Driving in Ireland? Straight Roads: No Problem. Roundabouts: Total Panic.

Ireland is absolutely beautiful.

The people are wonderful. The countryside is spectacular. Around every bend is another view that makes you want to stop and take a picture. 

Assuming, of course, you survive the bend. 

My niece and I landed at Shannon Airport, rented a car and set off for two weeks of exploring Ireland. 

I confidently pulled out of the rental-car lot thinking: 

I’ve got this. 

I did not have this. 

Driving on the left on a straight road? Strange, but manageable. 

Then came the roundabouts. 

Decades of American driving took over. I looked the wrong way and started to pull out. Suddenly, a car was coming straight at us. 

BRAKES. 

HORNS. 

YELLING. 

HAND GESTURES. 

My heart was pounding. My knuckles were white. 

I’m pretty sure someone yelled: 

“YOU STUPID AMERICANS!” 

His windows were up, so technically I couldn’t hear him. 

But based on the facial expression and hand gestures, I feel fairly confident I captured the spirit of the conversation. 😂 

And that was only the beginning. 

For two weeks, I navigated roundabouts, stone walls, blind curves and roads that seemed approximately six inches wider than our rental car. 

Ireland was breathtaking. I just wish I’d seen more of it. I was too busy staring at the road.

Meanwhile, my niece couldn’t understand why I was finding this so difficult. 

Finally, I said:  “Great. You drive tomorrow.” 

The next morning, I handed her the keys. 

Twenty minutes later, her knuckles were white too. 

Then came her official verdict: 

“You can drive.” 

And that concluded my niece’s entire driving career in Ireland. 😂 

I drove the rest of the trip. 

By the end of two weeks, something remarkable had happened. 

My brain had switched sides. Stay left. Look right. Repeat. 

Then I came home. 

I got into my own car and discovered something slightly alarming: 

Driving on the RIGHT side now felt wrong. 

Apparently, Ireland had successfully retrained my brain. 

Eventually, I switched back. 

At least I think I did. So far, nobody has honked. 😂 

THE PASSPORT SOCIETY TRAVEL NOTE 

LEFT. RIGHT. BREATHE. 

If you can afford a driver in Ireland, GET ONE. 

If you can’t—and I couldn’t—remember three things: 

STAY LEFT. 
That’s where your car belongs. 

LOOK RIGHT. 
Especially at roundabouts. Your American brain will tell you otherwise. Ignore it. 

BREATHE. 
The Irish driver behind you knows where he’s going. 

You don’t. 

Let him honk. 

And one final travel tip: 

If your passenger keeps telling you driving on the other side of the road doesn’t look that difficult... 

...hand her the keys. 

Give it about 20 minutes. 😂