i'm thinking of going on exchange to ireland for the summer and want to see some of the countryside and historical places not the tourist area the only problem im 15 so is it OK for me to travel on my own for day trips or overnighters? also does anyone have any recomendations for good places to go?

on to language, how important is it to know irish and how much is good to know before i get there? also i know there are already some threads going about this but if anyone knows any good internet reasorses please post a link. or post catch phrases that are need to knows. my schools kind of wierd in that we speak a mixture of english french spanish german portuguese well alot of languages. its a kind of "you know your cut off from civilization when ..." situation. i could probibly get some teachers to help and get i can deffinitly get acces to a language lab or start a extracurricular course to learn but the books that i orderd to learn wouldn't be in until febuary and i really don't want to wait.

You're joking Julie, yeh? We cannot imagine you travelling anywhere on your own at 15. This doesn't impugn your ability to manage matters on your own in any way but, ... well, how are your family and friends to feel when you up and leave them for distant shores?

Language? One can more-than-get-by in Ireland with English.

Some phrases for you with sound files:
http://home.primus.com.au/conaill/gleann/html/frasai.html

More phrases with sound files:
http://www.daltai.com/phrases.htm

'Foghlaim' is the operative word that you need, meaning 'learning'. Here are some more sites from the Foghlaim section of 'Gaeilge ar an Ghréasán':
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaeilge/foghlaim/

Slán go fóill - Take care.