by Peter Scott

Created on: March 07, 2009   Last Updated: March 08, 2009

Having taken many holidays in Ireland, the one element that always results in the most fun is Ireland's greatest resource - her people. They are an easy-going, entertaining and family-orientated people who love interacting with others. This interaction is often reactive (in a fun sense), leading to what the Irish call 'craic', that is to say, witty dialogue and banter between people. It is often witty and rapid, and once you collect the courage to try it, the Irish will respect you and you will not regret it!

To engage in this, you need to do a little homework before you visit. Find out who the Irish are, and something about their heritage. For example, people living in the Republic of Ireland are not British, although were once ruled by the British. If you're in the North of Ireland, it is still part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. About two-thirds of the people consider themselves to be part-British, but the original natives are definitely Irish.

Another factor to remember is that there is not a pure Irish race, but a mixture of Celts, Normans, Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons, amongst others. Such facts are useful, but always follow the old Irish adage and avoid discussing religion and politics with strangers (unless invited).

Irish people enjoy sport, and that can be a useful topic of conversation. Likewise, they can be very curious to know about you and your family; coming from a relatively small country means that Irish people have a very wide circle of family and friends and often know people by association. Be prepared to hold a conversation about anything the only characteristics are fun and wit. You can engage in conversation with people almost anywhere don't be surprised if you're on a public bus or train and someone talks to you it's quite common.

Some tourists find Ireland stressful, particularly if they're on a self-drive holiday. If you're going to have some fun and excitement, you need to follow a few sensible tips. Driving in Ireland can be great or terrible - to avoid stress, stay away from using your car in the major cities as far as possible (stay on the outskirts). Vehicles drive on the left-hand side, so you need to allow time to get used to this if you're from a right-hand drive country. Additionally, most cars use gearstick shifters and are not automatic (although you can hire automatics). Finally, while Ireland seems a very small country on the map, it can take a considerable amount of time to get from one place to another. This is also one of the joys of motoring in Ireland, particularly if you can plan to avoid main roads and use secondary roads, with the assistance of a good map or GPS system.

Finally, don't think that you need to plan every night of accommodation in advance. One of the best moments we had on an Irish holiday in May was seeing if we could get a cheaper bed and breakfast than the night before! I have to admit that we succeeded - and this was in the tiny and beautiful county of Clare!

Learn more about this author, Peter Scott.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.