Whether you book a cheap flight to Ireland for a family gathering in Dublin or a chance to gab at the Blarney stone, the trip to Ireland won’t be forgotten. The language is the same and the food is familiar, so Americans booking flights to Ireland immediately feel at ease in the country. For Irish Americans, booking flights to Ireland is a special homecoming – you never know who you’ll meet or what ancestry you’ll dig up. But once the familiarity has settled in it’s time to really explore Ireland. 

Take a trip off the beaten path and test your knowledge of Gaelic language in some of Ireland’s remote villages. When your flight to Ireland lands, take time to explore the castles, pubs and ancient artifacts that bind centuries of Irish kin together. Music and literature have defined Ireland for years, so it’s no wonder many friendships are made over a song or a poem. Listen for a song you can sing to and join the locals in an Irish tune at the local pub. Belly up to the bar for a stout and fish and chips, and introduce yourself to the locals. The friendliness in Ireland is second to none, and everyone is welcome in this treasured country. For anyone in search of greener pastures, book a flight to Ireland.

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Ireland Climate

The Gulf Stream gives Ireland a temperate climate. Summer is typically dry and in the 60s (F), spring and fall in the 50s, and winter is rainy and in the 40s. January and February are generally the coldest months. July and August are the warmest, but are rarely hot. There is rain, lots of it. The Irish have even given it categories such as a soft rain, spitting, a shower, or lashing and pelting. The weather also changes quickly. It can be summer in the morning, a fall rain in the afternoon, and a chilly winter evening. Dressing in layers is the standard.

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When to Fly to Ireland

Peak Season:

The peak season for flights to Ireland is summer with its warm weather and long, sunlit days (6am to past 10pm). All rates are at their highest, festivals are in full swing, and all attractions are open. Dublin is busy year-round and doesn’t have a low season.

Spring and fall are great times to visit Ireland. The weather is usually good and most of the crowds have left, so cheap flights to Ireland are often easy to find.

Off Season:

Winter prices tend to be the lowest, except for Dublin. However, seasonal hotels, restaurants, accommodations, and attractions usually close from early or mid-November until mid-March or Easter.

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Getting Around Ireland

 The following chart gives approximate journey times from Dublin (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Ireland.
 AirRoadRail
Cork0.403.002.40
Limerick-3.302.10
Shannon Airport0.353.00-
Kilkenny-2.001.45

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Ireland Insider Information

  • Raining? The state's art galleries all have free admission. The main ones in Dublin are the National Gallery, Merrion Square; the Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square and the IMMA (The Irish Museum of Modern Art), in the old Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.
  • Climb the steep hill to ring the bells at St Anne's Church in Cork. Then once you have arrived, climb the stone steps to a parapet that has 360-degree views of the city. Visitors can also ring the church's eight bells.
  • For a glimpse of how people used to live on the furthest edges of Europe, take a boat trip to The Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, or to Great Blasket, a short ride from Dunquin Pier on the Dingle peninsula in Kerry. The islands have small tourist industries, breathtaking views and lots of sea birds.
  • Dip into CS Lewis's Ulster. The creator of The Chronicles of Narnia was born in Belfast and spent some of his childhood there, and holidayed there regularly as an adult. Now there are lots of ways to follow him including a black taxi tour. Visit the Northern Ireland Tourist Board website and key in “cs lewis” into the search box for more things to do.
  • A favorite of bohemians, artists, and students, Galway is a proliferation of art galleries and an arts scene that includes traditional music, street theater, and festivals—the best known being the Galway Arts Festival held every summer. The vibrant energy continues into the exuberant nightlife. Galway is also a departure point for the Aran Islands and nearby Lough Corrib has excellent fishing.
  • Ireland’s majestic beauty is picture perfect in CountyKerry. There is tourist glitz, but pristine beauty is just minutes away—such as Ireland’s two highest mountains, miles of moorland, and spectacular coastal vistas—and an abundance of prehistoric and early Christian sites. Killarney and the Ring of Kerry are the most popular destinations, and Dingle Peninsula the most beautiful.
  • The Shannon region has stunning scenery: Cliffs of Moher; Burren’s limestone; Aillwee Cave’s stalactites, stalagmites, and relics; Lough Derg; Atlantic seacoast; Shannon River; Slieve Blooms mountains; and so much more. History buffs can explore sites such as Bunratty Folk Park, a sixth-century monastery, Celtic exhibits, and museums. All this in a region just over 80 miles end to end.

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Ireland Airports

Major airports in Ireland include:
Dublin Airport (DUB) is 6 miles north of the city center.
Cork International Airport (ORK) is close to the city.
Shannon (SNN) is the gateway to the west, and is about 15 miles north of Limerick city and 15 miles south of Ennis town, or try Galway Airport (GWY) or Knock Ireland West Airport (NOC).
Belfast (BHD) is on the southern shore of Belfast Lough.
Kerry Airport (KIR) is 15 minutes from Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, and 20 minutes from Tralee.

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Entry Requirements

United States citizens require a passport valid for the period of intended stay, but no visa is needed for stays of up to three months.

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Cheap flights to Ireland

Fargo (FAR) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
from$842RTwith CheapOair.com
Fargo (FAR) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
from$777RTwith Orbitz
Bismarck (BIS) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
from$804RTwith CheapTickets
Fargo (FAR) to Shannon, Ireland (SNN)
from$1,072RTwith Airline Consolidator

In-flight Reading

The Country Girls

Edna O'BrienTraces the lives of two women from their school days in the Irish countryside to their adulthood and failed marriages in London.

The Butcher Boy

Patrick McCabeThis dark, but hilarious novel, charts the descent into madness of a young killer in small-town Ireland.

The Barrytown Trilogy

Roddy DoyleThree books about the Rabbitte family, a large working-class family in Dublin, their love for each other, humor, life problems and solutions. 

Angela's Ashes

Frank McCourtPoignant and often amusing memoir of growing up with alcoholism and poverty in Limerick in the 1940s and 1950s. (Not to be confused with Limerick’s prosperity and friendliness today.)

Watermelon, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, The Last Chance Saloon, Angels, Sushi for Beginners and The Other Side of the Story

Marian KeyesInternationally best-selling author of Irish chick-lit.

Travel Tips

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Travel Health and Comfort
Air Travel and Families
Trip Planning
Timing Your Trip

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Contributors to this guide: Word Travels, World Airport Guide, Cheapflights

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Wordtravels.com

Destination guides to countries and cities worldwide www.wordtravels.com

World Airport Guides

Guide to more than 200 airports around the world www.worldairportguide.com

Cheapflights.com

Cheap airline tickets to domestic and worldwide destinations www.cheapflights.com

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