Just a Friendly Reminder
Thought I’d post a quick reminder that we moved the Irish Fireside blog to www.IrishFireside.com back in 2009.
We’ve posted A LOT of great information since then, so if you’re not following us there… you’re definitely missing out.
Are You Still Following This Feed?
Hey, we moved our blog to www.IrishFireside.com back in October. Time to update your feed.
When you get to the new site, you can check out our Irish Fireside Holiday Gift Guide. It’s loaded with all kinds of Irish and Ireland-inspired gifts.
We’re Moving the Blog
After nearly four years in this spot, we’re moving all our blog posts to the www.IrishFireside.com web domain.
Don’t worry, you won’t notice any big changes… it’s just a new web address.
From now on, all new posts will appear at www.IrishFireside.com. For those who use an RSS reader, you can click the subscribe button on the new page.
Visitors Unknowingly Vandalizing Ireland
Visitors have made a habit of creating their own mini-dolmens in County Clare. Mini-dolmen, originally uploaded by hexcalibur.
The rocky, karst landscape of the Burren in County Clare stands in stark contrast to lush hills of the rest of Ireland. Home to a unique ecosystem and collection ancient, man-made stone structures, the area has also become home of “natural” vandalism.
For years, inspired visitors have been creating mini-dolmens that mimic the stacked stones constructed by the ancient people of the region, like the famous Poulnabrone Dolmen. Unfortunately, by moving even small limestone slabs, visitors are upsetting the environment and participating in what officials are calling “environmental vandalism.”
Carol Gleeson, Project Manager with The Burren Connect Project said, “Unique and vulnerable habitats are being destroyed by visitors when they illegally remove protected limestone pavement to build miniature dolmens and other stone structures. However, we believe that most visitors do not want to deliberately damage the Burren pavements, as they do not realize the full environmental impacts of their actions.”
To help address the problem, a new initiative by The Burren Connect Project and Clare County Council intends to educate the public and engage schoolchildren in cleaning up the renegade dolmens.
Gleeson continued, “The Burren Connect team hopes that the newly launched environmental maintenance program, combined with existing education projects, website campaigns, publications and information points across the Burren will help raise awareness amongst visitors of the need to treat the landscape with respect and to abide by the Burren Code, which basically promotes the Leave No Trace ethos.”
So folks, if you’re in the Burren, admire it’s eerie, rocky landscape, but resist the temptation to stack stones… or take some limestone home with you.
More info at: www.burrenconnect.ie
How Will You Celebrate Arthur’s Day Tomorrow?
Guinness Shadow, originally uploaded by Steffe.
The big day has finally arrived. The day when all the world raises a glass to Arthur Guinness in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the Black Stuff.
At 5:59pm Dublin time (that’s 12:59p in New York, 11:59a in Chicago, 10:59a in Denver and 9:59a in Los Angeles), a worldwide toast will be raised to Arthur Guinness. EVERYONE is invited to join in.
The big party is of course in Dublin, the home of Guinness, but smaller celebrations are planned anywhere the brew is served.
We’ve got a few more Guinness goodies to give away, so to enter, just leave us a comment answering:
How will you be celebrating Arthur’s Day?
More info:
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/countdown-on-for-arthurs-day-14502846.html
Aer Lingus May Stop Flying to the US???
Irish airline Aer Lingus may begin contracting out their US-Ireland routes. This info comes from www.IrishCentral.com’s Kenneth Haynes.
This news appears to be in line with the airline’s gradual reduction in service to Shannon Airport which I talk about in my “Aer Lingus, You’re Killin’ Me” post. It’s a shame… especially since the airline’s statements are constantly noting “the importance of Shannon.” Alas, they’re hurting and need to make changes. I just wish they had a better way of communicating with the public, they must have a broader plan than what we’re hearing about in the news, right???
Exploring Celtic Motifs
Submitted by Kat Behling
Thousands of years before the dawn of Christianity, geometric motifs played a prominent role in both the ancient Celts’ religion and artwork. The religious union of mankind and the universal cosmos, essential to the ancient Celts’ spiritual beliefs, was represented by powerful symbols integrating the two worlds. Some of these motifs can still be seen today on stone carvings in many parts of Ireland. Newgrange, one of the oldest burial mounds in Europe, is highly-decorated with carvings depicting spirals, crosses and other ancient icons. The cross, now the universal symbol of Christianity, was considered to be a sacred sign representing the bridge between heaven (the universe) and earth (man). The pages within the Book of Kells, Book of Durrow and other illuminated manuscripts are adorned by various spirals, patterns, ornamental letters and intricate knotwork. Other symbols can be found on stone crosses, magnificent cloths and jewelry, highly-decorated weapons and religious monuments.
