the south of ireland..
@chicksdigscars (5483)
February 21, 2013 5:57am CST
As my previous post stated, my partner is taking me to Dublin for our anniversary. Dublin is in the South of Ireland, and we currently live in the North so it is a 2 hour drive away, and is like a whole different planet. We even have to use a different currency!
For anyone who is unfamiliar with the set up over here, Ireland is divided into “two countries” .. Obviously this isn’t a physical separation, as Ireland is still a whole. But the north of Ireland “belongs” to the UK, and therefore we are part of the UK, use British currency, have a British health and education system etc etc etc.
The South of Ireland however, is independent from the North. They are Irish, and also use the Euro like everyone else in Europe lol. There is an invisible line called “The Border” which separates the North from the South. Obviously you can travel from North to South and vice versa by car, as it is still physically joined, but you have to pay a toll.
For this reason, when we go to Dublin for the weekend, we have to use a different currency.
Isn’t that insane for it being the same place? Imagine if you had a different currency for different parts of your country?
It isn’t too bad, because you can just lift cash from your account out of an ATM down there, so you don’t need to worry about getting money changed. But it does just remind me how nuts this bloody country is lol!
What do you think of this?
3 people like this
15 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
28 Feb 13
Well I must say,"It's different, and reminds me of the Europeans who travel, for the first time to Canada, and visit Toronto. The next day they want to go to Vancouver, and suppose you can drive there in one day. They don't know that the whole of the British Isles would fit into Lake Ontario, with nothing hanging over!"
1 person likes this
@SuperShames (780)
• India
22 Feb 13
Hi chicsdigscars.
Well first of all I would like to congratulate you for your anniversary. I hope you and your partner will have a good time at Dublin. Though I have seen and read about the beautiful places in Ireland in movies and articles, I wasn't aware of this fact. Thanks for sharing this information with us here on mylot. By the way I hope I Ireland is as beautiful as they showed it in the movie P.S I love you. I would love to make a trip there once with my girlfriend.
Have a nice day !!!
SuperShames
SuperShames@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
oh it is, ireland is very beautiful, i love it here and love living here, except i wish i could move to somewhere warmer lol!
2 people like this
@SuperShames (780)
• India
4 Mar 13
Hi chicksdigscars.
Well in that way, I love living in my country. You can find all kinds of climate at all point of time in year. In summers you can take a holiday to colder places. And in winters you can go to south which has a very moderate climate. No wonder India is called land of diversity...
Have a nice day ...
1 person likes this
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
21 Feb 13
Hello
Chicksdigs I didn´t know that, but I wouldn´t worry about if I were visiting such nice place.
Blessings Chicks... dainy
Chicksdigs I didn´t know that, but I wouldn´t worry about if I were visiting such nice place.
Blessings Chicks... dainy
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
22 Feb 13
I have always wanted to see Ireland, both parts of it. It sounds fascinating and I am sure that it is a land full of legends - having seen articles about the Blarney Stone and the Giant's Causeway and of course St. Patrick and the snakes.
I love the Irish accent, whether from the north or the south and I have made close friends with a few Irish people. They are lovely open people regardless of the madness of the politics.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
Well I find that we Irish folk, north and south are quiet open, honesta nd fun-loving people. Although some from the north of ireland would call themselves british as apposed to irish lol.. but that's a different kettle of fish :)
The giants causeway is amazing!! I have been there twice, but I have never managed to walk across carrik-a-reed rope bridge which is near the causeway. it's too scary lol!
@kathylabayan (106)
• Philippines
22 Feb 13
Wow! First, praying for "forever-together" for you and your hubby!
And as for your country, divided in two but are still in the same land but different currency, Well it's unique though and a bit crazy to imagine, but Korea is, too. It's divided into two the South and North, What's worst is they are each other's worst enemies too. You're lucky your country is only subdivided in terms of territory but peace and unity still reigns. God Bless your country CHIcksdigscars :)
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
Well maybe not so much peace and unity, but the south and north arent at war with each other which is at least something lol!
