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Cars 4 Rental Guide To Travel In  Ireland

International Airports Domestic airports: Galway (GWY) is approximately 8km (5 miles) from the city centre. Bus and taxi services are available into Galway centre. Sligo (SXL) is 8km (5 miles) from Sligo. Essential facilities only. Taxis need prior booking. Bus and taxi services are available into Sligo. Carrickfinn (CFN) is in Co Donegal. Kerry (Farranfore) (KIR) in Co Kerry is 19km (12 miles) from both Killarney and Tralee. Taxi services are available to both these towns and to the nearby railway station. Car hire is also available. As well as the airports listed above (and in Travel – International), there are various small licensed airstrips which receive passenger services; enquire at Filte Ireland for details of operators and routes (see Contact Addresses section). International airports: Dublin Airport (DUB) (website: www.dublin-airport.com) is 10km (6 miles) north of the city. Bus no. 41A leaves Abbey Street at regular intervals (travel time – 35 minutes). Bus no. 747 runs to O'Connell Street, the central bus station and onto Parnell Square. 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. Shannon Airport (SNN) (website: www.shannonairport.com) is 24km (15 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, plus to Ennis bus station. 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. Knock International Airport (NOC) (www.knockairport.com) 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. Back to Top Air Travel Aer Lingus (as well as several other carriers) operates services throughout the country. Charter flights are also available. The Aran Islands are served by Aer Arann via a 15-minute flight from Connemara Regional Airport (located 27km/17 miles west of Galway city). The Republic of Ireland’s national airline is Aer Lingus (EI) (website: www.aerlingus.com). 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 one hour 15 minutes, to New York is seven hours 30 minutes. Back to Top Travel By Water 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 – eight hours); Fleetwood–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – eight hours). From the Isle of Man: Douglas–Dublin (travel time – two hours 45 minutes, summer only, or four hours 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Douglas–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – two hours 45 minutes). From Scotland: Cairnryan–Larne (Northern Ireland, travel time – one hour on fast ferries and one hour 45 minutes on conventional ferries); Troon–Belfast (Northern Ireland, travel time – two hours 35 minutes); Stranraer–Belfast (travel time – one hour 45 minutes on fast ferries and three hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries). From Wales: Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dublin (travel time – one hour 50 minutes on fast ferries and minimum three hours 15 minutes on conventional ferries); Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey)–Dun Laoghaire (travel time – one hour 40 minutes on fast ferries); Fishguard–Rosslare (travel time – one hour 40 minutes on fast ferries and three hours 30 minutes on conventional ferries); Swansea–Cork (seasonal, travel time – 10 hours); Pembroke–Rosslare (travel time – three 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). For information on routes, fares and reservations, contact one of the following: Brittany Ferries (tel: (08705) 360 360; website: www.brittany-ferries.com); Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717 (UK office) or (1) 638 3333 (Dublin office); website: www.irishferries.com); Isle of Man Steam Packet (tel: (01624) 661 661; website: www.steam-packet.com); P&O Irish Sea (tel: (0870) 242 4777; website: www.poirishsea.com); Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.co.uk); and Swansea-Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116; website: www.swansea-cork.ie). Most ferry companies now also offer an online booking facility on their website. Ferry services run to the various west coast islands; enquiries should be made locally. Back to Top Rail Rail services in the Republic are owned by Iarnrd Eireann (Irish Rail) (website: www.irishrail.ie) and express trains run between the main cities. There are two classes of accommodation, with restaurant and buffet cars on some trains. Children under 5 travel free. Children aged 5 to 15 pay half fare. A range of rail-only and combined rail and bus tickets are available for unlimited travel within the Republic of Ireland. The Eurorail and Britrail card systems are valid in Ireland. Back to Top Travel By Road The network links all parts of Ireland; road signs are international. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: Internal bus services are run by Bus Eireann (Irish Bus) (website: www.buseireann.ie) which has a nationwide network of buses serving all the major cities and most towns and villages outside the Dublin area. Bus services in remote areas are infrequent. An ‘Expressway’ coach network complements rail services. The central bus station is in Store Street, Dublin. A variety of special passes are available, including the Irish Rambler, which offers unlimited travel for three, eight or 15 days. Several independent bus companies, which are often cheaper, faster and more frequent than Bus Eireann, operate regular, scheduled services to and from Dublin. Further information can be found in local papers. Coach tours: Many companies offer coach tours, varying in length and itinerary. Full-day and half-day guided tours are organised from the larger towns and cities. These run from May to October. Full details are available from Bus Eireann and CIE Tours International. Taxi: Service is available in major cities. Cruising taxis are infrequent. Places to get taxis are at hotels, rail and bus stations or taxi stands. Car hire: Available from all air- and seaports as well as major hotels. All international hire companies are represented in Ireland, as well as local operators. Age requirements vary from a minimum of 21 to a maximum of 75 years. A full licence from the driver’s home country is required, and the driver will normally be required to have had at least two years’ experience. Bicycle hire: Ask for a Tourist Board leaflet. Documentation: EU nationals taking cars into the Republic require: motor registration book (or owner’s authority in writing); full EU driving licence or International Driving Permit; nationality coding stickers; and insurance cover valid for the Republic. A Green Card is strongly recommended, as without it, insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal requirement in Ireland – the Green Card tops this up to the cover provided by the visitor’s domestic policy. URBAN: Extensive bus services operate in Dublin. There is a new, fast suburban rail service (DART), connecting Howth and Bray, including a link to Dun Laoghaire (the ferry port). The Dublin Explorer ticket is valid for four days on all Dublin buses and DART suburban trains. This ticket may not be used before 0945, but there are no evening restrictions. This links LUCAS Sandyford to St Stephens Green, and Tallaght to Connolly Station. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Dublin to other major cities/towns in Ireland. Air Road Rail Cork 0.40 3.00 2.40 Galway 0.35 2.45 2.40 Limerick - 3.30 2.10 Shannon Airport 0.35 3.00 - Waterford 0.30 2.30 2.40 Kilkenny - 2.00 1.45 Killarney - 3.00 3.50 Back to Top

Car Hire Ireland

Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles throughout the UK.

Whether you need a car for business or for pleasure Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

Hire a car in Ireland