Here are other symbols and their ancient interpretations:
- Circle – The sun; the moon; the infinity of time; birth, death and rebirth; the human eye
- The Wheel of Being – four circles (the four elements) are unified by a fifth (balance)
- The Celtic Cross – The circle defines God’s love as unending, the vertical axis the spiritual world, the horizontal axis the earthly world
- The Single Spiral – One of the oldest motifs; represents growth; flowing of energy; sometimes used to represent the sun
- The Double Spiral – The Equinox: when day and night are of equal length; also a sign of balance
- Triple Spiral (aka the “triskele”) – most recurring element in Celtic art; 3 spirals radiating from a common center; often found in illuminated manuscripts; represents unity of the heart, mind and soul; later represented the Christian Trinity
- The Clockwise Spiral – The sun; cosmic energy; growth
- The Triquetra (Latin for “three cornered”) - the number 3 was an extremely powerful number; later the sign was adapted as the sign for the Holy Trinity in the Christian church
- Knotwork – Longevity and continuity
- Chevrons – Resembling arrowheads, often occurs as a repeat pattern; represents power
- Waves – Life force flowing from the Tree of Life
- The Tree of Life – Eternal life; seasonal cycles
- Hands – Friendship; affection; love of work
- Heart – Faithfulness; charity; compassion (Note: The symbolic meaning of the heart and hands relates to the Cladagh Ring)
- Dragon – Represents the four elements: earth, water, fire, air; luck and power; fertility
- Snake – Death and rebirth represented through shedding of skin
- Birds – Voyagers to the Otherworld; associated with gods and goddesses
- Dove – Peace
- Peacock – Immortality; later used to represent Christ
- Lion – Wisdom; dignity
- Fish – Cosmic; later represented Christian persecutions
- Cat – Guardians of the Otherworld
- Dog – Healer of body and soul; loyalty
- The Symbols of the Four Gospels:
- Matthew – Angel
- Mark – Lion
- Luke – Ox
- John – Eagle
A Closer Look at Belfast
Guidebooks are great when researching your trip, but sometimes it’s nice to get a closer look. Michael Phillips has helped solve that issue for those on their way to Belfast. He’s been busy creating video tours of various locations around the city… 120 to date!
Each clip includes video footage of the location and narration highlighting the the sites history and other interesting tidbits. With such a vast collection of videos to choose from, I’d suggest you start with:
Chat With Pat Liddy
Pat Liddy
by Kat Behling
Today we chat with acclaimed Dublin historian, author and artist, Pat Liddy. Pat spent his childhood growing up in Phibsborough, on Dublin’s north side. After an early retirement from a thirty year sales career with Aer Lingus, Pat dedicated himself to three of his life’s passions: writing, illustrating and exploring historical places. His favorite subject: his own 2,000-year-old city where he has channeled his love of historical research, legendary tales and amusing anecdotes of Ireland’s Capital City into a unique walking tour service simply called, “Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours of Dublin”.
Pat’s love affair with his hometown doesn’t end there. Since 1984, he has authored and illustrated numerous books on the historic city. In addition, Pat’s delicate pen and ink drawings and paintings have been exhibited throughout Ireland, mainland Europe and the United States. And if that doesn’t keep this Dublin enthusiast busy enough, he also hosts a weekly radio show, “Hidden Dublin” and has teamed up with Dublin Tourism to present audio versions of his walking tours. Both his radio show and his narrated tours are available as podcasts. Welcome to the Fireside, Pat
What is your morning ritual?
Stealing an extra ten minutes in bed and always regretting it. After that, there is no fixed ritual as my lifestyle dictates that no one morning is the same as another.
What historical figure do you most identify with and why?
That’s too hard to pick on one person. I suppose I like to identify with anyone who in his life never gave up even when the going got rough and even seemed hopeless.
Which living person do you most admire?
No particular celebrity or famous person (who are often not what they seem), but my 94-year old mum who still cares about every little detail in our family and annually turns out the most admired garden of flowers in her neighbourhood. Also someone I know who is a full-time care-giver of an elderly person and always remains cheerful.
The perfect place to live is.
