Travel to Ireland via NI from England

[Witchgonebad]

We booked a holiday last year to ROI in October. The Balance is due in a few weeks.

We’re meant to be driving from England to Scotland and getting the ferry to Belfast then driving across to ROI.

The UK isn’t currently on Ireland’s green list so our trip looks like a no go if things stays as they are.

Have I got the rules right? Are the rules the same as we’re travelling across the border from NI? And the ferry is coming from Scotland.

If you look at how Ireland are defining quarantine, witchgonebad , then not using public transport, not going in shops etc... would pretty much fulfil their requirements anyway

Please don't use this loop hole. We have the virus under control unlike the uk.

You want to pass through countries b ring the virus with you.

If you insist on doing this please make sure you down loss the Irish track and track app

You would need to check with whoever is providing you accommodation too. It is a loophole that is being exploited, intended for those of us living in the border regions. A quick Google will show you the news reports of tourists using the NI loophole being turned away from accommodation, shops, restaurants etc for not quarantining.

Please don’t, it’s not in the spirit. I’m just desperate for our numbers to remain low so schools can open etc

We wouldn’t be using, pubs, restaurants or shops. We’re not doing that at home so certainly won’t be doing it if we do go away.
Our only exposure to others would be the ferry, which I’d hope would have social distancing and mask wearing rules!

I agree with what has been mentioned above. My impression is that everyone from mainland UK should be quarantining for two weeks, that the NI exception is for people living in border areas. The situation may have changed by October though?

I’ll check with our accommodation, if they acknowledge it’s against the rules they should refund us or let us rebook I hope.

It would be clearer if they rules clearly stated exceptions for NI residents, not ‘for those traveling from NI.’
It’s wording that makes this unclear.

@Witchgonebad I can completely sympathise with how frustrating the whole thing is, believe me, I am really desperate to go on holiday, or do anything fun.

But, I disagree that your only contact would be the ferry. You will almost certainly have to stop for fuel once or twice on your journey, toilets, food etc. I think it’s these small interactions that we are all forgetting are a cause of the spread on a local level.

As I said, I live near the border and there’s even a bit of when we hear southern accents up here or vice versa (they might only be from down the road ), people really are trying to limit travel as much as possible.

I think you’d like to enjoy your holiday, rather than worry about not being able to see our beautiful country and enjoy all of its hospitality, and I don’t think that’s possible at the minute with this bloody virus.

All that travel to sit in a house and do an occasional walk, doesn’t sound worth it to me, when you could wait (hopefully not toooo long!) and really get to sample the finest bits of Ireland to their fullest!

I agree that the wording on this should be literal, it's too open to people (which you are not I understand) trying to take advantage of what they might see as a loophole. I think considering the rationale for the quarantine though, it follows that coming to RoI via NI should really need quarantine. Hope it changes by October for you.

I assume the wording had been long discussed before issued. Any mention of 'border checks', for whatever reason, will throw fuel onto a smouldering fire.

It’s a loophole because people want to selfishly use it as a loophole.

Do some of you have no idea how contentious this is? Or do you just not care because your holiday is more important than - oh, I don’t know - human life and not restarting a war?

I’m not trying to restart a war or murder anyone! 🙄
Just trying to work out if it’s ok to travel or if not if we’ll be able to get refunded.

Your flippant response is proof that you have no idea about the contention around free travel between NI and ROI.

Shocker, that.

@Witchgonebad

We wouldn’t be using, pubs, restaurants or shops. We’re not doing that at home so certainly won’t be doing it if we do go away. Our only exposure to others would be the ferry, which I’d hope would have social distancing and mask wearing rules!

So what’s the point in going?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ni-executive-seeks-panels-in-ports-and-airports-outlining-quarantine-rules-1.4274983%3fmode=amp

I found this old article discussing the travel loophole.
Just need to find something similar that’s official advise.
I could then use it to request a refund from the accommodation provider.

The won’t refund us if they see it that we can officially travel.

@FelicityPike As I said it’s mainly a walking holiday, exploring the countryside and scenery.
Where as we’d normally be stopping for pub lunches etc we’d have to take our own.
I’m not really into shopping and tourist attractions.

If the company let us move the booking to next year we’ll try and do that if possible.