in a toy store. Will you encounter rain, fog, hail, wind, sunshine and possible snow? Yes. Will you encounter them all in the same day? Probably; depending on the season. With the perpetual changes in the weather, it’s best to make sure that your wipers work well and that you have enough washer fluid to clean your windows from one gas pit stop to the next. Adjust your speed to the visibility and the road conditions. It’s natural for it to take longer to drive a shorter distance because of this. Take your time, and enjoy the surrounding scenery!
6. What happens when the road unexpectedly becomes its own irish safari. Sometimes, there are fences. Sometimes, there aren’t. And sometimes, even if there are, the animals are let out to make way to their new enclosure. It’s important to be aware of the wildlife (birds and critters included) as you drive through various landscapes. Most animals will move in time, but there might be moments where you’ll have to put your car into park, and wait for the cattle ranch to mosey-on by.It’s just one more thing that adds to the adrenaline rush of driving in everyday-Ireland.

7. Remember: Northern Ireland is a different country. Should you want to venture out all the way to the north, make sure that you rental contract allows this. Be prepared for not only a change of currency (from euros to pounds) but also a change of units; they measure their speed in miles, not kilometers. In addition, their roads don’t often indicate the appropriate speed, so as a general of thumb, 30 miles per hour in towns, and 60 miles per hour on country roads. Also, it’s important to note that if you rented a wireless unit (dongle or hotspot) with your vehicle, chances are that it won’t work in Northern Ireland, because you are no longer in the same country in which you rented it. It’s better to know now, then as you’re driving in a busy city with no real knowledge of how to get to where you’re supposed to crash for the night.
8. GPS is your friend. As Northern Wander Women, we also prepare and plan before any trip. We use Google maps and other offline map apps in order to log and track our trips. This allows us to pinpoint points of interest and create an itinerary logically. Whether you use your phone, or you rent a GPS (or sat nav as they call it) with your car, it will be your greatest ally in navigating those winding back roads and hidden gems.

9. Size does matter! If you aren’t a large group in need of a large vehicle, DO NOT get a big car. It’ll be more difficult and more stressful for you when driving on the narrow roads.The more compact, the better! As long as you can fit your passengers and your backpacks, small cars are the ideal choice when road tripping around Ireland.

With the basics now revealed, all there is left is to experience the thrill of being at the wheel in another country. It’s exciting, invigorating and completely new. Though we’re used to driving on the right side of the road (pun intended), it’s amazing how quickly we adapt, mirroring our usual actions. There is so much to see, but so much more is within your reach when you have a car at your disposal. Travel Ireland like a local and see the wonders that await!

Kyla