this is probably a dumb question, but is it pretty safe to hitch-hike in Ireland? I live in the U.S. and I'm kinda scared to do it here, lol... I was just wondering because I'd like to visit again, and I've always wondered about this..
Yes it is safe. I've found it no harder or easier than in years past. I'd sooner hitch in Ireland or Europe than in the US. I have hitched all over both continents.
Ireland was the easiest... but still, when you're hitchhiking nothing is guaranteed.
I've heard it said that the worst place to travel was Dublin, where there definitely are young gangs who target obvious tourist cars, and will even smash a rear window while you are in it, and pinch anything in sight.
But the people.........it's a great way of meeting the people, hitching.
PS You've been watching too many Chainsaw Massacre-type movies.
It's certainly safe enough hitching around here, (West Cork). It's all very well saying get the bus, but some places have very few, or no buses. I have several times picked up people hitching who have just missed a bus, and would have hours to wait for the next one, that's bad enough, but in some places it might be the next bus is next week.
I used to hitch everywhere, even if I was flush with a few quid at the time. I'm still friends with some of the characters who I met on the road. A more affluent society and young people with more disposable cash has made hitch hiking a thing of the past I think. I can't remember the last time I passed a hitcher in Ireland.
I used to hitch all the time too. I remember it taking two whole days to get from Dublin to Sligo once, back in the eighties. But only three hours for the return journey.
Contrary to iwerzon's experience, I've actually seen more hitchers on the roads this summer than for some years previously, especially on the N4 and N5.
I've given plenty of lifts there, but more especially, like Cathy, in areas where there's a limited (or even non-existent) bus service.
Hitching is probably safer in Ireland than most countries in Western Europe, though, having said that there's still the caveat that it's not wise for women to hitch alone and, also, the country does have some astonishingly bad drivers.
Here's some specific advice:
1) bring a waterproof coat and hat (or a coat with a hood);
2) bear in mind that, unless you're hitching on the slip-roads to motorways or on the National roads (N1, N2, etc.), you'll be more than likely to reach your destination via a series of short lifts;
3) you'll need to catch a bus to an outlying area to hitch out of any of the cities (especially Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Galway);
4) consider using Bus Éireann - http://www.buseireann.ie/ - to get you to your main destination - a single from Dublin to Cork, for instance, is only €13 - and then hitch around the minor roads;
5) buy a decent map - the Ordnance Survey Ireland Holiday series or something similar;
6) display a card with your preferred destination;
and, lastly,
7) be prepared for intriguing conversations and sudden detours!
I hitched from Ashbourne, near Dublin, to Ardara, Co. Donegal at the end of April this year. I set out in the early afternoon and was dropped at my destination by about 8.30 pm - that included stopping off for coffee with two of the drivers.
Being early middle-aged, long-haired, balding and amply bearded, I might not be, at a glance, many people's first choice of travel companion, but I get lifts anyway. I don't know for certain whether it helps, but I always ensure that my instruments are clearly visible.
I have had some interesting people travelling this way - and it is not uncommon that I find there is some point of common interest, a common familiarity with a particular place or even a common acquaintance.
There definitely seem to be far, far fewer hitchhikers in Ireland and Britain these days. I always found hitching easier in Britain actually though still fairly good in Ireland. A common frustration in Ireland was that people would often take you only three or four miles.
" you'll need to catch a bus to an outlying area to hitch out of any of the cities (especially Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Galway);"
Yes - I discovered this to my chagrin, trying to get out of Galway City, walking 3 or 4 miles along busy dual carriageways, with a heavy rucksack and two instruments. You can probably add Cork to that list. Most other towns in Ireland are small enough that the good hitching spots are within easy walking distance of the centres.
"I've heard it said that the worst place to travel was Dublin, where there definitely are young gangs who target obvious tourist cars, and will even smash a rear window while you are in it, and pinch anything in sight."
That doesn't surprise me about Dublin, unfortunately. But I would imagine it's mostly an inner city problem. If you get a bus out of town, you should be fine - besides, you wouldn't have much hope of getting a lift from the city centre.
Yep, both Waterford and Cork are a real pain if you're heading west, but, conversely, there's only a short walk from the centre in both cases if you want to go east or north. Sligo's a real drag too, if you want to head south.
In the early Seventies I and other student types hitched around Britain as a matter of course. The demise of the custom is a bit of a mystery to me: I don't instinctively blame it on Thatcherism - though maybe increases in traffic density and stressed-up people made more drivers unwilling to stop.
There's a bit of hitching around Kerry still. Up to the early nineties it was a relatively common way for young people to get around (didn't have the cash for cars or buses - pre "Tiger"). A good few on the road would be short-distance hitchers (from "town" to "home") and would be picked up ultimately by someone they knew/knew of.
It's just much less common now. I think it's dying out really. Couldn't recommend you make it a part of your travel plans, to be honest.
almost ITM.....
almost ITM.....
this is probably a dumb question, but is it pretty safe to hitch-hike in Ireland? I live in the U.S. and I'm kinda scared to do it here, lol... I was just wondering because I'd like to visit again, and I've always wondered about this..
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by steve...r
Re: almost ITM.....
It used to be and very easy too but times may have changed.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Safe, yes.
Yes it is safe. I've found it no harder or easier than in years past. I'd sooner hitch in Ireland or Europe than in the US. I have hitched all over both continents.
Ireland was the easiest... but still, when you're hitchhiking nothing is guaranteed.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by David Levine
Re: almost ITM.....