In your own body. If you are not happy there, your surrounding environment will be ultimately irrelevant to your happiness.
Name one place in Ireland you think visitors should not miss.
Newgrange in County Meath. 500 years older than the Pyramids of Egypt, it is the world’s oldest existing roofed building and was once the centre of a very sophisticated civilisation over 5,000 years ago.
Who is your favorite writer?
I simply don’t have one. I read mostly historical or popular science books and the subject rather than the writer appeals to me.
How would you describe your sense of humor?
It is always on duty 24/7 and being somewhat irreverent, it can ambush even the most solemn occasion.
What music are you listening to today?
Handel is my favourite composer and my musical tastes range principally from the medieval period to the baroque. Old-fashioned jazz is a nice contrast I appreciate from time to time.
What three things are you most grateful for?
My family, my health and my love of live.
Name one trait you most deplore in yourself.
Being a bit self-centred.
Name one trait you most deplore in others.
Rudeness and aggression to promote self-interest.
In the event you are reincarnated, what would you like to return as?
Just me – with another chance to have more time to achieve my more ‘noble’ ambitions without the need to make money for plain survival, to be more calm and more generous with my time for others. In this life I am unlikely to succeed in these aspirations.
What is one of your most treasured memories?
Family holidays or snuggling in with my children when they were very young to watch a film on TV we all enjoyed.
What is your favorite meal?
Not so much the food (as I enjoy most cuisines) but the company gathered around candlelight, especially family meals, no matter how humble the fare.
What is your favorite Irish tradition?
Attendance at the annual Christmas performance in one of our cathedrals of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (which was first performed in Dublin in 1742).
Which of your podcast walking tours would you recommend for a first time visitor to Dublin?
Perhaps ‘Viking & Medieval Dublin’ to get a sense of the very beginnings of Dublin (see www.visitdublin.com).
Your philosophy on life is.
The triumph of optimism over experience.
Pat’s books include bestsellers “Dublin Today,” “Dublin Be Proud” and more recently, “Dublin A Celebration: From the 1st to the 21st Century,” the official book on Dublin and published by the Dublin City Council. The book contains almost 1000 illustrations of historic and contemporary Dublin. To learn more about Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours of Dublin and his podcasts, visit :
www.walkingtours.ie
www.patliddy.com
Originally published in our e-newsletter
Ennis Gives Muhammad Ali a Hero’s Homecoming
Muhammad Ali’s great-grandfather was born in Ennis, County Clare, and this video captures a bit of the excitement and pride coming from western Ireland. Enjoy!
Hat’s off to Production 63 on producing a truly enjoyable video momento.
93 The Auld Sod, US Immigration & Customs Pre-Clearance and Holly Kirby
Episode Guide – Podcast #93 The Auld Sod, US Immigration & Customs Pre-Clearance and Holly Kirby
We talk about Ireland’s new Pre-Clearance facility, chat about Irish dirt with Pat Burke, mention QVC’s Ireland shopping event and listen to Holly Kirby perform Carrickfergus.
CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.
Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes – here’s our link for Techies
Show Notes
00:00
Intro Song: The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin & Read more…
Aer Lingus, You’re Killin’ Me
Score one for Ireland when Shannon and Dublin airports annonced US Customs and Immigration Pre-Clearance, a new facility that allows passengers to complete all US “inspections” before leaving Ireland…the only one of its kind in Europe.
That means planes leaving the Emerald Isle can, in theory, land at any international OR domestic airport in the US, and re-connecting visitors don’t have to recheck their luggage and clear Customs and Immigration before catching next their flight.
Sounds like a great opportunity, right? The reality… opportunity missed. The service opened in Shannon last month, but Aer Lingus, the country’s major airline, has chosen not participate until the facility opens in Dublin next year.
They’ve offered a list of reasons NOT to capitalize on this unique service. In fact, outside of a few folks in Shannon, no one seems be talking about how the country can leverage Pre-Clearance to increase business and possibly re-establish Ireland as a hub for travel between Europe and the US.
Instead, Aer Lingus is riding the Economic Woes bandwagon in the press. Every day or two a new release comes out outlining their falling passenger numbers and/or revenue and/or rising costs (at least Ryan Air mixes it up a little with threats of pay-per-use potties and “standing” flights). “The economy” is quickly becoming the cop out excuse of 2009, and will likely discern the innovators from the bail-out beggers.
