The biggest mistakes you can make while on vacation in Ireland

A little bit of local knowledge goes a long way. With this in mind, we at IrishCentral have prepared a brief guide to vacationing in Ireland.

Though remember, if you really want to fit in with the locals, you might want to avoid expressions like "vacationing." Use "going on holiday" instead.

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Driving

Don't go onto the roundabout (traffic circle) the wrong way round. The rule is you enter to your left, and give way to traffic from your right. And it’s petrol, not gas.

Not going to Northern Ireland

There’s really no excuse not to go to Northern Ireland. Even if you only have a few days, it’s still worth a visit, and Belfast is only a little over two hours away from Dublin by train. Derry (also called Londonderry) is worth checking out, especially at Halloween, when the entire city dresses up in costume.

Visiting Dublin – and only drinking in Temple Bar

Temple Bar is Dublin’s cultural center just south of the River Liffey. It has plenty of museums, stores, bars and restaurants. But all this is best left for the day time. At night, it becomes considerably less attractive. If you are looking for a good night out, try any number of the bars along Camden Street. George’s Street and Wexford Street.

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Not going to a hurling or Gaelic football match

Hurling is sometimes described as a cross between lacrosse and hockey, but that doesn’t really do the sport any justice because it is unlike any other sport in the world. It’s well worth going to see a game and the same goes for Gaelic football, which looks like a cross between soccer and rugby. The best time to see these games is during the summer when the season's just getting going. It gets increasingly difficult to get tickets towards the end of the season. Dublin’s Croke Park, the main GAA stadium is Ireland, includes a museum that explains the evolution of Ireland’s native sports.

Forgetting to claim your tax back

Taxes are generally already added into the cost of most goods and services in Ireland. As a tourist, you are eligible to reclaim this tax back at the airport. Just remember to keep your receipts.

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Deciding you don't need a map or a GPS locator

Ireland is notoriously difficult to navigate with signposts often impossible to find. Map, vital; GPS, essential.

Being afraid to ask for directions

Get used to it, guys. In Ireland you will need to drop the shyness and the macho outlook and ask.

Using a fake Irish accent

Irish people hate it when Yanks or anyone for that matter try it on. Not recommended.

Expecting only warm weather

Big mistake, no matter what the forecast says. Rain can happen at the drop of, well, a raindrop. Very unpredictable and sometimes annoying.

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*Originally published in 2013