Driving in Ireland

     We could have chosen bus tours as a way of seeing Ireland but instead chose to rent a car. The first and foremost problem we had with driving in Ireland is that there is insufficient labeling- of roads, streets, and ways to go- especially on all the many secondary roads. We thought we could manage with a paper map because that's the way people got around for many years before electronic devices. When we picked up the rental car we knew  Susanne would be having a SIM card in her phone when she arrived so we opted not to get a GPS which would cost extra. Later after they left, we paid the extra to have a GPS because we just couldn't manage without one. Because of the cost of having extra drivers for a rental car, I never drove while in Ireland. Russ and James were our drivers. It was definitely a harrowing experience for Russ, just off the plane, to get in a car with the steering wheel on the opposite side and drive on the "wrong" side of the road in city traffic! The Irish seemed to be very patient and polite; maybe they're used to "foreigners" not knowing their way around. Highway driving was probably the easiest. Once you get on a road, you just go forward. Strange were some of the signs and expressions used. I especially liked the signs for "traffic calming", meaning to slow down because you're about to enter a village. Intersections are called junctions and most had traffic circles which are now becoming more prevalent here in the US. In Northern Ireland especially the warning to "yield" is referred to as "give way". The word "SLOW" is often written in large letters on the pavement as you approach a curve, a junction, or a village. A yellow diamond shaped sign with big letters "DANGER" was daunting, especially since I couldn't see what it was referring to! Everywhere off the few major roads were signs with long s-curves indicating the road would be serpentine but there were places when even the curves were so sharp the sign showed more a zig-zag than a curve. A sign at a business read "End of Life Vehicles" which could be taken more ways than one! It was a car junkyard. There were few street lights which was could be considered a blessing or a curse. It made it very difficult to find your way once it got dark, which this time of year is by 5 pm. However, we were delighted to be able to see so many stars! In the prevalent light pollution in the US, that can be difficult, often the moon being the only nighttime light in the sky you can see. I was so grateful for Russ and James's driving skill on the very narrow and winding roads. Often the roads were more narrow than most driveways here. If you meet oncoming traffic, one or the other has to find a place to pull over which can be difficult because there are no shoulders. The pavement goes to a narrow strip of grass leading up to an unmovable stone fence.

I took this picture hoping to give an indication how narrow the roads are. This is intended for two-way traffic. We were certainly grateful for the considerate drivers who always gave way or nodded appreciation when we gave way.