From Asia to the Americas and groups to individual travellers, we’ll see you and your visitors home safely. Download the list of ITOA members and the services they offer for a variety of Gathering themed events.

Gathering Gestures

The Tourism Industry in Ireland has developed hundreds of Gathering Gestures as a token of appreciation for overseas visitors in 2013. The gestures are for visitors travelling especially for the gathering, welcoming all who travel to Ireland in 2013. Examples include hotels offering complementary Irish coffee’s, free traditional music evenings and helping visitors start to trace their roots free of charge. Others include discounted rates if your surname is associated with the hotel, complementary Irish scones on arrival and free walking tours aswell as many more. The Gathering Gesture App is available for international download in the iPhone and Android App store. 

Accommodation

Do you need accommodation for your group? The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) have a Group Reservations Team who will get back to you quickly and have lots of options for you. You can contact them here.  

Alternatively, B&B Ireland also offers a range of accommodation for your gathering from Ancestry Seekers B&Bs to those offering a true Gaeltacht experience.

Transport

Bus Éireann is the national coach and bus company operating over 300 routes across the island of Ireland. From the moment you land, Bus Éireann can bring you across the country with hundreds of daily departures from Dublin Airport to destinations throughout Ireland. Bus Éireann also operate regular services from Cork and Shannon Airport and Ireland West Airport Knock to cities, towns and villages.

For Dublin City transport, Dublin Bus operates the city’s bus routes running from 06.00-23.30. A Nitelink late service also operates most nights of the week. The Dublin Luas system, is a state of the art light rail transit system running from St. Stephens' Green to Sandyford and from Tallaght to Connolly Station.

Irishrail provides passenger information on all intercity, regional and DART services. Surburban and InterCity trains service outlying areas of Dublin, whereas the DART railway stretches the full length of Dublin Bay, from Malahide in North County Dublin to Greystones in County Wicklow.

Tax Free Worldwide

Did you know that tourists residing outside the EU are entitled to claim back up to 17% of the VAT paid on goods they intend to bring home?  Ask for a tax free form in the store, fully complete and post it back to Tax Free Worldwide in the international pre-paid envelope provided within three months.  Alternatively you can drop it off at the airport desks in Dublin and Shannon, or at one of the international refund points. For further information visit www.taxfreeworldwide.com.

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS)

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) is specialist service offering immediate support and assistance to tourists who are victimised while visiting Ireland. The Service is free and confidential.

ITAS provides the following services:

ITAS does not offer:

• Financial assistance

• Replacement of lost items

• Insurance or legal advice

What to do if you are a tourist crime victim:

Even with the best advice and planning, things can sometimes go wrong. If you are a tourist victim of crime, report the incident in person to the nearest Garda Station (Police Station), who will contact the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS). Reporting crime increases the chance of the perpetrator being caught and in some instances of getting property returned. It also increases the safety of visitors to Ireland. All tourist victims of crime are referred to ITAS by the Gardaí (Police).