Traffic signs, Ireland

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When traveling the rural (and not so rural) roadways of Ireland, you'll come across many directional signs mounted on a round pole. Sometimes there's just one or 2 directional arrows, at other times they can have 1/2 dozen or more.
The main problem being, that this mounting arrangement makes it quite easy to rotate the directional arrow around the pole - it's up to the passing motorist on whether or not to actually trust this signage.

During 5 days of driving, we came across several instances where these signs were not pointing in the correct direction.

I wish I took a picture of an area that must've had at least 20 signs posted in one spot alone - traffic signs, speed signs, tourist signs, direction, and everything else under the sun. Incredibly distracting and hard to find what you're looking for. I found it quite amusing to see so many signs posted in such close vicinity.

By the same token, travelling from tourist point to tourist point is incredibly easy and very hard to get lost. I never once had to look at a map or even directions! The signs posted where excellent and didnt have to worry if I was going the right way. The only time I got a little lost was when I was passing Limerick, I must've missed a turn or something but it was only for a 5mins or so until I pulled over and asked someone....always friendly people to ask for directions...sometimes I'd ask just to be sure.

This sign can be found in the center of Ballyvaughan, in County Clare. It is quite famous as it is on many postcards.

There are two reasons for me to show a directional sign as warning to other people who visit ireland.

The first is that many Irish signs have almost as many directions on them as this one, especially when you get out into the country lanes. Even if the post only holds a couple of true direction signs, it will usually be festooned with information about how to find local businesses and neighbourhood bed & breakfasts'. The warning is to watch out for tourists like me who are desperate to find out which way to go, slowing down to a crawl on the road, just to give ourselves time to read the pertinent information from the sign!

The second warning is that some signs may only be in Gaelic (the irish language), especially when you get up the north of the country, into the Connemara area. Make sure that you have a good map with you as they will normally show the gaelic names of the major towns and cities, as well the english version, from which you should be able to sort out any confusion over where you are going.