Money
The national currency is the Euro. There are 100 cents (c) in one euro. Coins are in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50c,€ 1 and €2; notes are 5, 10, 20, 50 100, 200. People in shops and pubs do not expect the exact money, but buses will. You may find that things cost an unusual price. For instance, you may find that entrance to a museum cost €1.90. Ireland has recently switched to the Euro and in most cases converted from Punts to Euro exactly with no adjustment.

Banking

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 10h00 to 16h00. ATM facilities are available in most small towns and villages.

Weather
The Irish climate is quite mild. However, it can seem quite harsh to students who come from a warm climate and the dampness in winter can make it seem even colder.

The best way to prepare for our Irish weather is to make sure you have warm clothes that will protect you in all weather types.

Food
Healthy eating is important, even more so when choosing to live in a different culture. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the correct amounts, to ensure you will get all the energy you need.

The main supermarkets, eg Tesco, Dunnes Stores and SuperValue are the cheapest places to buy basic foodstuffs. There are also a few specialist shops in Drogheda where you can buy spices, certain types of grains or vegetables that are outside the normal Irish range.

Shopping
Most shops in Drogheda are open 9.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday with late night shopping on Thursday evenings until 8.00pm. Sunday shopping is from 12h00 – 18h00 for the major food supermarkets and stores.

Accommodation
We will organise accommodation for you before your arrival. You can either choose host family accommodation (€ 95 - € 120 per week) or house sharing with other students at the college (€ 40 - € 50 per week).

House sharing usually works out cheaper for students and the college tries to place you with students of similar age and gender.

Electricity
The standard electricity voltage is between 220-240 volts, and frequency is 50 Hertz. Buildings in Ireland have sockets for 13 amp square pin fused plugs. Adaptors can be bought in any hardware shop to adapt your plugs to fit 3 pin sockets.

Travel
Students can travel from Drogheda to Dublin by rail or bus. Journey times may vary from between 30 minutes to 50 minutes depending on your final destination.
Alternatively, there is a motorway which may get you into Dublin in about 20 minutes.

If living in Drogheda, accommodation organised by Royal Business College is within walking distance of the college. Bicycles are also very popular for getting around. The college can also offer advice on where to purchase new or used bicycles.