Dublin, Ireland Facts 

Population -  the population of the Dublin Metropolitan Area  is more than one million, and that of the Greater Dublin Area  more than 1.4 million. 

Area:  44 square miles

Time Zone:   Greenwich Mean Time: 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York.(6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.)

International Dialing Code:  to place telephone calls outside Dublin but within Ireland, add ‘01’ to the front of the number.  From outside Ireland, use Ireland’s international code as a prefix:  353.  Dublin’s city code is 01.  Calling cards can be purchased  at news stands and post offices in Ireland to use in placing calls from public or private phones. To call the operator:  dial 1190.

Emergency ( police; fire; ambulance):  999.

Currency: euro (EUR)  The Euro is made up of eight coins and seven paper notes and was introduced on January 1, 2002 Coins and bills can be used in any of the European Union countries, regardless of the country of issue. Old currencies are no longer accepted, although they can still be converted to Euros in central banks. Credit cards are accepted at larger restaurants, but cash is still the  monetary medium of choice in Dublin.  The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM machines found at the major banks.

Customs Regulations:  Telephone: 1 855 4045 in Dublin for information.

Temperature Range  

 High  

Low January      46    34

February  

   47

   35

March  

   51

   37

April  

   55

   39

May  

   60

   43

June  

   65

   48

July  

   67

  52

August  

   67

   51

September  

   63

   48

October  

   57

   43

November  

   51

   39

December  

   47

   37

While in Dublin, for an up to date weather forecast, dial 1 550 123 854

National Holidays:  

Jan. 1   New Year’s Day

Mar. 17  St. Patrick’s Day

Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year - Mar. or April)

1st Mon. of May  May Day holiday

Whit Monday (late May or early June)

1st Mon. of August  August holiday

Last Mon. of Oct.  October holiday

Dec. 25  Christmas day

Dec. 26   St. Stephen’s day

Public rest rooms:  In short supply except in pubs and large department stores:  Signs may be in Irish:  women = mna   men = fir.

Electricity:  220volt A/C.  Most hotels have 110V shaver outlets.  Plugs have 3 square pins.

Internet Access in Dublin Public access to the Internet is easy to find, with terminals appearing in cyber cafés, shopping malls, hotels and hostels throughout the city centre. All public libraries in Dublin also provide a useful way to access the web and the Central Library in the ILAC Center, off Henry Street, has many computers with free Internet connectivity. Visitors with disabilities:  Disability Federation of Ireland will assist  with suggestions and publications:  295 9344.

How to get around: Buses are the main form of public transportation, but service can be unreliable.  Dublin Bus operates Mon-Sat 6 AM - 11 PM and Sun. 10 AM - 11:30 PM. 

(exact fare needed)  873-4222.  Schedules and prepaid tickets are available at Dublin Bus office and some news stands.

Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a  light rail service running from Howth in the north to Bray in the south.  Trains run every 15 minutes - every 5 minutes during rush hour.

Taxis are in short supply, especially at night.  Taxi stands can be found outside hotels, train and bus stations.

Air Travel:  Dublin airport is 7 miles north of the city.  There is only one terminal.  There is a taxi stand outside the arrivals area.

There is also an Airlink express bus service to the city center that operates  6 AM  -11:30 PM with departures every 20-30 minutes.  The cost is minimal.

Rail Service: There are two mainline rail stations in Dublin.  For rail information call Irish Rail at 836 6222.

Ferries from the United Kingdom sail into the ports of Dublin and Dan Langhaire (9 miles south of the city)

Note:  Traffic drives on the left side of the road in Ireland.