Drive to Dublin airport
 

If my flight leaves from Dublin at 2:20 p.m., is it possible to drive from Galway to Dublin leaving in the a.m. or should I not chance it? I also can take a flight from Shannon at 7 a.m. and have a 5 hour layover in Dublin. Which would you advise? Thank you.

Sure, you should be able to do it. I assume you'd want to be at the airport around noon? Unless you run into some sort of traffic problems, it's about a 3 hour drive from Galway to Dublin.

Personally, I'd rather leave early to allow myself wiggle room and drive it than have to be at Shannon in time for a 7 AM flight.

Galway to Dublin is possible in three hours with everything working in your favour (I did it on Monday) but I would allow at least four hours. Then you have to budget time to return your car and go through check-in and other procedures -- say another three hours. All quite possible, and easier than getting a 7 a.m. flight out of Shannon.

If I get voted down on driving to Dublin, should we stay in Ennis or Bunratty to catch the 7 a.m. flight?

I've only ever stayed in Ennis, so can't address which one is closer. Seems to me it took us about 20 minutes to get to the airport from Ennis. But it was three years ago...

Bunratty is closer, but from Ennis it is a straight shot with several roundabouts to keep traffic moving. But at that hour of the morning, there won't be much traffic. Bunratty Lodge is convenient to the airport.