Driving in Ireland... as one who's recently switched from driving on the left to driving on the right, it's really not that difficult. Okay, you have to think when turning into roads, but that's about it.
Do
not drive around Dublin. Way too much traffic, parking is a nightmare and very expensive, lots of bad driving. Outside Dublin, if you did want to get around a bit, there are (now) some good motorways. Watch the main roads which aren't motorways, though. By that I mean the single-carriageway major roads. People drive stupidly on those roads - overtaking in crazy, lunatic situations. The last time we drove on main roads outside Dublin, we saw at least a dozen incidents which left us shaking our heads and wondering how the drivers were still alive.
Lolly's right: Galway is beautiful. It's about a four-hour drive from Dublin, but there's also a reasonably good rail service there, and the city centre is compact - you don't need a car to get around. Outside Galway you have Connemara - rugged, bleak but beautiful countryside, lakes, the sea, traditional crafts such as silver jewellery in Celtic patterns and Connemara marble.
Once you cross the Shannon, the quality of the roads deteriorates. Markedly. Pothole country.
So be warned!
Anyway, hope you have a terrific time! Check out the tourist board ahead of time - there might be some specific events going on around the time you're visiting which would be worth going to.
Wendy
