Getting to Inishmore and How to Spend a Full Day There

We flew to Inishmore and back for the day last August when we had 4 nights in Galway. We drove to the airport, which is super small and remote. I didn’t see any evidence of taxis and definitely not buses. It was a bit of a drive from Galway so I’m assuming a taxi would be pricey if you could get one. You may save money by keeping the car and driving yourself. If you keep the car I recommend driving yourself to Dublin as well. We chose an airport hotel (Premier Inn) with a shuttle. We checked into the hotel, drove to the airport to drop it off and shuttled back to the hotel. I think getting yourself from Galway to the airport, and then back to Galway and somehow managing the bus or whatever transportation to Dublin would be a huge hassle, but maybe someone else will chime in with information I don’t know.

After we landed in Inishmore we took a shuttle that was waiting into town. On the way they dropped a few people off at B&B’s. It wasn’t expensive, maybe €5 or so round trip. We rented e-bikes (reserved well in advance) to ride around the island, but we saw a number of van tours driving around.

Buses run in connection with flights from Connemara Airport to Galway (must be booked with the flight), and you could then catch a coach from Galway to Dublin Airport-
https://aerarannislands.ie/timetables-rates/

https://www.citylink.ie/timetables/galway-dublin

I'd rethink the ferry. The ferry from Galway (actually a combined package of bus to Rossaveal and ferry to Kilronan) is rarely cancelled for weather reasons because it is a large boat and it crosses a relatively sheltered body of water. The ferry from Doolin crosses much more open water and is much more likely to be cancelled (although still not likely) which may explain the bad rep. By the time you get to Connemara, wait, fly, shuttle, and reverse, it is much easier and faster to use the ferry. Just my opinion.

If you're determined to fly, why not keep the car one more day and drive yourself to the airport and then back to DUB? Compare another rental car day with all the bus tickets. Ditto for the ferry.

As the OP states there are now seasonal sailings direct from Galway City so you don't have to bus it to Rossaveel.

Every time someone proposes the ferry the answer on this forum is to fly, and you really do wonder what are the factual statistics (as opposed to perceptions and bias from people unused to using a ferry) of ferry cancellations.
How do you actually find those facts out, and sensibly how likely is weather to intervene in July?
Given the size of aeroplane and the island landing strips the planes must have operational limits- both in terms of visual and also f wind restrictions. Yet reading this forum would have you believe that the flights are never cancelled.
I would love to know the factual figures there as well, as I just believe there are never weather cancellations of the flights.

We choose to fly for two reasons. Since we had only the day there we were able to arrive a couple of hours before the ferry did. I suffer from motion sickness on boats and I knew that if that happened the rest of the day would be miserable for me. Different strokes for different folks as they say.

ETA I didn’t see any evidence of a bus at the airport both before and after the flight. If there’s bus I stand corrected.

We took the ferry from Galway, and we stayed overnight on the island. The ferry was nice, but I would do whatever optimizes your time on the island. Inishmore is AMAZING. We stayed at Tigh Fitz - the owner and staff are wonderful people. As for pub, we stopped in at Joe Wattys. While on the island, if you are able, rent an e-bike. If there are mobility concerns, there are lots of trap & pony offerings. I believe you can do little minivan tours too.

Bob: I have been on Inishmore two times.

Tour of the island: I have taken a car-based guided tour with a local man, rented a bicycle and even taken the pony-based tour to see Inishmore. Of the three, the bicycle was best for me. I knew about the history and culture of the Aran Islands before I visited. I recommend reading John Millington Synge's "The Aran Islands" and other great literature before you go. Then decide which tour method is best for you.

On an authentic pub, I visited the American Bar in Kilronan. Though I believed there had to be more authentic pubs than that, it was perfectly fine with great Guinness. I was last on Inishmore in 1999.

On a bus from Connemara to Dublin, my guess is that you do not have to go to Galway. I have taken the bus everywhere in Ireland and noticed that the buses go to really out of the way places. Go to Irish Bus (https://www.buseireann.ie/) and type in your location to see if you point of department in Connemara seems safe. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable, Galway makes sense as a departure point because buses from there to Dublin leaves very frequently throughout the day.

By the way, there is an excellent museum on the the Aran Islands in Kilronan. I highly recommend it. And do not miss the great antiquities.