Travel While in Ireland

Most of our scheduled group trips begin at one of Ireland’s international airports, making it easier for people travelling from other countries to meet their guide and group without the hassle of travelling from the airport. However, we find that some of our clients have spent a few days in Ireland before the start of the trip, or have arrived the day before to acclimatise before meeting their group.

We recommend http://www.getthere.ie, a journey planning service which links all of the available public transport offerings into one comprehensive trip planner.

Ireland has a relatively limited rail network, by European standards, but most major towns and cities are serviced by comfortable, punctual and efficient trains which make it easy for you to travel around in a sustainable manner. Train stations tend to be at the heart of each city, where onward connections to other places are readily available.

No Irish airport is directly accessible by train, and you will have to transfer to a bus for the final leg of your journey (see below).

• For train timetables and bookings see http://www.irishrail.ie/. You can purchase train tickets online up to 3 months in advance.
• For a comprehensive travel planning service (including bus and train) see http://www.getthere.ie/

Buses connect most towns in Ireland, stopping along mainlines between big cities. Bus links to airports tend to be frequent and most major towns and cities in Ireland will have bus links directly to Dublin and Shannon airports without having to change bus. Ireland’s public bus service, Bus Eireann, provides the most comprehensive network. Tickets are available online for all major stations.

To Dublin Airport

Direct buses to Dublin Airport are available from most major towns in Ireland and there are regular buses serving Dublin Airport from all over Dublin City.

• To get from Dublin Airport to either of Dublin’s train stations (either Connolly or Heusten), the easiest bus to take is the Airlink Express bus 747, found with the other buses outside T2.
• Bus Eireann – Ireland’s main public bus service, use for long-distance bus travel in Ireland.
• Air Coach  – Dublin Airport connections from Cork, Belfast, and Dublin city and suburbs
• Go Bus – Dublin Airport connections from Galway and Cork
• J.J. Kavanagh & Sons  – Dublin Airport connections from Limerick, Kilkenny & Waterford

To Shannon Airport

Shannon Airport is well served by bus on many routes to and from Galway and Limerick. See the following links to bus services in Ireland:

• Bus Eireann – Ireland’s main public bus service
  J.J. Kavanagh & Sons – Shannon Airport connections from Limerick & Dublin

Again, we recommend http://www.getthere.ie, a journey planning service which links all of the available public transport offerings into one comprehensive trip planner.

To Belfast Airport

There are regular bus connections from the Belfast International Airport and city centre, as well as other parts of Ireland. See the following links for travelling in Northern Ireland:

• Translink – Northern Ireland’s bus service
• Bus Eireann – Ireland’s main public bus service

You may also travel by train from Dublin Connolly Station to Belfast Central Station. Great Victoria Street Station either a 15 minute walk from Belfast Central or a short distance by taxi. See more on Irishrail.ie.

Ireland is a very small country so air travel within Ireland is usually not necessary, with internal air connections only available between Dublin and Kerry and Dublin and Donegal, all of which are operated by AerLingus Regional http://www.aerlingus.com/ (Ireland’s national airline).

However, especially if travelling from the UK and Europe, you may want to save time by flying into a regional airport instead of Dublin Airport. These are as follows:

• Belfast International or City Airport (there are two)
• Derry
• Donegal
• Ireland West (Knock)
• Shannon
• Kerry
• Cork