Hello! We are arriving in Dublin from the US on Saturday morning at 10:25am and hope to transfer to a regional flight to Kerry at 12:40pm (to rent a car, explore the southwest of the country, then work our way back to Dublin). Will we have enough time to make this connection? We will have to collect checked baggage in addition to clearing customs and immigration. Thanks in advance for your insight!
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317 posts
Greetings from Ireland.
This is possible but could be stressful.
I have often done this, flown from the US to Dublin, and then gone out, got my bag and the re-checked in again for the flight to Kerry.
There is one little trick than I must share with you.... drum roll....
When you go out and collect your luggage you do not have to go back in via the regular security gates with the hordes of other travellers, you go over to the 'domestic departures' area. It a nice quick little security area reserved for those flying within the Republic of Ireland - which is virtually no-one, so you'll be through in no time.
I think you can do it. If you don't, its a longgggg train or bus ride to Kerry from Dublin.... May the force be with you.
Go neiri an mBothar leat - may the road rise to meet you
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
Dingle, Derry & Dublin
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you, Stephen! This is incredibly helpful. I would never have thought we could bypass the main security lines. We will be traveling with our 10mo daughter, and we won't be able to hustle through the airport like we once did. So, we are exploring the possibility of staying in Dublin for a night, then driving west, and flying back through Kerry at the end of our trip... Or perhaps taking the train to Galway for a night, to avoid driving right after the red-eye. (Side note: I really enjoyed your conversations with Rick on the Travel Europe podcasts! We are really looking forward to our trip.)