STUDY IN IRELAnd - Getting to ireland

 By Air | By Land | By Sea

By Air

The Republic of Ireland’s national airline is Aer Lingus (EI). Aer Lingus provides a service from Los Angeles and New York’s JFK to Shannon and Dublin. Delta Air Lines operates a service from New York’s JFK Airport to Shannon and Dublin. Services to London are frequent and moderately priced. There is a wide range of promotional air fares to Ireland from main cities in the UK, and an ever increasing number of airlines connect regional UK airports with Ireland.

Approximate flight times: From Dublin to London is 1 hour 15 minutes, to New York is 7 hours 30 minutes.

International airports: Dublin Airport (DUB) (website: www.dublin-airport.com) is 8km (5 miles) north of the city. Bus no. 41A leaves Abbey Street at regular intervals (travel time – 35 minutes). Airport express coaches and taxis are available to the city centre. Airport facilities include airside duty-free shop, car hire, bank, bureau de change, bars, restaurants, tourist information centre and chemist. Opening hours vary throughout the year.

Shannon Airport (SNN) (website: www.shannonairport.com) is 26km (16 miles) west of Limerick (travel time – 25 minutes). Bus services are available to and from both Limerick and Clare, approximately every hour. A daily express coach travels between Limerick and Shannon and between Galway and Shannon. Taxi service is available to Limerick. Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, bar, restaurant and tourist information centre.

Cork Airport (ORK) (website: www.corkairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) southwest of the city. Buses travel between the city centre and airport (travel time – 15 minutes). Airport facilities include outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bar and restaurant. Facilities are open during operational hours.

Knock International Airport (NOC) (www.knockinternationalairport.ie) is 11km (7 miles) north of Claremorris (Co Mayo) and receives international flights from the UK only: Ryanair from London, Stansted, mytravellite from Birmingham and British Airways from Manchester.Taxi services are available to Claremorris, where onward rail and bus connections are available to the rest of the country. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, bar, restaurant and car hire (pre-booking advised).

Departure tax: None.

By Land

RAIL: Rail links serve Ireland from all the above ferry ports, as well as from Northern Ireland.

By Sea

In addition to conventional ferry crossings, many ferry companies now offer high-speed services as well as upgraded, state-of-the-art craft on many Irish sea routes. Fares will vary by season and promotional offers are available. Routes from Britain and France include:

From England: Liverpool–Dublin (travel time – 8 hours); Fleetwood–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – 8 hours).

From the Isle of Man: Douglas–Dublin (travel time – 2 hours 45 minutes, summer only or 4 hours 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Douglas–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – 2 hours 45 minutes).

From Scotland: Cairnryan–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – 1 hour on fast ferries and 1 hour 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Troon–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – 2 hours 35 minutes); Stranraer–Belfast (travel time – 1 hour 45 minutes on fast ferries and 3 hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries). From Wales: Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dublin (travel time – 1 hour 49 minutes on fast ferries and minimum 3 hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries); Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dun Laoghaire (travel time – 1 hour 39 minutes on fast ferries); Fishguard–Rosslare (travel time – 1 hour 39 minutes on fast ferries and 3 hours 30 minutes on conventional ferries); Swansea–Cork (seasonal, travel time – 10 hours); Pembroke–Rosslare (travel time – 3 hours 45 minutes).

From France: Irish Ferries operate at least four direct ferry crossings a day between France and Ireland. The routes are Cherbourg–Rosslare (travel time – 19 hours); Roscoff–Rosslare (travel time – 18 hours).