We are going on a side trip to belfast before starting the tour in ennis. Any recommendations on getting from belfast to ennis? Is Train or bus best? Or a combination of the two? Thank you!
Posted by
Land of La
9364 posts
It’s a very long trip via public transport. Is it a “ must “ do?
Posted by
Midwest
572 posts
How many days is this trip? We had a very hard time getting from Dublin to Ennis for the start of our tour. There is no easy way & bus service is not great. I would suggest seeing Belfast at the end when you are in Dublin. We did a 1 day tour with Wild Rover tours that we really enjoyed. Ennis to Belfast is not easy & I don’t see any easy way to do that.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1314 posts
Transportation challenges in Ireland are well known. How about the FlightLink bus from the Dublin airport to Ennis via Limerick? 3 hrs 15 mins. Doesn't sound too bad. Start with direct bus from Belfast to Dublin airport.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8683 posts
You can use the train every hour from 0600 to 1500 (except 0700 and 1000), which takes the same time as the bus- around 6 hours.
On Irish Rail you can book a through ticket from Dublin to Ennis which includes the cross Dublin LUAS tram fare. As a through ticket it is also a protected connection in the event of late running into Connolly- just take the next train from Heuston.
The same is not true of changing between bus companies at DUB airport or city centre. If the inbound bus is late it is a new ticket (if available) on the next bus.
LUAS between the two stations is simple- it leaves from the front of Connolly station and arrives right outside Heuston.
Train Belfast to Dublin Connolly, tram to Heuston, Cork bound train to Limerick junction, train to Ennis. On the 0900 and 1300 there is an extra guaranteed connection at Limerick (Colbert) station. The 0800 only is Heuston to Athenry (on a Galway train) then Athenry to Ennis.
The full fare on line is 48.39 Euro.
It's worth saying that the distance is 225 miles direct, or 253 miles via Dublin, which would take at least 4 hours by car without stops. So time by bus or train is not so much due to the nature of the transport links, but of the distance involved.
Posted by
53 posts
Don't know if you've booked your flight yet but it may be worth considering flight into Shannon (SNN) with return from Dublin. Ennis is not that far from SNN. According to RometoRio site bus transport takes less than an hour and is very reasonable. Taxi is faster and not outrageous either. I agree with other posts that Belfast after the end of the RS tour would be easier. Trains run regularly from Dublin to Belfast as do busses.