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POST AND PHONES |
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In towns throughout Ireland you'll find fully automatic payphones in
kiosks; instructions for use are on display, and internal and
international calls can easily be made. A local call generally costs 30p
minimum in the Republic, 20p in the North but, as you might imagine,
long-distance daytime calls are very expensive. International calls are
cheapest if dialled direct after 6pm. Cardphones, found in towns all
over the country, are by far the most convenient way of making long-distance
calls, avoiding the chugging of coins interrupting your call; they're
also cheaper than coin-operated phones. Phonecards can be bought at
newsagents and post offices - it's worth carrying one with you since
cash-operated phones are rare in remote areas. If you make calls from a
hotel or the like, expect a hefty premium charged on top of the normal
price.
International dialling codes in the United Kingdom (including Northern
Ireland) and Ireland follow the European standard - to call Ireland the
code is 353, and for Northern Ireland, as part of the UK, it's 44. If
you're calling the North from the Republic, however, the code is 048
followed by an eight digit number. Almost all telephone codes in
Northern Ireland changed in 2000 and you may well come across out-of-date
ones on leaflets, brochures and stationery.
There are few fax offices outside Dublin or Belfast. If you need to use
a fax, ask at one of the swankier hotels - they're usually pleased to
help and are unlikely to charge you an unreasonable rate. The other
option is to enquire at the nearest Internet café as these sometimes
have fax facilities. Internet access is available in most reasonably
sized towns and in many hostels .
Post to or from the Republic is generally reasonably fast and efficient.
If it's something important, it's worth spending the extra for
registered mail. An Post (the postal service) has three different
charges for the Republic: letters and postcards to Ireland or Britain
cost 30p; those going to any other European country cost 32p; cards or
letters outside Europe cost 45p. Main post offices are open Monday to
Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm, and in cities and large towns
until 5.30pm on Saturday. From the North , letters and postcards travel
anywhere in the EU for 36p, for the rest of the world postcards are 40p
and letters cost a minimum of 45p. Post office hours in the North are
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5.30pm and Wednesday and
Saturday 9am to 12.30pm - later on Saturday in some Belfast offices.
Operator services
In the Republic :
Operator tel 10
Directory Enquiries within Ireland including Northern Ireland tel 11811
International Directory Enquiries tel 11818
International Operator Services tel 114
Telegrams tel 196
In the North :
Operator tel 100
Directory Enquiries tel 192
International Directory Enquiries tel 153
International Operator Services tel 155
Telegrams tel 0800 19019
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