I must say, I’m starving for something coming from Aer Lingus that projects them into future… you know, NEWS! Alas, short-sighted fiscal reactions appear to be smothering any long-term strategy.
IrelandExpert.com
Ireland Expert Pat Preston has done an excellent job of outlining Pre-Clearance on her blog… you can read her post here. I must echo her sentiment, the airlines embracing the new system, Continental, Delta* and US Airways, deserve our business.
DOUBLE-WHAMMY
For fifteen years, I’ve been loyal to Aer Lingus, but this fall I’ve been hit with a double-whammy… the lack of participation in US Pre-Clearance AND the suspension of the Chicago to Shannon route I usually fly.
Aer Lingus has been quick to point out that I can still fly them from Chicago to Shannon, but they fail to mention that in most cases that would require deplaning in Dublin, passing through Immigration and Customs, re-checking my luggage and boarding another flight (hey, didn’t I hear them reference that proceedure as an excuse for not participating in the first wave of Pre-Clearance?)… oh, and there’s also the fact that I’d have to take a 7am flight out of Shannon followed by the 6-hour layover in Dublin. Not cool, Aer Lingus.
I just checked; Continental and Delta have flights from Milwaukee (closer to my home than Chicago) to Shannon via Newark/JFK for LESS than Aer Lingus’ Chicago to Dublin to Shannon fare. Normally, I’d pay the extra to fly Aer Lingus, but not this year.
Who knows, I might like this new route and start earning frequent flyer miles with another airline… oh yeah, Aer Lingus did away with frequent flier rewards several years ago.
*NOTE ADDED Sept 14, 2009: Delta Airlines announced in early September plans to cease their New York to Shannon route begining Oct 4, 2009.
Have You Been Following These Headlines?
For all you foodie and craft beer lovers out there www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/2288/57/ (via @AnBordBia)
Shhh. Ten Dublin Secrets… www.independent.ie/travel/inside-ireland/dublin-a-new-city-afoot-1867010.html
Irish charity Trócaire going to pull out of 9 countries because of lack of funding from our government www.rte.ie/news/2009/0826/trocaire.html (via @Diddlyi)
Pres McAleese leads Irish tributes to Senator Kennedy www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0826/breaking22.htm
A Milwaukee Irish Fest wrap up from Read more…
Tasty Champ Delivers More Than Mashed Potatoes
Champ
Original upload by Armida the Diva
by Kat Behling
A traditional Irish peasant dish, Champ is a simple mixture of mashed potatoes and scallions or chives. It’s served in a mound with a well of melted butter in the center and eaten with a spoon, starting from the outside and dipping each tasty spoonful into the buttery center. It’s a quick and easy side dish.
Ingredients:
- 6-8 unpeeled baking potatoes (i.e. Yukon Gold or Russets)
- 6 chopped fresh scallions or chives
- 1-1/2 cup milk, cream or half & half
- 8 tablespoons butter
- salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil unpeeled potatoes until tender.
- In a pot, cover scallions or chives with cream and bring to slow boil; simmer 3-4 minutes then remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, peel and mash potatoes.
- Mix potatoes with cream mixture. Beat in 4 tablespoons butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To serve, spoon the champ into a deep serving dish or four individual bowls; make a well in center and top with remaining butter. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.
To reheat: Place in an over-proof dish, cover with foil and reheat in 350 degree oven.
Blarney’s Got a Few Good Stories to Tell
Blarney and Cork, originally uploaded by Mark Riley.
Phil says… Millions of visitors to Ireland from all over the world go to see the Blarney Stone and take part in the famous ritual of kissing it. Legend has it that whoever kisses the stone, which was built into the battlements of the castle in 1446, shall be rewarded with the everlasting skill of being able to flatter people, or as the Irish say, inherit ‘the gift of the gab’.
The stone is located at Blarney Castle, around 5 miles from Cork, with world statesman and film stars known to having also performed the custom.
The kiss itself is not easily achieved however, with people having to climb to the top of the castle and lean backwards over the walls edge to press their lips against the stone. This practice is supervised of course, with the help of an assistant and safety gear and there have also been iron guide rails and protective crossbars fitted.
This was not always the case though, as before these safety measures were introduced, people would risk their lives trying to kiss the stone, dangling from the castle walls as others desperately clung to their ankles!
The origins and traditions surrounding the stone take on a number of guises and it is up to those who visit the castle to decide which folklore they wish to accept.
