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ACCESS TRANSPORT
Ireland is served by a range of regular and comfortable surface and air services which require advance booking especially in the peak holiday season when many services operate to full or near full capacity. During the Easter and Christmas periods early advance booking is essential. The main sea and air service areas are as follows:
BY SEA :
B & I Line : From Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport, From Pembroke to Rosslare Ferryport.
Sealink : From Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire, From Fishguard to Rosslare, From Stranraer to Larne.
Hovercraft SeaCat : From Stranraer to Larne Ferryport.
Norse Irish Ferries : From Liverpool to Belfast.
Swansea/Cork Car Ferries : From Swansea to Cork
P & O European Ferries : From Cairnryan to Larne
Isle of Man Ferries : From Douglas to Dublin, From Douglas to Belfast
DIRECT FROM MAINLAND EUROPE
Irish Ferries : From Le Havre to Cork, From Le Havre to Rosslare, From Cherbourg to Rosslare
Brittany Ferries : From Roscoff to Cork
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BY AIR :
To Dublin Airport From Britain, Europe and N. America
To Shannon Airport From Britain, Europe and N. America
To Knock Airport From Britain.
To Cork Airport From Britain and Europe
To Galway Airport From Britain via Dublin
To Kerry Airport From Britain via Dublin
To Sligo Airport From Britain
To Waterford Airport From Glasgow
To Belfast International Airport From Britain, Europe
To Belfast City Airport From Britain
To Derry Airport From Britain and Dublin
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RAIL :
Mainline trains run between Dublin and cities and towns throughout Ireland. On the principal inter-city routes express trains operate at average speeds of 60 mph and most of these longer distance trains have catering facilities ranging from bar service and light refreshments to la carte meals. Express train times from
Dublin (Heuston) to Cork 2.5 hours
Dublin (Heuston) to Galway 3 hours
Dublin (Heuston) to Killarney/Tralee 3 hours
Dublin (Heuston) to Limerick 1.5-2 hours
Dublin (Heuston) to Westport 4 hours
Dublin (Heuston) to Waterford 2.5 hours
Dublin (Connolly) to Belfast 2.25 hours
Dublin (Connolly) to Wexford/Rosslare 2.25/2.5 hours
Dublin (Connolly) to Sligo 3.5 hours
In Northem Ireland there are three main rail routes out of Belfast Central Station; north to Derry via Ballymena and Coleraine, east to Bangor along the shores of Belfast Lough, and south to Dublin via Lisbum, Portadown and Newry. The joumey time to Dublin is just over 2 hours. Trains from York Rd station connect with the Larne/Scotland ferries. A bus service links both stations.
DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), an electric rail service, serves the coastal commuter belt around Dublin from Howth on the northside to Bray on the southside. The Belfast commuter belt is served by Northern Ireland Railways diesel services. Various types of incentive or concessionary fares are available on nearly all rail services.
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EXPRESS BUS :
An express bus service network serves all the cities and most of the towns and villages outside Dublin; in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford there are local bus services which connect the city centres with their suburbs. Similarly in Northern Ireland, express buses from Belfast serve all the main towns and villages and there are excellent local bus services serving the cities and towns and their surroundings. In both parts of Ireland, there are half day and extended coach tours available as with the trains there are many cheaper excursion, day return or other incentive or concessionary fares available on the buses.
Donal Joyce Minibus Hire | Knocknacarra, Galway, Ireland.
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INTERNAL AIR SERVICE :
There are a limited number of internal air services (including helicopter) available and these are mainly during the holiday season. However it is advisable to check the services out in advance as in most cases they are not scheduled.
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TAXI SERVICES :
Taxi services are available in Dublin. Cork, Galway and Limerick. Prices are controlled and are based on metered mileage with special extra charges for specific factors; a minimum fare applies Outside these cities, hackney services are available to provide transport on request In all cases, the visitor is advised to check out the approximate fare in advance with the driver. In Northern Ireland there is also an adequate service; in Belfast, London type black taxis are available in two distinct systems: at railways stations and city centre ranks, they ply trade just as London-style cabs; at other ranks they run 'mini-bus' services to eastern and western areas of the city.
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ISLAND BOAT SERVICES :
Licensed boat services operate to some of the islands off the coast but it is advisable for visitors to make advance arrangements as these services are often dependent on weather conditions.
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CAR HIRE :
There are a number of car hire companies operating throughout the country and in most cases these companies are members of the Car Rental Council of Ireland which operates a Code of Standards to which it expects its members to conform. The visitor is advised to check insurance and other complications in relation to car hire before signing the contract to hire. It is also advisable to check in advance the approximate cost for a specific type car, period of hire, petrol etc. before completing the agreement. Most companies operate a pick-up and set-down arrangement which enables the visitor to hire a car at his point of entry and complete the hire at another departure point; it is advisable to check whether this service is subject to surcharge.
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MOTORING :
Most visitors to Ireland who wish to tour the country either regionally or otherwise bring their own cars. Ireland is especially attractive to the motorist because of its scenic beauty and the comparative absence of traffic on its roads even on the main trunk routes between the cities and towns. Before going on tour it is advisable to check speed limits, parking regulations, petrol prices and grades, repair and maintenance services.
The staff at the tourist information office at the point of entry to the country will be pleased to help with these details. Whether hiring a car or travelling in your own car, the visitor is advised to take normal precautions in relation to any property which they are bringing with them and to ensure that they are parking their car (especially in the cities) where it is unlikely to be broken into or vandalised. A recommended all Ireland motoring tours are included just follow the virtual tour route of the Guide, these will be helpful to the mootorist who wishes to get the 'feel' of the country especially if they have unlimited time to enjoy their visit here.
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