Tips for Travellers

Here are some helpful websites for learning how to travel well:
Rick Steve's website
The Savvy Traveller

The Lingo of Ireland
Some of the following terms are slang or just Irish usage.
boxty = potato pancakes filled with meats and vegetables
cheers = thanks
chips = french fries
crack, craic = good times, fun (pronounced crack)
crisps = potato chips
fa'ilte = welcome (Gaelic)
garda = policeman
lift = elevator
quay = waterfront (pronounced key)
rasher = bacon
sla'inte = cheers or goodbye (Gaelic - pronounced schlancha)
take-away = fast food, to go
till = cash register

Some sayings that might not be what you think ...
"Feck" and "shite" are not what you think. Both words are a bit worse than "shoot," but fall more into the "crap" or "suck" category -- little kids shouldn't say them, but they're not profanity and are used widely as a (marginally) acceptable way of cussing.
"Slagging you" means "teasing you."
And if someone asks if you have a "fag," relax. It means cigarette.

Irish weather
Yep, rain falls heavier and more often in January. Average temperatures in January range from 34-46 fahrenheit (1-8 celsius).