ISRP Dublin 2008

SPONSORS

All about Dublin, Ireland and a whole lot of blarney, too!

Enter our fun competition and stand the chance to win a handsome and truly Irish prize!

Arrival	Customs	Currency	Transport	Practicalities
Links

HAVE YOU ENTERED OUR COMPETITION YET?
SEE BELOW!

Sophisticated, historic, friendly, accessible

Dublin has become one of Europe's top tourist destinations. There are many reasons: the city has shaken off its old shady backstreet image and come out shining with glitz and sophistication without losing an ounce of its charm and quaintness.

You will immediately sense the energy, humour, relaxed attitude and friendliness of the Dubliners. Moreover, Dublin offers so much to do in terms of cultural pursuits, nightlife and entertainment.

Come visit this cosmopolitan, cultural, stirring city with heaps of charm, loads of fun, fascinating history and unending vibe. Combine your visit with a stimulating ISRP conference, and you will never forget the experience.

Enter our competition!

Join our fun and easy competition in which the winner will receive a special prize. Click HERE to enter the contest.

Arrival	By air Dublin airport is about 13 km (8 mi) from the city centre. At the airport you can find a post office, foreign exchange office, tourist bureau and other facilities. By boat If you are arriving in Dublin by ferry from Britain, you will land either at the City Ferry Terminal (3 km/2 mi) or the Carlisle Ferry Terminal (about 15 km/9.5 mi).
Customs & immigration	Visa/passport EU citizens need no visa and can stay indefinitely in Ireland. A national ID card is required. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA do not need a visa, but must have a passport. Maximum stay is 3 months. Nationals of other countries should check with their travel agent.
Currency	Ireland uses the Euro currency ( ). Feel free to use our handy real-time currency converter on the Registration page. Banks usually give the best exchange rates. Many post offices can also exchange money. Major credit cards are used extensively. You can also withdraw money from ATMs if your card is tied to international systems such as Cirrus, Maestro and Plus. Travellers' cheques are welcome. Please note that they are usually not accepted in direct shopping transactions, so you will have to cash them first at a bank, post office or exchange bureau. VAT Most goods and services in Ireland carry a 20% value-added tax (VAT). If you live outside the European Union, you can claim back the tax on large purchases upon departure from Dublin or Shannon Airports. Make sure you keep all 'cashback' vouchers you are given at the point of purchase. EU residents cannot claim back the tax.
Airport to city transport	Taxi A taxi from the airport to your hotel will cost around 35. Travel time: around 30 minutes. Aircoach Take the aircoach from bus stop 5 opposite the arrivals terminal. Tickets are 7 and are purchased at the bus stop before boarding the coach. State that you are going to the Davenport Hotel at Merrion Square North. The bus stop is about 50 metres from the hotel. If you are staying at another hotel, ask the bus driver. Travel time: around 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Airlink Express Lines 747 and 748 run from the airport to bus and train stations near the city. The fare is similar to the Aircoach. Travel time: about 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Practicalities	Climate The average September temperature is +9°C to +16°C (48–61°F). Average rainfall during September is about 70 mm (2.8"). Electricity 220 V, 50 Hz. Plugs are the same flat 3-pin type used in the United Kingdom: Health No vaccinations are required. Tap water is safe to drink. Opening hours Banks — 10AM to 4PM, Mon–Fri (to 5PM on Thursdays) Businesses — 9AM to 5PM Mon–Fri Post offices — 8:30AM to 5:30 Mon–Fri; 9AM to 1PM Sat (GPO 8AM to 8PM Mon–Sat) Shops — 9/10AM to 6PM Mon–Sat (to 8PM Thursdays); noon to 6PM Sun Emergency Call 999 or 112 Mobile phones (cell phones) Ireland uses the GSM900/1800 system. European and Australian mobile phones are compatible. This system is incompatible with most North American and Japanese phones. Time Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) — same as London. Daylight saving will be in place during the ISRP conference. Getting around Dublin Dublin has a well-developed public transport system, including: Bus — Dublin Bus runs large blue-and-cream doubledecker buses and small red-and-yellow minibuses known as 'Imps'. Buses run from 6AM to 11:30PM (some night services also available). Exact change is required. If you haven't got the right money, you are issued with a receipt, and you have to claim back your change at the Dublin Bus office. Train — train services within and around Dublin are run by DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transport). Services run every 10-20 minutes during the day and evening. One-day passes are available. Light rail — There are two major lines running every 15 minutes (more often during peak hours). Buy tickets from vending machines at the stops or in many newsagents. Taxi — Cabs can be hailed in the street, at taxi ranks, or booked by phone. You have to be patient after the pubs close. click for locality map (PDF) Tipping Tipping is not as common as in North America or in the rest of Europe. If a 10% service charge is added to your bill, no tip is required. If not, most people add 10% and round up taxi fares. Hotel porters expect 1 per bag.
Useful links (Click on any point of interest)	General tourist information Dublin Tourism Fáilte Ireland Heritage/culture Book of Kells Chester Beatty Library Christ Church Cathedral Dublin Castle Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane GAA Museum National Gallery of Ireland National Museum of Ireland Trinity College News Irish Times Special interest/shopping Carroll’s Irish gift Store Guinness Storehouse House of Ireland Irish National Stud Jameson Whiskey Transport/sightseeing Amphibious City Tours Bus Eireann Sightseeing Tours Dublin Bus Dublin Pass Heritage Sites of Ireland Heritage Towns of Ireland Irish Folk Tours Irish Rail