It is thought that the word Blarney derives from a meeting between Queen Elizabeth I and the Lord of Blarney, Cormac Teige McCarthy. Whilst requesting an oath of loyalty to retain occupancy of land, Queen Elizabeth I received responses from the Lord of Blarney which amounted to subtle diplomacy, promising the Queen loyalty without surrendering land. Queen Elizabeth I declared that McCarthy was giving her ‘a lot of Blarney’ which gave rise to the legend and Blarney was thought of as being able to offer ‘empty flattery’.
If you are visiting Ireland and want to take part in this famous ritual, venture out of Dublin using one of the excellent car hire services and head for Cork and on to Blarney Castle. You too could go home having gained ‘the gift of the gab!’
Help Hailey Plan for Her Summer in Ireland
University of Limerick, originally uploaded by derhur.
Hailey, one of our Facebook Fans, is heading to the University of Limerick (UL) next summer for study, and she could use your help.
She’s a history major from Texas with roots going back to Northern Ireland, and she’s not sure what to expect at UL…
What kind of welcome should she expect? What can you tell her about the school? What should she see in the city? What sites are nearby?
We’d love to hear what you think… And if you’re feeling creative, you could follow the suggestion Harry Dixon made on Facebook, and put your answer in the form of a limerick (see how much fun we have over on our Facebook page?).
We’re Getting a Makeover
In case you notice some things are a little different with our site this week, don’t worry, we’re making a few changes.
Hang in there; things should be looking pretty spiffy in no time.
If you find any broken links or major problems, you can report those to corey@irishfireside.com
Jaunted Loses Some Time in Dublin
I thought you would all enjoy a read of Victor Ozols account of his time in Dublin. It’s a great read and covers some wonderful sites in the Fair City.
My favorite line comes when a Irishman on the plan says….
…you can tell it’s summer in Ireland because the rain is warmer.
It’s in four parts, so be sure to read them all. Enjoy
Pre-Christian Celts and the Legend of Saint Brigid
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| St Brigid’s Cros |
by Kat Behling
The Irish are not only blessed with their unsurpassed gift of gab, but are highly regarded as the epitome of storytellers, spinning colorful tales and adventures from traditional legends dating back to 3rd Century BC when the first Celts arrived and settled on the shores of Ireland.
These pre-Christian Celts devised Read more…
92 Dreaming of County Clare
Sign up for our Dreaming of Clare Giveaway by leaving a comment below. Details in the show notes. Photo courtesy of www.cliffsofmoher.ie.
Episode Guide – Podcast #92 Dreaming of County Clare
In this audio podcast episode, we chat with Geraldine Enright from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience as she talks about County Clare, Shannon Airport and opportunities a down economy can hold for those who travel.
CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen.
Our Podcasts are availble on iTunes – here’s our link for Techies
CONTEST DETAILS AT THE END OF THIS POST
Show Notes
00:00
Intro Song: The Devil’s Bit by Theresa Larkin & Noel McQuaid
00:50
The Irish Fireside is now a Lonely Planet Favourite Blog (our entries appear in the lower left column)
01:07
5 Tips You Need to Know Before Renting a Car in Ireland
01:25
Geraldine Enright from Read more…
Who Will Be Speaking Some Irish?
Time for us to choose a winner for our Rosetta Stone Irish Giveaway. Entries were submitted via comments on our review of the Irish language software. Must say, there were some wonderful entries.
We consulted the True Random Number Generator at www.random.org. The lucky number was 22 and that comment came from Thomas G. Byrne (note: I did not include the two comments I left on the post). We hope Thomas enjoys Rosetta Stone Irish, and we look forward to hearing how the software works out for him.
NEW GIVEAWAY
Meanwhile, the rest of you may not be taking home a copy of Rosetta Stone, but we’ve got another giveaway going on! Just listen to Podcast #92 – Dreaming of Clare and leave a comment or submit an article with your favorite Clare memories or favorite sites in County Clare, or for those of you who haven’t been there yet, comment with a mention of which Clare sites you’ll include in your dream itinerary. Submit your short articles about County Clare by emailing them to corey@irishfireside.com.
Good Luck!
This Week’s Headlines
Our favorite Irish/Irish-American Interest headlines from our Twitter feed.
