How Safe Is It to Travel Through Ireland?

If The Global Peace Index 2018 is anything to go by, then Ireland is currently one the safest places to visit in the world. The country was ranked among the top 10 most peaceful places on earth last year, particularly in terms of societal safety and overseas visitors’ security. And although the British territory remained 10th for both 2017 and 2018, its safety index rose by +0.015 from 1.393 in 2017 to 1.408 in 2018.

On top of being peaceful, Ireland also boasts of beautiful natural landscapes, rich ancient history, architectural wonders, and a fantastic culture that every travel enthusiast ought to experience at least once in their lifetime.

That being said, could you be enthusiastic about visiting Ireland one day? If yes, this article is for you. Please read on to understand how safe it is to travel to Ireland.

Is Ireland Safe To Travel Alone?

Just like anywhere else in the world, travelling solo in Ireland comes with a handful of challenges. Though rare, being a victim of opportunistic theft and personal attacks, for example, is more probable when you travel alone than when on a tour. But, generally speaking, is Ireland safe to travel alone?

Yes, it is safe to travel alone in Ireland. Compared to the USA, Canada, Australia, and other Western Europe nations, the Republic of Ireland ranks last in cases of violent and organized crime. As a matter of fact, I would confidently say that you will be 100 percent safe in Ireland provided that you observe basic, common sense safety precautions. We will delve deeper into these precautions later in this post.

Is It Safe For A Woman To Travel Alone Through Ireland?

For female tourists, you are as safe in Ireland as you would be in the rest of Western Europe, Canada, or the US. But even though physical violence against women is rare here, you won’t be entirely immune to inappropriate language, gestures, and sometimes extreme sexism.

Sexual education and sexual health education lacks greatly in Ireland, so young Irish men may abuse you sexually without knowing it. Also, as in any other country in the world, it isn’t wise to assume that everyone knows about STDs. Don’t shy away from educating your new-found Irish boyfriend about sex and sexuality.

Lastly, chances of someone treading on you are very high if you get drunk and lie in the gutter. Stay safe and avoid making yourself vulnerable.

Is Driving In Ireland Safe?

Using public transport in Ireland is fine, but you will explore better using an affordable rental car. That allows you to both explore the urban areas and discover the many hidden treasures that the nation has to offer. But is it safe to drive in Ireland? Yes, it is, but you are going to need these six road safety tips:

• Motorists drive on the left hand side of the road, with the driver sitting on the right side of the car. When turning at a roundabout, you tend to squeeze the car to the left edge such that you leave a wide space on the right.
• The roads around the cities are wide enough, but the ones on the countryside are narrow, hilly, and always winding. You will need to watch out for speeding oncoming vehicles, especially around the curves. When driving near farms, watch out for the huge flocks of sheep that occasionally camp stubbornly on the road.
• Unless you are touring Ireland in a large group, it is always advisable to rent a small car that can easily maneuver through the hills and sharp corners.
• You don’t have to be a hero and show your driving prowess in Ireland. Displaying a big, red “Learner” sign on your rental car would probably be demeaning to you, but at least it will force other motorists to keep their distance from you.
• After all, you can’t be 100 percent sure that the seemingly twisted driving rules will not confuse you at some point. By the way, how fast can you read and interpret road signs that are written in the metric system? That can easily get you confused.
• Shifting on the left when you are used to using your right hand can be challenging. Renting an automatic care would be safer for you.
• You are only allowed to drive if you are over 8 years older than your legal driving age in your home country. If you are a 16 year old American, for example, you won’t be allowed to drive even if you have a driver’s license. Only 24 plus year old Americans or Canadians can get rental cars in Ireland.
• This is pretty obvious but we must insist on it: Don’t drink and drive.

