Page 354 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

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Facilities for the Disabled
Most sights in Ireland have
access for wheelchairs. This
book gives basic information
about disabled access for each
sight, but it’s worth phoning
to check details. The Citizens
Information Board provides
information for the Republic,
publishing county guides to
accommodation, restaurants
and amenities. In the North,
Disability Action can advise
on accessibility, while ADAPT
provides information and a
Interpretative centre at Connemara National Park (see p212) book on disabled access to
over 400 venues in the cultural
Interpretative Centres Student Travellers
sector. Both tourist boards also
Many of Ireland’s major sights Students with a valid ISIC card have guides to accommodation
are ruins or Stone Age (International Student Identity and amenities.
archaeological sites, which can Card) benefit from reduced
be difficult to fully appreciate. admission to museums, Travelling with Children
However, interpretative or concerts and other forms of
visitors’ centres, which explain enter tainment. It also procures Ireland has a large young
the historical significance of over 15 per cent reduction on population, and children are
sites, are widely available. Entry the Bus Éireann network. ISIC made welcome in hotels and
to the site may be free, but cards can be obtained from restaurants. However, note that
you have to pay to visit the branches of USIT travel in in the Republic those under the
interpretative centre. Dublin, Bel fast and other age of 18 can visit a pub only if
In areas of natural beauty, college towns. To find out accompanied by a parent or
such as Connemara National where your nearest issuing guardian, and then only until
Park (see p212), an office is, visit 9pm. There are often great
interpretative www.isic.org. deals or discounts available
centre acts as a USIT will also to families. Many sights offer a
useful focal point. supply under-30s discount admission to children
The centre provides with an EYC and under-5s usually get in free.
information (European School holidays are obviously
leaflets and has Youth Card) for peak times for travelling with
reconstructions International Student Identity Card discounts on children, and there are many
of sites. There are airfares, and in activities available to cater for
3-D models and displays, as restaurants, museums, shops families. Some hotels offer a
well as an interesting and theatres. The card is recog- special family deal, which
audiovisual presentation on ni zed in over 20 European states. includes horse riding and
the development of the local Irish Rail (also known as fishing, among other things.
landscape over the last Iarnród Éireann) offers
10,000 years. There is also a discounted student fares at
shop selling postcards, books railway stations or via their
and posters. website. Proof of student status
such as an ISIC card is necessary.
The Republic has its own
Religious Services Student Travelcard, Student
Ireland has always been a Leap Card, offering a good
deeply religious country discount on Irish Rail, DART,
and churchgoing is still an Dublin Bus and Luas fares, as
important way of life for many. well as at some shops. Most full-
The Republic of Ireland is time foreign students are
87 per cent Roman Catholic, eligible for this. Cards are issued
which means that finding a by post or in person at one of
non-Catholic church may the listed card centres on the
sometimes be difficult. In the website. Similarly, in the North,
Republic and Northern Ireland, discounts on NI Railways,
the tourist offices, hotels and Ulsterbus and Metro (the Belfast
B&Bs all have a list of local bus service) are available with Familes relaxing, Kinsale Harbour,
church service times available. Translink student travel cards. County Cork

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