Dublin is a bustling city with a population of over 1.7 million. Though it has a cosmopolitan feel, Dublin has still managed to retain its own distinct culture, which is expressed in a love of literature, drama and traditional music.

Steeped in History - Shopping can be combined with sight-seeing and history referencing with the centre of the city being the scene for many historical events. A stroll through the city is like a walk through time, from Government Buildings on Dawson Street, down to the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, centre stage to the historical 1916 Easter Rising.

The city on your doorstep - Dublin is one of the oldest cities in Europe and with ancient churches, grand buildings and fine museums, cultural riches abound. From the ancient to the avant-garde, from history architecture, literature, art and archaeology to the performing arts, Dublin has it. The real advantage to the visitor is that everything is contained within a small area. Furthermore, Dublin boasts the largest park to be found in a European city, the Phoenix Park

Internet Capital of Europe - Dublin is a modern city with all the skills, structures, features and facilities necessary to ensure that SIGIR 2013 is a conference to remember. Dublin is widely considered 'the internet capital of Europe' with seven of the world's top ten global companies have significant bases here.

Visa Information

Everyone entering Ireland must have a valid passport, or in the case of European Union Member States, a national identity card. Visas are required for some countries. Delegates should check with their local Irish representation. A valid driving license is required to drive in Ireland.

Please note that it can take up to 8 weeks to process a visa application and early application is recommended. The Conference Organising Committee, or its agents, cannot accept any responsibility for visa applications. Where a delegate is unable to attend because of failure to obtain a visa on time, the normal cancellation policy for registration fee and accommodation will apply.

If you need to apply for a visa, please register for the conference, pay your registration and accommodation fees in full and request a visa letter from Conference Partners at sigir2013delegates@conferencepartners.ie

Please note the Irish Embassy will only accept a visa letter if it states that the delegate has registered for the congress and has paid their registration fee and accommodation fees in full. The Irish Embassy will only accept original letters from us so please allow enough time for us to post the visa letter to you.

For more information please see the Department of Foreign Affairs webpage www.dfa.ie

Local Information

Temperature
Ireland enjoys relatively cool summers. nDaily temperature in July is on average 19 °C. Dublin enjoys reasonable sunshine in July with unpredictable rain showers. These rain showers generally don’t last long, but it is recommended that you have an umbrella or light rain gear to hand.

Shopping
Dublin has a busy city centre shopping area around Grafton Street and Henry Street. There is a huge range of products to bring home – from traditional Irish hand-made crafts to international designer labels. Shopping hours in general are from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday, with shops open until 8.00pm on Thursdays, and many shops open from 2.00pm – 6.00pm on Sunday. Dundrum Town Centre is a large shopping centre located in South Dublin. The LUAS Green Line serves Dundrum Town Centre from St. Stephens Green to Brides Glen. The Dundrum and Balally stops are only a few minutes-walk from the centre.

Insurance
The Conference Organising Committee or its agents will not be responsible for any medical expenses, loss or accidents incurred during the conference. Delegates are strongly advised to arrange their own personal insurance to cover medical and other expenses including accident or loss. Where a delegate has to cancel for medical reasons, the normal cancellation policy will apply. It is recommended that citizens from EU countries bring with them a current EHIC card.

Tax Refunds
Value Added Tax (VAT) is charged at 23% on most goods. Cash back is the simplest and most widely used VAT refund service that issues cash refunds on departure for a handling fee. Ask for cash back form when you make your purchase.

Electricity
220 volts

Time
From March to October, Ireland operates on Greenwich Mean Time + 1 hour.

What to Pack
Include jeans and casual wear for Monday night (Irish Night). Smart attire is recommended for the Conference Banquet. Rainwear and comfortable shoes are advised if you are planning some additional optional tours.

Access to Dublin

Dublin Airport is located just 8 miles from Dublin City centre. One of Europe's busiest airports, it is served by over 100 airlines, many of which are low fare airlines. There are excellent transport links in place to other regional airports. Transfer time from the airport to the centre of the capital will take approximately 20 minutes.

An extensive public transport network serves Dublin. This includes intercity trains, the DART, Dublin Bus services and a light rail network (LUAS). Airlink is an express service to and from Dublin Airport and Aircoach is a privately-run 24-hour dedicated bus service connecting a number of city centre hotels and locations with Dublin Airport.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is located about 12km south of Dublin city and is the location of the main Stena Sealink and Irish Ferries lines to the United Kingdom and France.

Transport in Dublin

Dublin Airport

Taxi Taxis are available just outside the main entrance of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrival halls.

Aircoach On arrival in Dublin airport, you can take the Aircoach, detailed information on routes and times can be found on www.aircoach.ie. This bus service will bring you into Dublin city.

Aircoach Fares One-Way €7 / Return €12

Airlink 747 On arrival in Dublin airport, you can take the Airlink 747bus from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 which will bring you into Dublin city via the CCD. Information on routes and times can be found here www.dublinbus.ie.

Current Fares: One-Way €6.00         Return €10.00

Dublin Car Hire

Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 and Multi-Storey Car Park, Terminal2 Phone +353 1 844 5466. www.hertz.ie

Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 and Multi-Storey Car Park, Terminal2 Phone +353 1 844 5150. www.budget.ie

Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 and Multi-Storey Car Park Terminal 2 Phone +353 1 605 7500. www.avis.ie

Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 and Multi-Storey Car Park Terminal 2 Phone +353 1 812 0410. ie.sixt.com

Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 and Multi-Storey Car Park Terminal 2 Phone +353 1 8122800. www.europcar.ie