Traveling in Ireland during Covid

I haven't been there yet, but I am going at the end of this week. Everything I've read seems to me like it would still be "worth it" in that context. I think you just have to be prepared to show your vax card entering places and be willing to give your info (name and phone number sounds like) for any contact tracing needs and of course mask up appropriately. Other than that, it seems like Ireland does want us in general.

Wishing you all the best with your trip!! That's the feeling I get from reading. I was hoping someone has actually gone over to Ireland. If you have a spare minute, report back after (or during) your trip! Have magical fun!!

Hi all, I just came back from a long weekend in Dublin. We travelled from UK so didn't need tests but needed double vax. We had a nice time but was disappointed that the restrictions in place for live music made it a little boring. We didn't realise this prior to booking as its hard to find info anywhere, which is why I'm now posting here.

You can sit outside bars/restaurants to eat or drink no problem but for inside must provide proof of double vax and provide contact details. I'm pretty sure there's a 10pm closing also but we didn't stay out that late apart from trying to get a McDonald's lol.

In all a worthwhile trip, locals say entertainment should be back end of September.

Cheers

I just spent two weeks in Ireland (from the US) and it was totally worth it. With a caveat that we planned for and expected a vacation that was primarily walking around outside in mostly off-the-beaten-path locations.

I wrote up a report on our trip, focusing mostly on Covid related impacts, here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/ireland-august-2021

The locals we interacted with said they were happy to see some tourists coming back, everyone we spoke with was very friendly. There was a general sense of things slowly getting back to normal.

Just returned home to California after spending 3 weeks in Ireland. Definitely worth it! Be prepared to wear a mask indoors. Also, to eat indoors (pubs & restaurants) you had to show your CDC Vaccination card and passport. They would also request a name & phone number for contact tracing. In small towns, reservations are a must at restaurants due to less seats in the restaurants. Our B&B hosts would call and make reservations for us.

Most historical sites (and even museums) mandated reservations. Most where free, but you needed a timed reservation (for such places as Dublin Castle, Killarney Castle, Bru Na Boinne, etc). Distilleries and breweries need timed reservations also (plus a showing of your CDC vaccination card). Some stores and pubs may not be open, but locals where excited that visitors where beginning to come back. Unfortunately, Dingle Distillery was not open, but the town's shops are open and bustling.

Be sure to make your appointment for the COVID test at the Dublin Airport prior to your departure. We used Randox for the Rapid Antigen test. Paid 35 Euro per person. With the appointment, we walked in, took the test and had the results by the time we arrived at our airport hotel (took the test the night prior to flying out).

While the experience we had in Ireland might have been different than prior to COVID, we had a wonderful time.

Many thanks to everyone for the trip information. It's all been encouraging but unfortunately, with the recent Covid spikes around Ireland, we are thinking of cancelling. The numbers just aren't going in the right direction. Decisions, decisions..UGH!! The big worry is not being able to get home because of a positive test. We'll keep watching and reading but we only have a few days before we have to decide.

What did you end up deciding? It must have been a difficult decision. My mother-in-law is traveling to Ireland this week with Road Scholar, and my family is anxious about it. Our biggest concern is if she gets COVID while there, how would she get treated and receive necessary care, including meals? She is 80 years old. When we asked her this, she said Road Scholar has contingencies in place; but obviously, we’re not sure what that means.

We cancelled our trip and are sad about it. I just couldn't get past the need for the negative test before coming home. My understanding is if you test positive, you isolate until you get a negative result. I think (but anyone correct me if I'm wrong!) if you test positive BEFORE you leave your hotel, some hotels will allow you to extend your stay and you isolate there. That only works if they provide room service. If you test positive AT THE AIRPORT then you isolate where the government tells you. I've seen videos of some of those hotels and they look very comfortable. The expense is the issue....can you afford 10 plus days of extra hotel room/room service cost? And all this assumes no medical treatment is necessary. It's a risk and I feel we probably would have been fine . At 80 years old, that's a tougher call. Also, so much depends on how many people she will be in contact with throughout her trip.

On a positive note, by October a huge percentage of the Irish population will be vaccinated. The infection numbers are definitely heading the right way. Maybe you just need a bit of clarification with the sponsoring leaders of the group.
If she goes, she'll have a terrific time. You can't have a bad time in Ireland.

We just came back from our trip to Ireland and it did not disappoint! To enter Ireland, we did not need to take a covid test since we had our vaccination cards. We stayed in Dublin, Cork and Galway and most of the places we visited were consistent with covid protocols/requirements. Masks indoors and when on public transportation and restaurants check for your vaccination card if you want to eat inside. Restaurants also required a phone number for contact tracing and don't be surprised if you get turned away for not making reservations. (We've experienced this with one of the smaller restaurants. Also don't be surprised if some restaurants have closed or changed hours) These were minor nuances which we really didn't mind, we were just happy to be traveling!

Most of the tourist attractions were not crowded at all! Not sure if it was because of it being off season (mid-late Oct) or covid but it was so great to not have to deal with the crowds, the long lines or waiting for someone to move for that perfect pic.

Coming back to the States, we booked an appointment for a rapid test a day before our flight and were lucky to find a testing location just across the street from our hotel in Dublin (website: easytest.ie) We got our results within an hour and cost about 35euro. (we were next to a group of travelers at the airport and they didn't know they needed to have a neg. test to enter the US. they didn't do their research) Ireland is a definite "worth it" trip!! The country is beautiful and I can't say enough good things about the Irish people. They were incredibly kind and welcoming.

Just back from a Dublin/Athlone/Galway/Ring of Kerry/Waterville/Kinsale/Cobh/Dublin trip ran late Oct to early Nov. The Irish couldn't have been more accommodating, they were almost universally thrilled to see travelers from the USA. Need to mask up indoors almost everywhere, and you need quite often your proof of vaccination (which I had on my phone which worked just fine). But every restaurant we went to were operating quite well, and with delicious seafood chowder to boot. Really, not much hassle anywhere. To get back into the US you do need to take a Covid test within 72 hours of returning (we brought 2 tests each just in case one didn't work). I would not wait until the last day to take the Covid tests, as if something goes wrong (for us, the technology went down mid test for one traveler) then you may not have time to get another one. And the Emerald Isle is still as green as ever.

The only recommendation I would say that makes all my Ireland trips memorable is to hire a taxi or a limo bus for the journey for all or part of your journey. It's very nice to not have to worry at all about transportation, as Ireland does not have the convenient rail system that many other countries in Europe do. Plus, drinking and driving becomes a non issue...the penalties for drinking and driving in Ireland are VERY severe.

To those recently returned, how's the trad music scene? Are there sessions at the corner table in the pub?