Car Hire in Ireland - Getting to Ireland

The main international airports are in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Shannon (Limerick). Dublin and Shannon have regular trans-Atlantic flights and limited long-haul destinations. Most air traffic is ex-London, and several budget flights originate out of selected European destinations. Each airport has bus and taxi services to the main centres, although frequency is limited.

Ferry services between Ireland and Britain operate between Dublin and Holyhead in Wales; Rosslare and Fishguard and Pembroke, also in Wales; Belfast and Liverpool; and Belfast and Stranraer in Scotland. Services also link Cork with St Malo, Cherbourg and Le Havre in France.

Bus Eireann, the Republic's national bus line, has regular services all over the entire island. The Rail network is limited and more expensive.

Hiring a car is by far the most rewarding means of seeing Ireland. A ring road, the M50, circles Dublin and several main highways feed off this; The N1 – north (coastal and Belfast), N2 and N3– northwest, N4 - westwards and M4 (Galway/West coast), N7 – southwest, N11 – south ( Bray/Wicklow/Southeast).

Travelling by road in Ireland is deceptive, the roads are windy and often single-laned. Budget generously with your journey time.