Communicating from Ireland

If you get an Ipad, Touch or Iphone look into getting Skype. If you can get on a WiFi network it will give you the cheapest rate back to the US (2.5c/minute) to a landline or mobile or free to another Skype computer.

You will need to use the headphone/mic combo if you get a Touch or the iPad

Internet cafes exist. Not sure what you mean by "reliable." I personally wouldn't use one for anything but simple web searches. I would not use them for anything for which I had to use a password because there is no good way to know if someone else had loaded a keylogging program to capture whatever you type unbeknownst to you. Far safer to use your own wifi device to check email, book reservations, etc. There are lots of available wifi connections (try out the local McDonalds).

If you are traveling light, you can get by with just an unlocked cell phone that lets you access the Internet coupled with a foreign SIM and a prepaid data plan. Using a more capable device (iPad or netbook, for example), makes for a more pleasant experience but you have to carry the thing around.

You didn't say how long you were going to be gone. Buying a prepaid telephone calling card and using payphones might be the best bet if your trip is short. If you get a foreign SIM, you may still want to use a calling card to call home because the rates may be cheaper.

To disagree a bit with some of the others, we've been all over Ireland on several trips and we've never had much trouble finding internet access, either at internet cafes or at the hotel or B&B where we were staying. Many small town tourist info offices have public computers, and we've found them at public libraries too. I'm not talking about wi-fi, I'm talking about actual computers you can use.

We always communicate via good old-fashioned email.

If you're paranoid about key-logging programs and such, just change your email password a time or two during your trip.

The only headache we've had in Ireland is that connection speed is often s-l-o-w.

"You will need to use the headphone/mic combo if you get a Touch or the iPad"

Not required for the iPad, although you will want it if making a call in a public place, as the iPad will work like a speakerphone.

If you will be traveling a lot outside of the major cities, you'll find "internet cafes" are not exactly easy to find or good places to do a lot of internet searches.

For example, my relatives live in a small village in Western Ireland - there are 2 places in the village where you can gain access to a computer if you aren't bringing your own laptop - one is inside a bakery and the other is inside a pizza shop - neither is advertised on the windows outside so you would not even know to ask. The pizza shop has 3 terminals and the bakery has 1. The internet connection is painfully slow whether you are using their computer or your own laptop.

If you have no interest in buying or renting a mobile phone, it's very simple to walk into any newstand or corner grocery/tobacco shop and purchase an international calling card to call the U.S. from any payphone or a landline at your hotel.

I also found no problem with internet anywhere I went in Ireland (I was there for 2 months). There was always some sort of internet cafe (though they aren't cheap). I always suggest to poeple to find the public library if possible - they almost always have free internet. If you are staying in hostels, they often have free internet.

In terms of phone, I bought a cell phone when I was there as I was there a long time. The phones are free, but for mine I had to pay 50 Euro, but that went directly as credit for minutes to my phone. I have had friends use the phone since in other parts of Europe by getting new Sim cards, so it was a worthwhile investment. It is also free for incoming calls, which was great for me as the poor traveller!