Rick's guide says it pays to buy tickets online ahead of trip. Went to www.irishrail.com and to Rail Europe where the cost were so different, like twice as much or more. I am planning on doing a rt Dublin /Kilkenny, one way Dublin /Galway and one way Killarney/ Cork. Would a pass be good or should I wait and buy pt. To pt. When we are in Ireland?
Buy your tickets in advance from Irish rail.
www.irishrail.ie is the only place to buy tickets in advance as they operate the trains. Rail Europe is a ticket agent that adds on their own fees and somehow sells tickets before Irish Rail even make them available.
On our Ireland rail page, the price map reflects approximate online-purchase fares that can be bought up to 90 minutes before departure on www.irishrail.ie. Deeper discounts are offered farther in advance and for roundtrip tickets. But tickets purchased in actual train stations will cost more. Killarney to Cork is better done by bus.