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Navigation
First, the nautical guide, without hesitation the one from the Irish Cruising Club South and West Coast
Undoubtedly the most complete and best made, its only drawback is that it is in Shakespearean.
In addition to preparing for navigation, a well-made website that provides information, maps and photos of most ports and anchorages.
Also in Shakespearean
A similar one exists for the rest of the British Isles
The weather
As for the weather, like at home it is broadcast on VHF several times a day, with an Irish accent as an added bonus.
For legal time, same time zone as England or Portugal: UTC+1 in summer.
Also a Met Éireann app for Android and Apple.
I have never had a problem with 3G or 4G coverage, but the speed is often low.
The formalities
Last year there were no customs formalities when arriving from the EU or UK. It's unlikely that will change. I was checked once at sea, approached by an official rigid inflatable boat and the patrol boat that was following. Very courteous.
However, the same does not apply to the British; you must declare your arrival beforehand and fly the Q flag without disembarking until authorized. Long live Brexit!
Supplies
For groceries, you can find almost everything you need to eat properly in Ireland. Note that they don't use UHT milk, only fresh, and therefore perishable, milk.
Supermarkets aren't everywhere (Centra and SuperValu are), so it's best to arrive with a well-stocked food supply and be economical with water. And drinks consumed in moderation are quite heavily taxed. It's best to buy Jameson at Carrefour before you leave.
The best port for provisioning near the meeting point is Schull. There you'll find all the shops, water, and diesel. This is done on the jetty. Diesel arrives by truck. It's best to arrange this in advance with the "Schull Watersport Center," which also handles the payment for visitor buoys.
Marinas and anchorages
The local administration has provided the ports and anchorages with a fairly good supply of cylindrical yellow visitor buoys.
As a general rule (except in Schull) nobody fights to collect royalties (5 to 10€).
They sometimes have the disadvantage of being difficult to crochet, due to the lack of a ring. On the other hand, their shape makes them easy to catch "with a lasso".
There are few marinas, most are private and quite expensive for the service they provide. They like to be notified of your arrival.
Another peculiarity is the garbage! Everything costs money except glass and aluminum… So they're locked. Marinas charge extra. In short, it's a bit of a hassle.
We put anything that was really dangerous in a small bag and threw it in one of the few small bins near the benches or bus shelters. The rest we stored until we found an acceptable solution.
The ads
Luckily there are pubs and it's very beautiful. While you're in County Cork, choose Beamish over Guinness. As for the weather, it doesn't rain all the time; it stops five or six times a day.
Happy browsing!
Alain
