INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS 2013 22 ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS FORUM Oct 2-4, 2013, CROWN PLAZA DUBLIN, BLANCHARDSTOWN,IRELAND Welcome To Ireland Ireland is an island to the north-west of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea. Fast Facts Currency: Euros ( ) Visa Requirements: European Economic Area (EEA) citizens do not require a visa to enter Ireland. Please see below for further details Time Zone: Western European Time UTC +00:00 Weather: The month of October is characterised by daily highs of around 13 C (55 F), decreasing to lows of 8 C (46 F). It has approx 11 hours a day of sunshine International Dialling Code: +353 /Dublin Area Code: 1
Electricity: The standard voltage is the Republic of Ireland is 220 VAC at 50Hz. Plug socket is standard UK three pin plug (Primary Socket Type: British BS-1363). Health & Medical: Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance: Tel: 112 or 999 Basic Demographics Capital: Dublin Island group: British Isles Area: 84,421 km² Population: 4.487 million (2011) World Bank Government: Unitary state, Parliamentary system, Constitutional republic Language: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) is spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard Major Religion: The predominant religion in Ireland is Christianity, with the largest church being the Roman Catholic Church Natural Resources: Natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite Main exports: The country is one of the biggest exporters of pharmaceuticals in the world (28 percent of total exports). Others include: organic chemicals (21%), data processing equipment and software (12%) and food (8%) GNI per capita: US $217,275 (World Bank 2011) Internet domain:.ie Visas Visa Requirements: You do not need a visa to land in Ireland if you are a European Economic Area (EEA) citizen. The members of the EEA are the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Visitors from outside the EEA will need a passport, which should remain valid for at least six months after their intended arrival. Please refer to our Visa Requirements Document to check if you require a visa. Getting There The majority of airlines fly in and out of Dublin Airport. The city has two ports that serve as the main points of sea transport with Britain; ferries from France arrive in the southern port of Rosslare. Dublin is also the nation s primary rail hub. The hotel and City Centre is a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport. Taxi charge is approx 25-30 to the hotel. Taxi s Taxis can be hailed on the street or found at ranks, including those at O Connell St, College Green and N St Stephen s Green, near Grafton St. Local Taxi Numbers: City Cabs (872 7272) or National Radio Cabs (677 2222). Location
The Crowne Plaza Dublin-Blanchardstown hotel is located just off the N3 Navan road at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and 1.5km from the M50 Junction 6 and 15km from Dublin Airport. History of Blanchardstown The town s name means estate of a family called Blanchard an Anglo-Norman surname. The name was recorded in 1385 as villa de Blanchard. Blanchardstown (Baile Bhlainséir in Irish) is a sprawling suburb of Dublin. Originally a town in its own right, it is now the largest urban area in the County of Fingal. Over the last decade this area has experienced an unprecedented increase in economic growth and is now the industrial and commercial hub for Fingal with large concentrations of retail, pharmaceutical, IT, distribution and service companies. Etiquette: Generally there are three options, outlined on the menu for tipping. 1. "A Service Charge of x % will apply" - this means what it says, your final bill will be subject to an additional charge; no further tips are necessary. 2. "Service included" - this means that the prices are a flat rate, no tips are required and the prices are final. 3. If none of these apply personnel will usually expect a tip of around ten to fifteen percent. Money
ATMs - All banks have ATMs. Machines in the city centre quickly run out of smaller denominations ( 10 and 20) on Friday night, and the smallest denomination they ll dispense is 50. Some even run out of money altogether. Credit Cards Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted in Dublin than Amex or Diners Club, which are often not accepted in smaller establishments. Food and Drink Traditional dishes include Irish stew, coddle (a dish consisting of layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and rashers with sliced potatoes and onions), the Irish breakfast, and potato bread. Although there is no national drink in Ireland, Guinness would be seen as the main alcoholic drink in and the one that the country is most associated with. Top Visitor Attractions Dublin is ideally situated between the mountains and the sea, just a 20 minute journey will bring you from the bustling city to the charming coastal towns and villages which dot the coastline providing boundless opportunities for golf, water sports, seafood, dining and picturesque walks. A little further and you ll reach the Dublin Mountains where hiking, biking and walking trails are in abundance. 