Some questions about train travel in Ireland
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Some questions about train travel in Ireland
During the course of my visit with my daughter, we're going to be taking the train between Dublin and Galway several times. When it comes time to go back to Dublin to fly home, I'd like to 1)break up the tedium and 2)see some parts of Ireland I've never seen before.
In looking at the map of railroads in the Lonely Planet guide to Ireland, it looks like it may be possible to take the train from Galway to Portarlington, from there to Limerick Junction and from there to Cahir, where I'd want to spend the night. And from there it looks like we could go to Rosslare and then on up to Dublin. Would this work? Would we be able to buy tickets for a route such as this? How long would it be likely to take? Would it be terribly expensive?
I noticed that the guide mentioned trains stopping in Cahir Monday through Saturday. Do they not run on Sunday? Since I fly out early on Tuesday, I'd want to leave Galway Sunday morning in order to be in Dublin by Monday evening.
If this isn't workable, does anyone have any suggestions for another way to configure our train travel such that we work in some other parts of the country? Since I'm going to be without a car this time, I'd really like to try to find a way to see as much as possible.
Thank you!
In looking at the map of railroads in the Lonely Planet guide to Ireland, it looks like it may be possible to take the train from Galway to Portarlington, from there to Limerick Junction and from there to Cahir, where I'd want to spend the night. And from there it looks like we could go to Rosslare and then on up to Dublin. Would this work? Would we be able to buy tickets for a route such as this? How long would it be likely to take? Would it be terribly expensive?
I noticed that the guide mentioned trains stopping in Cahir Monday through Saturday. Do they not run on Sunday? Since I fly out early on Tuesday, I'd want to leave Galway Sunday morning in order to be in Dublin by Monday evening.
If this isn't workable, does anyone have any suggestions for another way to configure our train travel such that we work in some other parts of the country? Since I'm going to be without a car this time, I'd really like to try to find a way to see as much as possible.
Thank you!
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Check it out on http://www.irishrail.ie/home/ . The site design leaves something to be desired, but you can muddle your way through and check possibilities. It suggests to me that the routing from Cahir to Rosslare is via Dublin! The alternative proposed is to use a bus link to Waterford.
Have a look at http://www.buseireann.ie/site/home/ for possibilities of getting about by bus.
Should you reconsider the matter of hiring a car? A few rail fares can eat up your money very fast.
Have a look at http://www.buseireann.ie/site/home/ for possibilities of getting about by bus.
Should you reconsider the matter of hiring a car? A few rail fares can eat up your money very fast.
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You should look at schedules and fares on www.irishrail.ie. Cahir is on the line between Limerick Junction and Waterford, and has no trains on Sundays. Many journeys in Ireland are easier by bus - it's more interesting to use different means of transport as well. There are regular buses from Galway to Limerick and beyond which might be better than taking a roundabout route by train. Another option would be to get a bus north to Sligo, then use the railway line from there to Dublin. Bus schedules are on www.buseireann.ie.
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Thanks, Padraig and GeoffHamer. Looks like I'm back to the drawing board! I thought it might be a good way to cover a lot of the country. But that's okay. We'll figure something out. Maybe we'll just take the train to Dublin and then take another up or down the coast for that Sunday night. I figure there's not so much urgency about this.
The important thing is that I've finally figured out the Paris bit!
The important thing is that I've finally figured out the Paris bit!
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CAPH52,
I've been following the posts about Paris. How are you going?
As to train & bus travel in Ireland( I love it), the first time I thought I had to hire a driver was when I was trying to get to Cashel from Kilkenny. The train went down to Waterford and I believe back to Dublin. This was 1997. Next I tried the bus, we would leave Kilkenny stop and change buses someplace before Clonnel or Clonnel, it was a couple of hrs. between buses Next another stop, change buses and wait and then on to Cashel. I guess I should have done this, as I could have seen something of the towns we stopped in. It was going to take around 6 hrs and I thought I was in a hurry. Shame on me, I soon learned not to rush Ireland.
Love to the daughter and my best to you, Joan
I've been following the posts about Paris. How are you going?
As to train & bus travel in Ireland( I love it), the first time I thought I had to hire a driver was when I was trying to get to Cashel from Kilkenny. The train went down to Waterford and I believe back to Dublin. This was 1997. Next I tried the bus, we would leave Kilkenny stop and change buses someplace before Clonnel or Clonnel, it was a couple of hrs. between buses Next another stop, change buses and wait and then on to Cashel. I guess I should have done this, as I could have seen something of the towns we stopped in. It was going to take around 6 hrs and I thought I was in a hurry. Shame on me, I soon learned not to rush Ireland.
Love to the daughter and my best to you, Joan
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Hi, Joan. Well, if all goes well, we're going to fly Aer Lingus. I'm waiting to hear back from my daughter that the times I've chosen are okay with her. If so, I'm going to go ahead and buy the tickets. Now I just hope I don't have any trouble finding a hotel!
Wow, that train/bus trip to Cashel sounds like it was very complicated! I know what you mean about not rushing. I don't want to be doing that in Ireland either! So I think I'm going to try to find some simpler ways to get out into the countryside a bit. Padraig and GeoffHamer gave me some good ideas and some good links so I'll keep looking for possibilites of somewhere to spend that Sunday night on the way to Dublin.
But really, as long as we spend a night on Inis Mor and manage the trip to Paris, I'll be happy. It'd be nice to get some other stuff in, so I'll keep looking for workable day trips and interesting things to do in Galway. But I'll be with my daughter, I'll be in Ireland. I really can't complain! And I'm still hopeful that by the time I get there, she'll know about some interesting things to do. Her flatmates seem to be very helpful. So I hope they'll have some ideas!
Thanks for your good wishes, Joan!
Wow, that train/bus trip to Cashel sounds like it was very complicated! I know what you mean about not rushing. I don't want to be doing that in Ireland either! So I think I'm going to try to find some simpler ways to get out into the countryside a bit. Padraig and GeoffHamer gave me some good ideas and some good links so I'll keep looking for possibilites of somewhere to spend that Sunday night on the way to Dublin.
But really, as long as we spend a night on Inis Mor and manage the trip to Paris, I'll be happy. It'd be nice to get some other stuff in, so I'll keep looking for workable day trips and interesting things to do in Galway. But I'll be with my daughter, I'll be in Ireland. I really can't complain! And I'm still hopeful that by the time I get there, she'll know about some interesting things to do. Her flatmates seem to be very helpful. So I hope they'll have some ideas!
Thanks for your good wishes, Joan!