A cultural travel guide to the world

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Understanding local customs is where a journey begins. Find the topics that matter to you and feel at ease wherever you go.

Ireland

2 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Ireland

Ireland: leave farm gates as you find them and keep dogs off farmland

Do

  • Stay on waymarked trails and walk along field edges
  • Leave gates as you find them; close any that were closed
  • Cross boundaries by gates or stiles
  • Take all your litter home
  • Don't park across farm entrances

Don’t

  • Don't climb over or damage fences, stone walls or hedges
  • Don't interfere with livestock, machinery or crops
  • Don't bring a dog onto farmland, even on a lead, without the landowner's permission

Disturbing livestock or damaging boundaries causes real losses for farmers and can put you at risk. Many trails cross private land with the owners' consent, so follow the signs on site.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Irish Farmers Journal: What is expected of the public when entering on to farmland

Local customsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Ireland

Ireland: chat back warmly, and don't raise sensitive topics first

Do

  • Answer warmly when shop staff, drivers or the person next to you start chatting
  • Weather, your travels and sport are safe openers
  • You can learn the Irish greeting 'Dia dhuit' (hello)
  • Laugh along when you are gently teased ('slagging')

Don’t

  • Don't call Ireland part of the United Kingdom
  • Don't bring up Northern Ireland or the last few decades of history unless the other person does
  • Don't imitate an Irish accent

Being cool carries no penalty but comes across as unfriendly; getting the country's name wrong or joking about history can easily offend. English is fine for everyday conversation.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Cultural Atlas: Irish Culture – Communication

Site-specific notes 4

Taken from the "don'ts" on each site page here. Open a site for its full etiquette and background.

Ring of Kerry

  • Entering private farms and pastures
  • standing in the road to take photos
  • honking at sheep
  • stopping at random on blind bends

Old Library, Trinity College Dublin

  • Photography is prohibited in the Treasury (to protect the manuscripts)
  • do not touch exhibits or old books
  • the campus is a working university, so do not enter teaching areas

Cliffs of Moher

  • Do not climb over guard rails or approach unguarded cliff edges
  • do not disturb seabirds
  • do not litter