1. Golf courses Ireland is home to many challenging links and parkland golf courses set against a backdrop of a stunning and rugged landscape. Dublin may be a city destination but there are over 40 golf courses, including the some of the finest links courses in Europe. Ireland s largest golfing centre, boosting 110 acres of lush green fairways, is Elmgreen Golf Centre. This 18- hole course is located just 10 minutes from the centre of Dublin. 2. Dublin s Coastline and Beaches Dublin s coastline is dotted with many fantastic beaches. Dollymount Strand located on North Bull Island is within easy reach and offers scenic views and sand dunes to explore. Killiney Beach is a stoney beach perfect for sifting through decorative stones and exploring rock pools! With stunning views stretching as far as the Wicklow Mountains you may even catch a sight of the resident dolphins. 3. Dublin Mountains Right on the city s door step, the Dublin Mountains offer a range of activities to try out. Orienteer, mountain bike or just take a walk through the forest and mountain trails in one the many recreation sites, such as Ticknock, Pine Forest and the infamous Hell Fire Club! 4. Dublin Castle Since its foundation in 1204 Dublin Castle has been at the heart of the history and evolution of the city. Today, spanning an area of over 44,000 square meters (11 acres), the site contains two museums, two cafés, an international conference centre, two gardens, Government Buildings and the State Apartments which are the most important state rooms in the country.
The grounds of the site are free to explore, as is the Chapel Royal, the Chester Beatty Library, the Garda Museum and the Revenue Museum. Access to the State Apartments is by guided tour only and tickets may be purchased from the Apartments in the Upper Castle Yard. 5. Guinness Storehouse Set in the centre of one of the world s most famous breweries, which has been on site since Arthur Guinness founded it in 1759, the Guinness Storehouse has rapidly become Dublin s must see visitor attraction. The Guinness Storehouse is a dramatic story that begins over 250 years ago and ends in Gravity, the bar in the sky, with a complimentary pint of Guinness, and an astonishing view of Dublin. 6. The Old Jameson Distillery The Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield Village is in the heart of Old Dublin. Irish Whiskey can trace its history back to the 6 th century. Almost like a tour of a working distillery you can follow the fascinating craft of whiskey making. Finally the tour culminates in the Jameson bar for a traditional Irish Whiskey tasting. 7. The Chimney at Smithfield Village Discover Dublin from above by taking a trip skyward to the top of Dublin s only observation platform, The Chimney at Smithfield Village, offering 360 degree panoramic views of the city. The existing distillery chimney, built in 1895, has been redeveloped to provide Dublin with a major viewing point. The chimney has a two tiered glass enclosed observation platform at the top, which is served by a glass panoramic lift running up its side. 8. The Phoenix Park Situated 3km (2m) west of the city centre this is the largest urban enclosed park in Europe. The Phoenix Park has a circumference of 11km (7m) and a total area of 712 hectares. The park boosts ornamental gardens, nature trails, board expanses of grassland, live stock with graze peacefully on pasturelands and deer roam the forested areas. The park s attractions include Áras an Uachtaráin-the President of Ireland s residence, the US Ambassador s residence, Dublin Zoo and the police force of Ireland. 9 Shopping You can find many shopping centres outside Dublin city that all offer a great selection of shops. Experience the hustle and bustle of Henry Street or take a leisurely stroll down the trendy and demure Grafton Street or even sample the unique mix of colourful outdoor stalls and exotic shops of Temple Bar. Blanchardstown Shopping Centre is one of Ireland s largest shopping centres and a premier destination for shopping and leisure in Dublin and is located on the doorstop of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
10. Other Places of Interest and Museums Places of Interest Malahide Castle Newbridge House Kilmainham Jail Custom House Visitor Centre Christchurch Cathedral Chester Beatty Library National Gallery Trinity College Ardgillan Demesne and Castle Temple Bar Museums National History Museum Wax Museum James Joyce Museum Jewish Museum Writers Museum GAA Museum Irish Museum of Modern Art Dublin Civic Museum
Guinness Store House Dublin Castle Dublin Mountains Elmgreen Golf Centre