Common Safety Risks in Ireland

Although Ireland is among the safest European countries for tourists, you cannot rule out the possibilities of theft and other small crimes. Burglary cases in hostels and bars aren’t too prevalent, but they aren’t entirely inexistent. To be safe, always follow these safety precautions:

• Avoid going to remote neighborhoods after dark or too early in the morning. Cases of mugging and kidnapping within such neighborhoods have been on the rise in the recent past.
• Pickpocketing and bag-snatching in trains, especially in the major cities, is common. Always be extra vigilant with your luggage and hold onto your belongings firmly whenever you’re in a public place. Also, keep your passports, money, and credit cards, among other valuables, as inaccessible to pickpockets as possible.
• Natural disasters such as flooding are highly probable here, so you will need to read the local dailies regularly to learn of any possible disasters. Snow is rare in this part of the world, but when it eventually comes, the entire country is literally brought to a standstill. The good thing is that Met Eireann, the Irish weather service, regularly warns people of possible extreme weather conditions. Also, make sure that you check in with your hotel on a regular basis, you know, just to keep an eye on things.
• There are no laws against jaywalking in Ireland. Be extra watchful when driving because someone can just jump out of nowhere and into the middle of the street. If you are a pedestrian, always look right, left, then right again before crossing the road.
• Taxis are reliably safe in Ireland, but you still need to be careful with who you stop on the road. It is actually better to liaise with your hotel in finding the most reputable taxi company for your transport needs.
• Scamming is almost nonexistent in Ireland, but credit card fraud around ATMs is now becoming a thing. Watch out for suspicious people around ATMs, and be very careful not to disclose your pin and passwords to anyone. Even if you get a local lover, take your precious time before trusting him/her with your valuables and credit cards.
• Gun violence is significantly low in Ireland, but other weapons such as knives and crude metals are very common. If, by bad luck, you encounter robbers, don’t be tempted to pick up fights with them. It is never worth it.
• The risk of terrorism is very low here. As a matter of fact, this country hasn’t seen any major terrorist threat for about two decades now. But to be extremely safe, stay away from abandoned bags and other suspicious items.
• Avoid politics at all costs, especially the politics around Brexit.
• If you chose to rent a car, be careful with where you park and the valuables that you leave in plain sight. You might not have to worry too much about car-jacking, but there are tons of malicious people out there who will vandalize your car when given the chance. Locking your car isn’t enough as thieves can easily gain access to your car by smashing the windows; keeping your valuables in the trunk and locking the glove compartment is always the better choice.
• Unless you are Caucasian and Christian, you cannot rule out religious and race related crimes in Ireland’s rural areas. Homophobic stereotypes are also common in the major cities. Although chances of getting physically harmed are rare, you may have to deal with spontaneous hate slurs once in a while.

Which Is the Safest City In Ireland?

Donegal County is by far the safest territory in Ireland. Galway is also very safe even after dark; you will have your drink in peace at any time of the day.

All the other places have scattered safety concerns, but none of them is too unsafe for tourists. When in Dublin, avoid night strolls in the city’s suburbs such as Ballyfermot and Templebar, as the chances of bag-snatching and pickpocketing are very common.

Road offenses are prevalent in Louth, Cavan, and Monaghan, so you will need to be extra vigilant when driving around those areas. The Fitton Street in Cork City, on the other hand, is known to be a prostitution hub and other related crimes. Unless you have some personal business to attend to, avoid the street at all costs.

Emergency Numbers

In most cases, there will be a law enforcement officer within your vicinity, and they are all willing to help in case of any problem. Irish hotels have also invested in modern security and safety mechanisms, so you can always call your hotel for assistance. And in case you are in need for tourist support services, your country’s embassy in Ireland will come in handy.

To reach the British Embassy, call 01-2053700. For the Canadian Embassy, call 01-4174100. And for the United States Embassy, dial 01-6688777.

However, if your embassy or hotel security apparatus are out of reach, your best option would be to call the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) or the unarmed Gardai (Republic of Ireland) on their free toll numbers 112 and 999. These numbers will also connect you with ambulance services, marine and coastal rescue services, fire and rescue services, as well as mountain/cave rescue services.

Conclusion:

The Irish people are very friendly to tourists and almost everyone speaks English. If you need to ask questions or assistance of any kind while travelling in the country, don’t shy away from asking anyone. Crime cases aren’t common, but you would rather be safe than sorry: Always watch your back.

It is important to note that not all credit cards and travel insurance companies include Ireland in their coverage. To be safe, confirm with your respective companies whether or not they will cover your car, health, and safety expenses before leaving for Ireland.

Some parts of Ireland are remote and isolated, especially along the West Coast, so you need to be very vigilant when travelling solo in Ireland. And because the weather is unpredictable, ensure that you consult the Irish weather service on a regular basis.