ISO/TC37 Annual Meeting 2010

Located on the western periphery of Europe, Ireland is the third largest island in Europe and the twentieth largest in the world. It is politically divided into the sovereign state of the Republic of Ireland (with a population of about 4.5 million) and the area known as Northern Ireland, a constituent part of the United Kingdom (with a population of about 1.75 million).
 

The capital of the Republic of Ireland is Dublin, with a population of about 1.7 milllion (Greater Dublin Area). The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, with a population of about 0.6 million (metropolitan area) and is situated 171 km or 106 miles north of Dublin. It can be accessed by train in 2h 15m.
 

The topography of Ireland is often likened to that of a bowl, with (rather low-lying) mountainous areas around the coast and a flat fertile plain in the centre. The temperate climate affords Ireland a rather lush green image, and agriculture was traditionally the main way of life. The industrial revolution left what is now the Repulblic of Ireland relatively untouched (for sociopolitical reasons) although it made some impact in what is now Northern Ireland. This has changed fairly dramatically with Ireland becoming one of the major software hubs of the world.
 

Ireland’s contribution to the arts is considerable, particularly in the areas of literature, drama, film and music.
 

While you are in Dublin, we recommend that you take time out to check out some artistic venues, such as the Irish Writers’ Centre, and perhaps to attend dramatic performances in long-established venues such as The Abbey Theatre and The Gate Theatre.

 

Dublin, is a modern European city with about 1.7 million inhabitants, located on the east coast of Ireland. While steeped in history, Dublin is a vibrant city, particularly for the young, offering a rich and varied cultural life. There is something for everyone in Dublin, be it history, tradition, archaeology, art, music, drama, literature, food and pub culture, education and research facilities, or simply shopping.
 

 

Ireland has a temperate climate, which means that it does not suffer from the extremes of temperature experienced by many other countries of a similar latitude. Summer mean daily maximum is about 20 degrees centigrade. Dublin has a maritime temperate climate, and less rainfall than the rest of the country. Summers in Dublin are cool and pleasant, temperatures in July peaking at around 68°F (20°C), the most sunshine being experienced in May and June.

However, rain can come at any time of the day and at any time of the year. We recommend you bring raingear to be on the safe side – light raincoats, umbrellas, and suitable footware.

Standard Time is Greenwich Mean Time in the winter and GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). Sunrise in August will be about 06:00 and sunset about 21:00 h.

 

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The currency in the Republic of Ireland is the EURO (€) but if you plan to travel to Northern Ireland you will need POUNDS STERLING. Use the Universal Currency Converter for latest exchange rates.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Ireland. Commonly accepted credit cards: VISA, MASTER CARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS AND DINERS.
 

ATMs (automatic teller machines) are available at the airport and throughout the city. As in every other city, it is important to be careful while using ATMs - do not allow strangers to see or watch you entering the code numbers, do not ask or accept help from people other than bank employees, do not use damaged ATMs. Some ATMs such as Visa, Cirrus and Master Card, allow for any type of international transactions.

 

The Irish Tourist website has details on car hire, travelling by bus or rail. 

 

Discover Ireland and Tourism Ireland provides much information for those who wish to take a further break in Ireland. 

 

Dublin Bus operate the public buses in Dublin and have many routes serving the city. Fares vary depending on the length of your journey and range from €1.15 up to €2.20. Check with the driver what fare you should pay. You should have the exact fare in coins as no change is given - if you pay more than the exact fare, the driver will issue you with a change ticket which you can redeem at the Dublin Bus office in the city centre. Cash notes are not accepted on buses under any circumstances. Several buses, including the 16 and 16a, stop on Swords Road close to Northwood where the Annual Meeting will take place (see Maps and Directions). The area is also served by the 4/a (Ballymun Road) and the 41 (Santry Avenue). The 41 also serves Dublin Airport.
 

There are also Luas trams, and DART (suburban railway lines) services operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), however neither the Luas nor the DART serve the area in which the annual meeting will take place. Fares range from €1.65 up to €4.30 depending on the length of your journey. Tickets for either service should be bought in advance and are available from automated ticket machines at DART stations and Luas stops. These machines accept notes and coins.
 

For travel outside Dublin, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) operate trains between many towns and cities and Bus Éireann have bus routes throughout the country. Several private bus companies also operate routes from Dublin: Aircoach have routes to Cork and Belfast and CityLink serves Cork and Galway.
 

 

All over the city you will find public phones operated with coins or prepaid card. To make direct international calls from Ireland dial: 00+ (country code) + (area code) + number To make direct international calls from other countries to Dublin dial: 00 + (353) + (1) + number.

 

Banking hours tend to be from 9:30 h to 16:00 h, however some banks offer extended hours on certain days, often on Thursdays.

 

In Ireland as in the UK, voltage is 220V AC, at 50Hz.
Electrical plugs have three flat prongs and you are advised to bring one or more adapters with you. For further information see Electricity Voltage in Ireland.

 

Tipping is common practice in restaurants, hairdressers, and in taxis, normally to the tune of 10%. Some restaurants add 10% or more to the total bill so you should check your bill before automatically tipping.

 

Delegates should refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs site for information regarding visa requirements for travelling to Ireland.  Visa applications should be submitted to the Irish Embassy or Consulate in, or accredited to, the country in which you normally reside.

 

It is recommended that you bring health insurance with you in case you need medical assistance.

 

As with any large city, it is advisable to be careful with your personal belongings, especially handbags, wallets and cameras. For all your valuables and documents use the safety deposit box at your hotel.
 

Carry with you the address and phone number of your hotel. Ask at the Front Desk in your hotel for advice on the nearby areas for walking, jogging or shopping.
 

When travelling to and from the city centre, please note that taxis tend to be quite expensive for solitary travellers – it is worth travelling in groups or else travelling by public bus.

For more information the Tourist Security in Ireland advise.

 

Ireland has two official languages, English and Irish, and visitors will note that most public signage is bilingual. Dublin is located in the English-speaking part of the country and hosts many ethnic communities.

 

For more information on Dublin, please consult dublin.ie, the official portal Web site for the city of Dublin.

 

For clarifications about any issue of the meeting you can contact us.