General Info: Details of Entry, Health, Finances, Media, Communications and Holidays.

Entry

To enter the Republic, EU nationals need a passport or national ID card, with the exception of British citizens who technically need no such form of identity, although it may prove useful. All EU nationals may stay in the country as long as they wish.

Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders need a passport for entry, and can stay for 90 days, after which they must apply to a Garda Síochána Superintendents Office—in Cork, located at Anglesea St (T 452 2016). Other nationals should contact the nearest Irish Embassy, a list of which can be found on the website of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

Health

Ireland has free reciprocal health agreements with other EU member states. To avail of these, travellers should obtain Form E111, available from Social Security offices. Non-EU nationals will be charged for most medical services, so health insurance is advisable.

Finances

Currency The currency in use in Ireland is the euro (€), divided into one hundred cents. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, plus €1 and €2. Notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, and €100. All major credit cards are widely accepted – Visa, Mastercard and cards with the Eurocard symbol. Bear in mind, however, that some businesses still only take cash, especially in rural areas outside Cork City.

Banking The best places to exchange money are banks, otherwise use bureaux de change. The main banks are Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. There are numerous bureaux de change outlets, and a foreign exchange counter at the airport.

If you need to get money sent from home, it can be wired to a bank or post office through Western Union (T 1800 325 6000).

Communications

Post Post office hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. The General Post Office on Oliver Plunkett St remains open til 5.30pm on Saturdays.

Phones Payphones are to be found all over the city and county, and can be operated by coins or with callcards (available from newsagents). The code for Ireland is 353, the code for Cork is 021. For operator assistance, dial 10; for directory enquiries, ring 11811 (Ireland) or 11818 (International). Emergency services—police, ambulance or fire brigade—can all be reached by dialing 999.

Internet Among the city's internet cafés are Webworkhouse (8 Winthrop St) and Internet Exchange (10 Paul St).

Note that the following holidays (and in the case of bank holidays, the whole of the preceding weekend) see hotels fully booked up and sometimes massive congestion on the roads.

Holidays

• New Year’s Day
• St Patrick’s Day, March 17th
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• May Bank Holiday (First Monday in May)
• June Bank Holiday (First Monday in June)
• August Bank Holiday (First Monday in August)
• October Bank Holiday (Last Monday in October)
• Christmas Day
• St Stephen’s Day, December 26th