When you’re traveling to Ireland, you should be prepared for some of the things that you may not know about. This includes Ancestry, driving under the influence, and getting prescriptions for medications.
Getting a prescription for medications in Ireland
The best way to get a prescription is to find a GP in your area. Many GPs have agreements with local pharmacies. Those that don’t will usually be able to refer you to a suitable specialist.
There are a host of schemes that you can take advantage of to save money and get a prescription in the process. One scheme, called the Medical Scheme, is specifically designed to help patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Another is the Health Amendment Act, which provides free medications to patients with a history of hepatitis C. It may be worth a chat with your doctor about what schemes are available in your locality.
If you’re on the hunt for a prescription, be sure to check the small print. There are a number of reasons why a GP might decline to write you a prescription. Among them are the aforementioned reasons as well as lack of space in the GP’s office. To make matters worse, many GPs are also in the throes of the recession.
St. Brigid’s Day
St Brigid’s Day is one of the oldest festivals in Ireland. It is a day of celebrations, fertility, and new life. It was originally a pre-Christian holiday called Imbolc.
The holiday falls on the first Monday of February, the first month of the year. This was the time to seek blessings for the coming year and for your home. In this time, you could make a cross or a colcannon, and also leave an offering at a holy well.
The cult of Brigid has long been at the intersection of both folk religion and institutional Catholicism. Unlike some other Irish saints, she is not the patron of a particular region of Ireland, and her cult has remained relatively intact throughout the country.
One of the most famous traditions on Saint Brigid’s Day is the Brigid’s Cross. These crosses are woven from rushes and straw and are meant to protect people from fire. They are usually decorated with a square or shamrock in the centre.
Driving under the influence in Ireland
In Ireland, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a crime. There are legal limits for blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and for urine BAC, and also for the amount of alcohol in the system.
BAC is measured in microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath. It is a good idea to keep in mind that the lowest legal limit is 80 mg, while the highest is 107.
If you are arrested for driving under the influence in Ireland, you will be asked to provide a specimen of your blood or urine to a designated doctor. You will also be given some information on your rights.
The new drink driving penalty system was introduced in October 2018. Only drivers with a valid licence are eligible. Depending on the offence, the penalties can vary.
The maximum limit for a first offence is four years’ disqualification, while a subsequent offence carries a six-year minimum. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the fines and penalty points may vary.
Ancestry of irish people
Irish people are one of the last holdouts of the ancient Celtic languages. They were shaped by external influences, but a strong internal character has remained intact through the centuries.
Ancient Celtic culture spread into Central Europe and Britain, as well as into Ireland. There are numerous tribal groups in Ireland. These include Conmaicne, Erainn, and Mairtine. Some of these tribes took their names from the chief deity, or deified ancestors. Others were descended from migrants.
The earliest settlers to Ireland were farmers. They brought cattle, cereals, and ceramics. They also brought a tendency for brown eyes and black hair.
When Ireland was under English rule, many of the settlers left to settle in America, Australia, and the Caribbean. Over the next few centuries, waves of emigration created a new population. This made it impossible for many to remain in Ireland.
In the 17th century, Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh compiled Leabhar na nGenealach, a book on the genealogy of the Irish. It describes semi-mythical histories of the early Irish settlers.