I didn't realize that radar detectors were illegal in Ireland. There was talk of outlawing them here a while back, but so far as I know nothing ever came of it.
To me, the "national speed limit" sign has always been something of an oddity. It imposes a speed limit without explicitly specifying what that limit is. In the U.K., for example, that same sign can mean 60 or 70 MPH depending upon the type of road (and at one time it could mean 50, 60, or 70!).
Another odd sign has crept in since they started posting 20 limits in towns. Instead of a regular circular speed limit sign, like this:
we hava a rectangular one which adds the word "zone" to it:
Then at the end of the 20 zone, we get one which shows 30
and a 20 crossed out in gray!
Why they don't just put up regular 20 and 30 signs is anybody's guess.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 03-21-2005).]