- The traditional Irish Bed and Breakfast; best brekkie in the world
www.discoverireland.ie/Accommodation/Bed-and-Breakfast.aspx (via @niamhtoohey) - Tips for solo women travelers www.examiner.com/x-14096-Tucson-World-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Travel-101-Safety-tipsadvice-for-solo-women-travelers
- Grab your tent, caravan or camper and print this handy map of all camp and caravan sites in Ireland www.discoverireland.ie/Search-Results/List.aspx?Search=1&CategoryID=161&LocationID=879&page=map (via @niamhtoohey)
- Taking your pets to Ireland http://goireland.about.com/od/preparingyourtrip/qt/irishpettravel.htm
- Read more…
We’re a Lonely Planet Favorite
Next time you stop by Lonely Planet’s Ireland page, you might spot some familiar content. They’ve designated the Irish Fireside as a “Favourite Ireland Travel Blog.” We are the first and only on their Ireland page at the moment.
As a result, some of our most popular Irish travel posts appear on their Ireland page. So, we’d like to say welcome to any folks who stopped by the Irish Fireside via Lonely Planet… you’ll find us a warm, active bunch with quite a passion for Ireland.
Visit the Lonely Planet’s Ireland page at www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland.
Taste of Ireland
Cliffs of Moher, originally uploaded by ray1179.
Liam and I just had a wonderful day at Milwaukee Irish Fest (www.irishfest.com)… catching up with old friends (and new ones), doing some interviews and taking in a lot of Irish music.
We again had a wonderful chat with our friends from County Clare… a very charming interview that was. We’ve got several other interviews lined up for tomorrow, so we’re looking forward to that.
Kathy and Travis over at www.EngagingIreland.com were busy as well, so between the four of us, we should have a full season of great Irish/Irish-American content to share.
Now, it’s time to review the recordings to make sure everything came out okay. Fingers-crossed!
5 Things You Should Know When Renting a Car in Ireland
The thought of driving on the left is usually the biggest concern for travelers renting a car in Ireland, but for some, the car rental policies and prices deliver a big headache… especially since they tend to be different in Ireland from other parts of Europe. Here are a few things you should know to prevent surprises along the way:
- Most online car rental quotes only include the cost of rental and basic insurance coverage (usually a €1,000 deductible). Taxes, fees and extra insurance are usually NOT included.
- Most car rental companies wait until the customer arrives in Ireland before introducing their zero-deductible insurance (often called Super CDW/Super Collision Damage Waiver Insurance – many companies DO include information on their websites, but it is easy to miss).
- Most credit cards DO NOT cover car rental insurance in Ireland. That’s because Ireland is on the short list of countries where Mastercard and Visa do not offer this benefit. Many credit card customer service reps aren’t aware of this detail, so ask for confirmation in writing and be sure to bring the document with you when you travel.
- If your credit card DOES cover car insurance in Ireland, you will be required to sign extra documents to waive the rental company’s insurance. Some agencies require a deposit or a hold on your credit card when insurance is declined. These “temporary” fees can range from €0-15,000 (€2,000 seems be the most common).
- Call rental agencies before you book and ask questions… especially if the cost of fees and extra insurance are not clear to you. One call before your trip can save hours of frustration during and after your trip.
What Are Some of the “Hidden Fees”
To get an idea of taxes, fees and “optional items,” run your car rental query through Hertz.com. Although their quotes ONLY include the rental, taxes and location service charge/airport fee (no insurance), their online quotes outline add-ons for you to consider. When you reach Step 4 “Review & Book” of the process, click the “View Optional Items” tab under the quote. This area outlines the additional fees and prices that can be added when you rent the vehicle. Previous customers have confirmed that these numbers are accurate – sorry, I haven’t used them myself.
Is Super CDW Insurance worth it?
If you’re a betting type of person, the odds are in your favor if you do not purchase the extra insurance (unless of course you’re a lousy driver). However, the peace of mind of having a zero deductible can often outweigh to potential cost savings.
My advice… first-time visitors who are not used to the left should seriously consider the extra insurance – I’ve seen many rental cars returned with damaged passenger side mirrors, missing hubcaps (casualties of the narrow Irish roads) and worse. Renters are charged a premium for those damages. After that first trip, you’ll be in a better position to decide if you’d prefer to skip the Super CDW.
Find More Information at:
http://www.irelandyes.com/cars.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186591-c2757/Ireland:Renting.A.Car.In.Ireland.html
http://goireland.about.com/od/preparingyourtrip/bb/byb_rentalcar.htm
Note: Each rental company is different, so be sure to review the policies and information provided each… Not all companies participate in the policies listed above.
