Ireland: A Traveler's Tools for Living Like a Local Book

	Introduction
1.	Welcome to Ireland	3
	The Allure of Ireland	4
	Where Should You Live?	5
	A Land of Myths and Legends	7
	A Hundred Thousand Welcomes	9
2.	An Emerald Overview	11
	The Land	11
	The Weather	13
	The People	14
	Education	17
	Crime and Safety	18
	Politics	18
	Money	21
3.	Planning Your Fact-Finding Trip	23
	Package Tour versus Solo Travel	24
	Explore West Cork and Kerry	28
	Special Interest Vacations	32
	Irish Culture
4.	An Lablvraioun tu Gaeilge?	37
	Learning the Language	38
	Where to Learn Geailge	40
	Common Irish Expressions	41
	Literature	42
5.	Ireland's People and Culture	45
	How the Irish View Americans	45
	Getting to Know the Irish	43
	Choosing Where You Should Live	48
	Daily Life	49
	Contemporary Culture	51
	Traditional Culture	52
	Celebrating St. Stephen's Day	54
6.	Ireland's History	57
	Celtic Ireland	57
	Christians and Vikings	60
	The Middle Ages	61
	Early Modern Period	63
	Cromwell and the Penal Times	64
	Ireland in the Union	65
	Famine and the Push for Home Rule	66
	The 20th Century	67
	Daily Life
7.	Keeping in Touck	73
	Mail	73
	Telephone	75
	Mobile Phones	77
	Email and the Internet	79
	Ireland on the Web	79
	The Media	82
8.	Money Matters	85
	Banking	86
	Inflation	90
	Comparing the Cost of Living	91
	Value Added Tax (VAT)	92
	Household Goods	93
	Light and Heat	93
	Hiring Help	94
	Entertainment Costs	95
	Personal Taxation	96
9.	Staying Healthy	99
	Costs of Medical Care	100
	Private Health Care	101
	Critical Illness Insurance	103
	Family Doctors	104
	Medical Cards	105
	Medicines and Pharmacies	106
	Dental Costs	106
	A Healthy Retirement	107
	Keeping Fit	108
10.	Getting Around	111
	Air Travel	111
	Ferries	114
	Buses	116
	Rail	117
	Driving in Ireland	118
	Driver's Licenses	121
	Buying a Car	122
	Car Tax and Insurance	123
	The NCT Test	124
	Car Rental	125
	Taxis	126
	Moving In
11.	Making the Move	129
	Residency Requirements	130
	Citizenship	131
	Social Welfare Perks	135
	Bringing Pets to Ireland	135
	Customs and Excise	136
	Culture Shock	136
	Dressing for the Occasion	139
	Contact Groups	139
12.	A Root Over Your Head	141
	Ireland's Rental Market	141
	Rental Red Tape	146
	Short-term and Vacation Rentals	147
	How to Book a Vacation Rental	149
	Buying Property	149
	Non-Nationals Buying Property	157
	Legal Title of Property	158
	How to Buy Property	158
	Auction Sales	160
	Other Charges	161
	House Insurance	163
	Property Taxes	164
13.	Prime Living Locations	167
	The Southwest of Ireland	168
	The Sunny Southeast	168
	The Western Seaboard	169
	The Northwest and Lakelands	169
	Why Dublin's Not Covered	171
	A Few More Things to Note	171
14.	The Western Seaboard	175
	County Galway	175
	County Mayo	182
	County Clare	187
15.	The Southwest	193
	County Kerry	193
	County Cork	197
	County Tipperary	204
16.	The Sunny Southeast	209
	County Kilkenny	209
	County Wexford	214
	County Waterford	219
17.	The Northwest and Lakelands	225
	County Sligo	225
	County Donegal	229
	The Lakelands: Counties Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon	235
	Earning a Living
18.	Working in Ireland	243
	Ireland's Economy	243
	The Labor Force	244
	Work Permits	246
	Self-Employment	247
	Obtaining Business Permission	248
	More Red Tape	250
	Enter the VAT Man	250
	The Bed-and-Breakfast Business	251
	Volunteering	252
19.	Investing in Ireland	255
	Investment Options	256
	Buying Irish Shares	257
	Spreading the Risk	257
	Tracker Bonds	258
	Gilts and Bonds	260
	Appendix
20.	Useful Resources	262
	Emergency Numbers	262
	Other Useful Phone Numbers and Addresses	262
	Ireland's Provinces and Counties	263
	Public Holidays	263
	Tour Operators	263
	Metric Conversion	264
	Time Difference	264
	Recommended Reading	265
	Clothing and Shoe Sizes	266
	Some Irish Names and Their Meanings	267
	Index	268