Rail Necessary in Ireland?
 

Because we arrive on a Sunday, I was trying to make a 5 hour trip from Dublin to Kerry County and thought the train would be a good way to get there, then rent the car, but we do not get to the south until 8 pm or so, now I am thinking rent the car in the airport and drive it. Any suggestions? Would you spend the money on the Irish Rover pass or not? Thanks.

The rail in Ireland is not extensive, just so you know. It seems to pretty much hub in Dublin with several main lines going out from there like spokes. You'd have to switch to bus to get along the west coast, for instance.

You might also catch an Aer Arann budget flight from Dublin to Kerry Airport for 40 Euros.

http://www.aerarann.com/

I haven't flown them yet, but they sound ok. It's a fair drive for just having landed from a long(?) flight. It's a shame you couldn't land at the int'l airport at Shannon on the west coasr, if you're heading straight for Co. Kerry anyway, so that you're not starting on the "wrong" side of the country.

Onca again I would NOT reccommend a long drive after an international flight. You will be driving country roads and you will endanger others on the road by doing this.

If you must go that day try either driving 1/2 the way down and stay a night or Aer Arann like Clifton suggested. I have flown them to the Arann Islands and they are fine. The planes are smaller though so don't expect an air bus.

SiobhanP's warning is VERY important. I'm assuming you are flying transatlantic. If so, you will have been awake for over 24 hours and will be driving "on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car".

Unless you have been to Ireland or the UK several times and KNOW you can handle the driving you should not attempt a long drive like that right off the plane. (and even if you do have experience driving over there - the exhaustion after an overnight flight can be debilitating)

Either fly to Kerry -- OR -- stay the first night in Dublin and pick up the car after a good night's sleep.

Don'r push it!

Depending on BusEireann or Irish Rail schedules, you might consider stopping in Limerick City the night of your arrival and continue further southwest Monday morning. Or, if you get there and feel like you can drive some more, continue on to Tralee (County Kerry).

I personally wouldn't try to drive several hundred miles after a TransAtlantic flight; but I don't sleep on airplanes (unless I'm in Business or First Class).

I do say this for the sake of others as well. I cannot tell you how many road accidents we have here from locals driving crazy let alone tourists who are not used to the roads. Some country houses are just built onto the road and they may have children. You could kill someone if you do not have your wits about you and hurt yourself as well.

Also you will end up driving on the wrong side of the road if you are tired. My dad nearly killed us as kids when we cane to visit by doing this when he was tired and the roads were much worse 25 years ago! Just be safe.

Another alternative is CityLink: a bus service from Dublin airport to Galway (about 4-hours). You could pick up a rental car in Galway Monday AM and take the west Clare route (i.e. Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, etc.) to the Killimer-Tarbert ferry and be in County Kerry for lunch.

Do not recommend train travel in Ireland. It is generally slow and inconveient (I tried to do this - thought it would be easier for one person - but it was very frustrating in terms of time spent vs distance/inconveienc etc.) this is one place where car is really by far the b est way to go.

NYTraveler:

By slow, do you mean that the trains don't run on schedule, or that they are slow compared to the Hi-Speed trains in Europe?

Thanks

The run on schedule but are not high speed trains. Its an older rail system here...need a major re-vamp but will be a long time before that happens.

I would be interested in just how all of you "driving experts" have figured out that this person won't have had any sleep "in the past 24 hours."
Do you know if he is traveling First Class in a sleeper seat? Whether or not he is able, unlike some, to sleep on a plane sitting semi-upright?

I'm sure you are trying to be "helpful" but assuming certain circumstances isn't useful. No wonder the poor beaten to death soul hasn't responded.

In reply to Singletail's comment: My 05/05 post at 3:08 PM specifically addressed that situation with:

"I personally wouldn't try to drive several hundred miles after a TransAtlantic flight; but I don't sleep on airplanes (unless I'm in Business or First Class)."

Granted, more often than not people try to 'stretch' their Ireland visit as much as possible. That's why my earlier post begins with: "Don't push it!

Singletail,

I am more concerned with someone rushing, driving the opposite side of the road and possibly using a manual. Flying is tiring and most people do not sleep the entire flight. I am just tired of hearing about the accidents each weekend over here in the countryside. Some of them are awful and in the summer there is usually a few involving tourists.

I remember Many years ago Mathew Brooderick was in an awful accident in Ireland with his girlfriend when he drove accidently on the wrong side of the road and killed a woman and her daughter driving the other way. It's just not worth pushing yourself. Driving is not an Olympic event.

To say the trains run on time in Ireland needs a little clarification. I have never once caught a connection when traveling by train. The words "on time" in Ireland have an entirely different meaning than they do in America, Canada or even England.

Both! I took 4 trains and all were late - by 25/30 minutes or more. And the trips themselves were vey slow - I think we were doing about 40 miles an hour most of the time.

After the first train I tried to rent a car for the rest of the trip but it was the end of May and there were none available unless I waited at least 3 days - I was tempted but just didn;t have the time. Car is not only faster but much less frustrating - you can be seeing something while you're driving - rather than just the backs of a few houses.

Thanks to all of you. We will not be driving but maybe an hour just to get out of Dublin. I do appreciate all the responses. We will be most careful and not drive without adequate sleep, just anxious to see Ireland.

Forget the drive. We just came back from ireland and you don;t want to drive
especially if you have not done the left side thing before although it took me a total of 5 mins and two rondabouts to feel comftorable but you don't want to drive. We landed at 8 am went to hotel(burlington) couldn't check-in so we walked over to grafton had some breakfast downed a couple of guinness about 11 went back to hotel slept for two hours and went out and hit it hard in temple bar area. Picked up car next day at Herz all rested and ready to roll for drive to Galway. Full trip reort to be posted shortly.

I would rent a car and drive it. Ireland is so beautiful to drive through. But I agree with the others that it might be better to spend the night in Dublin and then set out on your drive.