Irish people have a great love of conversation and have a genuine interest in other people. This friendliness and hospitality for which the Irish people are renowned, contributes to the ease with which overseas students adapt to the way of life and in particular, student life in Ireland.

Although Ireland does have its own distinctive Celtic language and culture, English is the predominant language spoken in Ireland today. The Irish use it so effectively that it has been said that better English is spoken in Ireland than anywhere else in the world! Every year almost 200,000 students of all ages and from all over the world come to study in Ireland to benefit from the highest quality English Language training in schools throughout the country.

Climate
Ireland enjoys a temperate climate influenced by the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream in whose path the island lies. During the winter months temperature

s rarely drop below freezing and snow is uncommon. The coldest and wettest months are December, January and February, which have mean temperatures of between 4°C and 7°C . July and August are the warmest months with mean temperatures of between 14°C and 16°C , rarely rising above 20°C.

Accommodation
Students have a number of accommodation options available to them. Most institutions have on-campus student residences, often resembling small villages with on-site facilities such as shops, laundrettes, restaurants etc. Prospective students should contact the host institution for further details.

Another popular option, particularly in the main cities is self-catering rented accommodation, often shared with other students. Students opting for this kind of accommodation are advised to arrive in the country two or three weeks prior to the start of the academic year in order to secure a place in a house/apartment.

Some students opt for host family accommodation. This can be a good option for those leaving home for the first time as it helps to integrate them into the local community and the Irish way of life. Students are normally provided with their own room and with morning and evening meals.

Most institutions have an Accommodation Office, a good first point of call for overseas students in their search for suitable accommodation. Accommodation can also be found through the local newspapers and estate agents in the cities.

Food & Shopping
There is a wide choice of food shops and restaurants in Ireland catering to all tastes and pockets. As the number and variety of overseas nationals has grown in recent years, so too has the diversity of foods and ingredients. Students should therefore have no difficulty satisfying special religious or dietary requirements, particularly in the larger cities. Restaurants and cafés at the colleges and universities sell nutritious, reasonably priced meals. Snack food outlets are widely available and fast food restaurants are generally open till midnight.

Shopping hours vary but generally big department stores are open from 9.00 am until 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday with late night shopping on Thursday and Friday until 9.00pm. Increasing numbers of supermarkets and smaller shops are open seven days a week (often for 24 hours - particularly in the larger cities) and the local "corner shop" is always on hand for those essential items.

Money & Banking
The Euro is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c and €1. Paper notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20,€50,€100,€200 and €500. Euro can be bought at all banks, major bus and train stations, ferry ports and airports. In addition, currency can also be exchanged in independent Bureaux de Change in cities and major towns.

Ireland has a thoroughly modern financial system and banking is simple and convenient. ATM machines are located in the towns and cities and international credit cards and other financial instruments are widely accepted. Banking costs vary. However, many banks offer special student rates or even 'free banking'. Currently, one Euro is equivalent to 57 Rupees.

Religion
Ireland is a country where religion and religious practice have always been held in high esteem. Although the majority of Irish people are Roman Catholics, many other religions are respected and represented. In addition to the Christian denominations there are centres for Buddhists, Hindus, Bahais and for people of the Islamic and Jewish faiths.

Health & Welfare System
Ireland's health system is run by regional health boards which are all centrally controlled by the Department of Health and Children. Free medical care is available for those on low incomes and hospital services are available at reasonable costs for those on higher incomes. Visits to a General Practitioner costs about €45.00.

A student health service is provided in institutions. It is free of charge and completely confidential. It is staffed by doctors, nurses and counsellors who are equipped to deal with various medical problems.

Travel
For a small country, Ireland offers an enormous diversity of landscapes: from long sandy beaches to rugged coastline; from bog land plains to the dramatic cliffs of the West coast, with much more in between! The environment provides endless opportunities for outdoor leisure pursuits including water sports, hill walking and rock climbing. Many colleges also have their own on-campus sports complex with facilities such as swimming pools, running tracks, squash courts and gyms.

Cities, towns and villages in Ireland also afford boundless opportunities for relaxation and recreation including pubs, clubs, restaurants, museums, art galleries, craft exhibitions, indoor sports facilities and music and arts festivals. Festivals are held throughout the year all over the country - a wonderful opportunity to sample some Irish culture whilst getting to know different parts of the island.

Because of its size, travel within Ireland is relatively easy. CIE (Coras Iompair Eireann) - the national transport service- operates trains, buses and coaches throughout the country. Irish Rail (Ianrod Eireann) operates the nationwide rail services, the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) and other suburban rail services. Private coach and bus services are also available.

The United Kingdom and other parts of Europe are also easily accessible by both air and sea. The main airports in the country are in Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Belfast, but there are also a number of regional airports. All of these offer regular services to and from London (one hour's-flying time) and many offer direct flights to other main European capitals and to the United States. Ferry services operate from several ports on the East and South coasts to England, Scotland, Wales and France.

Students holding an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can generally avail of discounts on public transport.