Luck of the draw.
Why Gamble? save yourself 10punt? Get the bus. Saying that I did an awful lot of Hitching when younger!
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: almost ITM.....
I've heard it said that the worst place to travel was Dublin, where there definitely are young gangs who target obvious tourist cars, and will even smash a rear window while you are in it, and pinch anything in sight.
But the people.........it's a great way of meeting the people, hitching.
PS You've been watching too many Chainsaw Massacre-type movies.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: almost ITM.....
It's certainly safe enough hitching around here, (West Cork). It's all very well saying get the bus, but some places have very few, or no buses. I have several times picked up people hitching who have just missed a bus, and would have hours to wait for the next one, that's bad enough, but in some places it might be the next bus is next week.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by cathycook
Re: almost ITM.....
I used to hitch everywhere, even if I was flush with a few quid at the time. I'm still friends with some of the characters who I met on the road. A more affluent society and young people with more disposable cash has made hitch hiking a thing of the past I think. I can't remember the last time I passed a hitcher in Ireland.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by iwerzon
Re: almost ITM.....
I used to hitch all the time too. I remember it taking two whole days to get from Dublin to Sligo once, back in the eighties. But only three hours for the return journey.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by ...
Re: almost ITM.....
Contrary to iwerzon's experience, I've actually seen more hitchers on the roads this summer than for some years previously, especially on the N4 and N5.
I've given plenty of lifts there, but more especially, like Cathy, in areas where there's a limited (or even non-existent) bus service.
Hitching is probably safer in Ireland than most countries in Western Europe, though, having said that there's still the caveat that it's not wise for women to hitch alone and, also, the country does have some astonishingly bad drivers.
Here's some specific advice:
1) bring a waterproof coat and hat (or a coat with a hood);
2) bear in mind that, unless you're hitching on the slip-roads to motorways or on the National roads (N1, N2, etc.), you'll be more than likely to reach your destination via a series of short lifts;
3) you'll need to catch a bus to an outlying area to hitch out of any of the cities (especially Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Galway);
4) consider using Bus Éireann - http://www.buseireann.ie/ - to get you to your main destination - a single from Dublin to Cork, for instance, is only €13 - and then hitch around the minor roads;
5) buy a decent map - the Ordnance Survey Ireland Holiday series or something similar;
6) display a card with your preferred destination;
and, lastly,
7) be prepared for intriguing conversations and sudden detours!
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by MacCruiskeen
Re: almost ITM.....
All good advice from Floss the T.
I hitched from Ashbourne, near Dublin, to Ardara, Co. Donegal at the end of April this year. I set out in the early afternoon and was dropped at my destination by about 8.30 pm - that included stopping off for coffee with two of the drivers.
Being early middle-aged, long-haired, balding and amply bearded, I might not be, at a glance, many people's first choice of travel companion, but I get lifts anyway. I don't know for certain whether it helps, but I always ensure that my instruments are clearly visible.
I have had some interesting people travelling this way - and it is not uncommon that I find there is some point of common interest, a common familiarity with a particular place or even a common acquaintance.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: almost ITM.....
There definitely seem to be far, far fewer hitchhikers in Ireland and Britain these days. I always found hitching easier in Britain actually though still fairly good in Ireland. A common frustration in Ireland was that people would often take you only three or four miles.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by sergeant fox
Re: almost ITM.....
" you'll need to catch a bus to an outlying area to hitch out of any of the cities (especially Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Galway);"
Yes - I discovered this to my chagrin, trying to get out of Galway City, walking 3 or 4 miles along busy dual carriageways, with a heavy rucksack and two instruments. You can probably add Cork to that list. Most other towns in Ireland are small enough that the good hitching spots are within easy walking distance of the centres.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: almost ITM.....
"I've heard it said that the worst place to travel was Dublin, where there definitely are young gangs who target obvious tourist cars, and will even smash a rear window while you are in it, and pinch anything in sight."
That doesn't surprise me about Dublin, unfortunately. But I would imagine it's mostly an inner city problem. If you get a bus out of town, you should be fine - besides, you wouldn't have much hope of getting a lift from the city centre.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: almost ITM.....
Yep, both Waterford and Cork are a real pain if you're heading west, but, conversely, there's only a short walk from the centre in both cases if you want to go east or north. Sligo's a real drag too, if you want to head south.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by MacCruiskeen
Re: almost ITM.....
In the early Seventies I and other student types hitched around Britain as a matter of course. The demise of the custom is a bit of a mystery to me: I don't instinctively blame it on Thatcherism - though maybe increases in traffic density and stressed-up people made more drivers unwilling to stop.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by nicholas
Re: almost ITM.....
The introduction of the Student Rail Card had a huge effect on the numbers hitching in the UK.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by MacCruiskeen
Re: almost ITM.....
There's a bit of hitching around Kerry still. Up to the early nineties it was a relatively common way for young people to get around (didn't have the cash for cars or buses - pre "Tiger"). A good few on the road would be short-distance hitchers (from "town" to "home") and would be picked up ultimately by someone they knew/knew of.
It's just much less common now. I think it's dying out really. Couldn't recommend you make it a part of your travel plans, to be honest.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Plasterboard
Re: almost ITM.....
Be advised my fellow American - asking for "a ride" in Ireland can be misconstrued. Make sure you ask for "a lift."
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: almost ITM.....
on Sunday i was late for the music in Tulla and tired of walking. only took a few cars going by until "my" ride came along.
# Posted on September 18th 2009 by notafarmer