@harmony01 (64)
• India
22 Feb 13
Hey, I did not know that.Good for knowledge.This is the best thing about myLot that you get to know so many things about different places of world and geography is not a boundation here. Have a wonderful trip.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
22 Feb 13
Nice, how long are you going to stay there? There are many things to see and do. And if you can travel around the area there are fantastic places to visit
all the best, urban
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
We arrive on friday early afternoom, and we don't leave until sunday night :)
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
22 Feb 13
Wow its the first time I am knowing of this division . I agree with you it sound kinda nuts because its still the same country lol but at least you can used the ATM and it will be like you i a new country that is always a fun feeling .
Hope you enjoy your trip
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
Well I hope to have fun anyway, I hate using new currency though lol I have a tendency to spend too much money haha!
@redredrose (1105)
• United States
21 Feb 13
wow i didn't know that in Ireland you could drive 2 hrs and be in another country. How amazing that is. I mean your really in the same country but not considered the same country. Having to use different currency i couldn't imagine doing that here would be so confusing. I live in America and we don't use but one currency. I didn't know this about Ireland . Thanks for the conversation and info it was very interesting. I hope to go to Ireland someday.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
Ireland, North or South is beautiful. I love living here, although I would like it if it was warmer haha!
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
22 Feb 13
I have been to Dublin and I find it a very nice place but only for a short time.I used to be a seafarer before, so I have visited different countries where our voyage took us. I didn't know that Ireland uses two different currency. So I guess, the south part is a member of the European Union who uses Euro currency. Yes, it's good that you can just withdraw cash from your ATM without bothering to convert it to Euro. I guess some Irish people have been used to it, I mean the south and the north. Enjoy your stay in Dublin and have an enjoyable anniversary to both of you. 
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
oh wow!! I would love to travel more, but I actually get extremely travel sick, even just going by car lol, I dread to think what I would be like by boat!
Thank you very much :)
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
21 Feb 13
Wow, I didn't know that. I heard some people refer to North and South Ireland but I figure they are just referring to it geographically only, I didn't know that they are actually referring to two different countries. That's insanely amazing, to drive for two hours and be in a different country already.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
It is a little strange, but then again I can look at it as exciting, as if I actually am going to a different country lol! Like a little holiday lol!
@robspeakman (1700)
•
22 Feb 13
I really don't want to come across as patronising...
I checked your profile and saw you age, from that I would assume that you were not old enough to have travelled around Europe before the Euro?
Every nation had their own currency and if one was to hop between the countries one could expect to change Pounds to French Francs, German Marks or Italian Lira.
The republic of Ireland is a different country to Northern Ireland so it does appear normal to me
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
You did come across as slightly patronising to be honest. I was in fact 14/15 when the euro came into full effect. I had been to Spain with school, so therefore had to use Spanish currency on my own accord, not with parental control. I also had family in the south of Ireland, so had regularly used "punts" when I was down seeing them, to which I travelled to them on the train, again on my own.
My point was not that different countries had different currencies, because short of having no common sense, that fact is known to everyone. My point was that IRELAND is technically "one country" yet there are 2 different currencies in effect in the one country. I am aware that Northern Ireland is a different country that the Republic of Ireland, I do live here, have done for 26 years, but when most people travel from Spain, to France, to Germany etc, and need to change currency, they are travelling to a different country. By complete name and language! .. When travelling from Northern Ireland to Southern Ireland, you are practically in the same country, albeit different due to politics. Hence my point to those in Europe/America etc who would find that a little strange.
Also, now that the euro IS being used, one can travel all round europe with one accepted currency. I live in Northern Ireland, a 2 hours drive from Southern Ireland, yet need to change currency, while people can travel from spain to france without changing a thing. That is what made it strange and interesting.
Maybe I have made a clearer point now.
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
22 Feb 13
I hope that you have fun on your trip be safe and be well on your trip
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 13
I live in England and in my university days I studied in Wales. At that time students from Northern Ireland got a grant and students from the Republic of Ireland didn't get a grant. Those students from Southern Ireland had difficulty affording their studies with their lack of finance. I know Northern Ireland where Belfast is part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It seems to be Southern Ireland is like the European places that also use the Euro currency. There is a border and I wonder if it is invisible. I went to Dublin overnight in my student days. Yes, is it like you visiting a different country. Yes, you can get some money from an ATM Machine. Brazil feels very different from the rest of South America. That is due the language difference. I can just imagine South Korea and North Korea and its border there.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
28 Feb 13
Yes the border is invisible. You havw to pay a toll when you get to the border but it is invisble.
I have been to London, and Cardiff in Wales :) I loved both places :)
