Traveling to Southern Ireland with Shotgun

[Agriv8]

Hi everyone been invited game shooting in Southern Ireland.

is there anyway we can take our guns?

we did some googling but that made it even more confusing.

We will be travelling via ferry from Holyhead 

thank Agriv8

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, Cannot help on travel with shotguns but that sounds a great invite 👍, Not to much Guinness 😄, Let us know how goes

[Westley]

I used to go over to Eire a lot, clay shooting, but that was pre Brexit. A European firearms Certificate was required and it was straightforward. Just declare them at Holyhead or Liverpool, show them the European Certificate,  they checked the serial numbers on the guns against the Certificate and that was that. I only declared them in Dublin once, after that I used to just drive out of the port and away. Declaring them was a waste of time. A word of warning though, IF you admit to having any ammunition, they will take it off you. The port Police will keep it until your return, when you can recover it. Ammunition is more expensive in Southern Ireland than here. The guns remained locked in the car, once on board the ferry, you go up to one of the lounges. The last time I went was from Liverpool, my friend and myself. We took 1 gun each. We were held back until the last minute, to board. The guns had been checked on the open car park, a point I was NOT happy about. We then drove onto the ferry. We were stopped at the bottom of the gangway,  where an Irish crew member came to the car. "Are youse the fellas wit the guns" he shouts. I nodded, "Yes" He then yells to his mate at the other end of the vehicle bay "Mick,Mick, dees are the fellas wit the guns" , so now the entire vehicle deck, know there are guns in the vehicle  !  😄  Don't yer just love the Irish   ?

I would give your local FEO a call and ask their advice, failing that, the ferry company should know. You will enjoy the experience and, of course,  the Irish are terrific hosts.

[jeffgg]

carriage of Guns and Firearms

Modified on: Tue, 28 Mar, 2023 at 10:32 AM

Irish Ferries operate to the highest safety standards, as set down by the International Maritime Organisation and monitored by the regulatory authority in each country.

Guns and Firearms - Motorists are only permitted to bring sporting guns on board. You must declare the guns at check-in, and they should be left in the boot of your vehicle for the duration of the voyage. Passengers travelling without vehicles are not allowed to bring sporting guns on board.

All firearms should be accompanied by a current valid Firearm, Shotgun or Registered Firearms Dealers (RFD) certificate and these should be available for inspection on request by security personnel at the port.

Ammunition - Ammunition is not allowed on any Irish Ferries vessel. If you bring ammunition with you to the port, it will be confiscated and disposed of.

[oowee]

I think there is a special form arrangement for the EU. 

I would call or e mail Home Office Firearms they are easy to talk to. I have just been onto them for some export / import licences for firearms and they could not be more helpful. 

 

[gmm243]

I travel to the south to shoot a lot. I have a visitors permit which is applied for through your sponsor/shoot organiser. It can take up to 2 months depending on the Gardai area you are dealing with. 

I have a friend in the south who has some German and French friends who come over  to him and he has to get them the same visitors permit. You can not get this without a valid Euro pass. My understanding is that the Europass is not enough.

The visitors permit costs €40 and is valid for a year. You can travel into N Ireland on your UK certificate(from the UK) but to cross the border my understanding is that the Gardai issued visitors permit is required. Theoretically coming from the UK on the ferry to the south should require the same paperwork. 

Very happy to be corrected as it would save me a lot of paperwork every year!!