Ireland is almost a mythic place, in its archetypal bucolic beauty. Visiting the Emerald Isle might feel like a dream, if it weren’t for the eminently down-to-earth attitude of the people who inhabit this gorgeous country. Ireland’s natural assets aren’t the only reason to visit of course. Many races and cultures have come and gone over the centuries in Ireland, each leaving their mark on the island, creating a fascinating, storied cultural/historical landscape that will enthrall those who care to dig a little deeper. There’s even a lively urban culture that offers all the best of modern city living if you know where to look. This multifaceted country is likely to steal your heart no matter what kind of journey you come here seeking.
Renting a car in Ireland will give you the chance to explore Ireland the way it should be experienced: at your own pace, and with plenty of detours to delve into whatever takes your fancy along the way. Make no mistake: this is a country brimming with hidden treasures, and you’ll want to leave plenty of time to seek out as many as you can before your time here is done.
AirportRentals.com - the ideal way to sort out a car hire in Ireland
Among the first items on your to-do list once you fly into the country is to rent a car in Ireland. Getting the booking part of your rental out of the way early will save a lot of time and hassle, making online booking a popular choice. Trawling through endless supplier websites isn’t anybody’s idea of a good time, so AirportRentals.com brings all the best car rental deals in Ireland together in one place.
It’s not hard to get your hands on the very best car rental deal for your Ireland trip. To start with, all you have to do is type a few basic details like your pick up/drop off dates and times into the AirportRentals.com search box and hit the Search button. At that point you’ll get to see a bunch of deals that fit your requirements - these will start with the cheapest options at the top by default. You can narrow down your options even more with the ability to filter by categories like vehicle type, supplier, and transmission type. Once you’ve found your dream deal, it’ll only take another couple of minutes to book it, then you can forget all about it until you touch down in Ireland.
Airport rentals around Ireland
Those who’ve never visited the country before might have the impression that one place in Ireland is much the same as another, but that’s simply not true. There are many profound differences between Ireland’s regions so the place you start your journey from will have a big impact on how your trip starts at the very least. The good thing is, no matter which corner of the nation you’re heading for, it’s easy to find a cheap car rental in Ireland.
● Dublin car rental - When it comes to urban playgrounds, Dublin is right up there with the best. This is one of the youngest cities in Europe and it shows - the nightlife is the stuff of legend, there are several top-notch shopping districts, and the city’s colourful history is on display wherever you look.
● Cork car rental - From the strangely-christened English Market (the oldest covered food market in Europe) to the hipster cafes and old-school pubs, Cork is a fantastic place to tuck in to the flavours of Ireland. It’s also handy to the famous Ballycotton Cliff Walk, so you get a firsthand taste for Ireland’s windswept southern coast.
● Killarney car rental - Flying in to Kerry Airport in Killarney puts you in the perfect position to drive the Ring of Kerry - arguably Ireland’s most well loved road trip route. When and where you stop will be up to you, but make sure to set aside enough time to really luxuriate in the beauty offered by the many small towns and ancient ruins along the way.
● Knock car rental - Once upon a time, Knock was an entirely unremarkable village but that all changed in 1879 when a heavenly apparition was reported by more than a dozen locals, and Knock became home to one of the most important Roman Catholic shrines in Ireland. Aside from its status as a pilgrimage site, Knock is also the gateway to exploring the low key rural heritage of County Mayo.
● Shannon car rental - Shannon itself isn’t the most fascinating locale in Ireland, but picking up a car hire from Shannon Airport does allow you to wander County Clare and the historic city of Limerick (complete with a stunningly preserved Norman castle). The Lough Gur Visitor Centre a little to the south is also well worth a detour for its comprehensive archaeological view of Ireland’s storied past.
● Waterford car rental - When you land in Ireland’s oldest city, make sure to visit the Viking Triangle - one of the best places in the country to delve into Ireland’s Middle Ages history. American visitors might also be interested in a short drive to the east to see the Kennedy Homestead, which to this day is still farmed by the relations of the famous Kennedy clan.
Car rental suppliers in Ireland
There are more than a dozen different car rental suppliers in Ireland, which gives you plenty of options to choose from - it also makes it easier to get hold of a cheap car hire in Ireland thanks to the competition. Some of the biggest, most reliable names in car rental are available here, like Europcar, Hertz and Avis among others. There plenty of smaller suppliers too, which can up your chances of finding a great car rental bargain in Ireland: Green Motion, Dooley and Keddy are all brands that can offer some stunning deals at certain times of the year.
Ireland road rules
Unlike most of its fellow EU members, Ireland sticks to the same left hand driving convention that the UK holds to. If you’re heading to Ireland from America or Europe it might take a little getting used to, but as long as you pay extra attention at intersections the swap shouldn’t be too problematic. One difference between UK and Ireland roads however is the fact that speed is measured in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland. Default speed limits are 120 km/h for motorways, 100 km/h for national roads, 80 km/h for regional roads and 50 km/h for built-up areas. There may be a number of different reasons for the limit being lower than the default, so keep an eye out for speed limit signs that will tell you exactly what the rules are for a given stretch of road. The blood alcohol limit in Ireland is a strict 0.05%, so just one drink could mean you’re not legally permitted to drive - try to figure out who will be driving before heading out to sample one of Ireland’s fine drinking establishments.
Ireland driving tips
● Ireland’s main roads are pretty well maintained but if you’re heading into the country (as you certainly should at some point during your trip!) be aware that rural roads can get pretty narrow, and you’ll probably encounter slow moving tractors or livestock so patience is required. These roads can also get icy in the winter, so always drive to the conditions.
● Roundabouts (also called traffic circles or rotaries) are a common feature of Irish roads. The essential thing to remember is to give way to vehicles coming from the right, and to always turn left when entering the roundabout.
● Refuel when you can. If you’re heading into rural areas, petrol stations aren’t very common and might not be open at all hours so make sure you have enough fuel to make it to your destination without relying on a possible top up.
