Crossing the Irish border

Politically, Ireland is still divided into two parts but then after partition there was a land frontier between the two. The larger portion, comprising twenty-six counties, made up the Republic of Ireland and had its own Customs Service. The remainder of the country was under the control of the Northern Ireland Government and formed part of the British Customs Union. It covered the north-eastern portion and consisted of the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. The border began at Carlingford Lough in the east and, skirting Castleblavney, Monaghan, Aughnacloy and Clones, following an irregular, but in general north-westerly, course inland almost as far as Donegal Bay. Just short of the west coast, however, it turns sharply north at Belleek and, passing between Lifford and Strabane and then to the west of Londonderry, until it reached the coast at Lough Foyle near Muff in Co. Donegal. As a result of this division, there are certain differences between the motor laws and the Customs tariffs in force on the two sides of the border. How these affect motorists traveling between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is fully explained under the four headings below.It cannot be too strongly stressed that the border or land frontier between the Republic and Northern Ireland can be crossed only by the `approved' roads as shown on the map and listed in the schedule. No entry or exit may be made by any other road. It will also be seen from the schedule that two of these roads can be used only for intermediate crossings and not for first entry or final exit. An explanatory leaflet accompanies every Triptyque, and a Member who reads the leaflet carefully should not experience any difficulty when crossing the border. At the important crossings A.A. Frontier Officers are on duty to assist Members.

1. THE MOTORIST FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND CROSSING INTO NORTHERN IRELAND.

Practically all cars entering Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland are now liable to duty (33.33%), and Purchase Tax. The Association overcomes this difficulty by issuing the Member with a British Triptyque, thus avoiding the necessity of depositing large sums of money at the border. When the vehicle arrives at the frontier, the Triptyque is merely stamped by a Customs officer, and the motorist is free to circulate in Northern Ireland. The Triptyque not only satisfies the requirements of the Northern Ireland Customs ; it also has attached to it a Temporary

Exportation Certificate which facilitates the return of the vehicle to the Republic. Members who require British Triptyques should apply to the Association's offices in Dublin or Cork.

Motor vehicle licences, but not driving licences, issued in the Republic are valid for a temporary stay in Northern Ireland. Licences to drive in Northern Ireland may be obtained by A.A. Members from the Association's offices in Dublin or Cork. A certificate of insurance in accordance with the Northern Ireland Road Traffic Act is also required by motorists driving in Northern Ireland.

2. THE MOTORIST FROM NORTHERN IRELAND CROSSING INTO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.

Customs duty is chargeable on vehicles entering the Republic from Northern Ireland, and, in order that Members may avoid having to lodge large sums of money at the frontier, they are advised to obtain a Triptyque from the A.A. office in Belfast. This is valid for twelve months and is issued with the minimum of formality.

Northern Ireland motor vehicle licences and driving licences are valid for a temporary stay in the Republic. A certificate of insurance or an international insurance `green card' valid in the Republic is required.

3. THE MOTORIST FROM GREAT BRITAIN CROSSING TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.

Customs formalities are similar to those for the Northern Ireland motorist as set out in paragraph 2 above. Application for a Triptyquee should be made by the Member to his local A.A. office.

British vehicle and driving licences, other than provisional or visitors' licences, are valid in the Republic for a temporary stay. A `GB' plate and an insurance certificate or an international insurance `green card' valid in the Republic are required.

4. HOURS OF DUTY AT CUSTOMS STATIONS AND FRONTIER POSTS.

Customs officers are on duty at the ports to attend to all formalities at any time when vehicles are being loaded or unloaded, but crossings at the land frontier (the border) must be made only during the specified hours noted below, unless the extra attendance of Customs officers has previously been arranged. The fees payable for this extra service vary from 2s. to 29s. according to the type of entry or exit. At least 48 hours' notice must be given to the

Customs. Details of these arrangements can be obtained from any A.A. office.

THE FIRST ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND must be made between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, except on the following holidays: Saint Patrick's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, August Bank Holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

THE FIRST ENTRY INTO NORTHERN IRELAND must be made between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, except on the following holidays Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

INTERMEDIATE CROSSINGS of the land frontier (the border) can be made any day, holidays included, during the following hours

at Pettigo and Blacklion    8 a.m.-9 p.m. at Carrickcarnan and Bridgend 8 a.m.-2 a.m.

at all other frontier posts    8 a.m.-midnight. The Republic of Ireland Customs levy a fee of 2s. after 9 p.m.

FINAL EXPORTATION FROM NORTHERN IRELAND can be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays except on Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

FINAL EXPORTATION FROM TILE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND can be made any day, holidays included, during the hours noted above for intermediate crossings. When a Triptyque is finally discharged on a Sunday or after 5 p.m. on a weekday, the Republic of Ireland Customs charge a fee of 2s. APPROVED ROADS

 A list of approved roads by which the motorist may cross the land frontier (the border), together with the Customs Stations and Frontier Posts at which he must call in accordance with the instructions given above, will be found on page 29. . Direct roads from Dundalk to Castleblayney and between Cavan and Clones cross and recross the border for a short distance. The motorist making a direct journey by either of these roads may do so without restriction providing he does not deviate from that part of the road which is in Northern Ireland territory.Nowadays there is no restriction on travel between the north and south of Ireland as it is part of the Common Travel Area that is a passport-free zone that comprises the islands of Ireland, Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The area's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by Irish and British citizens with only minimal identity documents.More on the UK / Irish border at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_%E2%80%93_United_Kingdom_border