It’s really as easy as 1,2,3: train, bus, car.
This is just a small-ish island. You could
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only if time is really short, because
surface transport alone can unveil the
quintessential attraction of Ireland, the
awesome scenic beauty. Getting there is
really as much a part of the experience as
the destination. Sometimes it’s even better.
All three modes, train, bus and car, are
comfortable, reliable, safe, fast, but not so
fast that the vistas become just a passing
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family friendly, boosted by the Irish staff’s
natural warmth and love for children.
They most likely have large families of
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offer half price for children.
Travelling By Train
Irish Rail (Larnrod Éireann) ,
Phone +353 1 836 6222
www.irishrail.ie
Northern Ireland Railways ,
Phone +44 2890 666 630
www.translink.co.uk
Irish Rail operates a good service between
major cities of the Republic, though rural
interiors may not have a network.
Announcements are made during the
journey in addition to the electronic ticker
in each compartment, so there is little
chance of your missing your station.
If your starting point is Dublin, the main
stations here are Connolly and Heuston. Take
–Š‡ ϐ‹”•– ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‘”–Šǡ ‘”–Š™‡•– ƒ†
Rosslare. Take the second if you want to head
for the west, the midlands and southwest.
The stations have food kiosks, so if you
haven’t eaten you should stock up here
on burgers, sandwiches etc or carry a
takeaway brown bag on board. It’s
advisable to buy snacks in any case since
children will always claim to be hungry
when travelling. There is a pushcart
service on board. We have seen Irish
Dads unwrapping a loaf of bread and
making peanut butter, jam and/ or
cheese sandwiches for their brood as
the train speeds on.
The train is absolutely your best bet if
you are heading from Dublin towards
Cork, Waterford, Limerick or Galway.
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‘‡‰ƒŽ ‹• ‘– •‡”˜‡† „›
any rail network, so you’d have to switch
to the bus service from these cities..
Travelling by train to scenic and historic
spots around Dublin is made easy with
DART, the Dublin Area Rapid Transit.
‘— …ƒ …‘„‹‡ ƒ ƒ‹ŽȀ —• –‹…‡– ™Š‹…Š
is valid for three consecutive days, with
unlimited journeys.
Luas (which is the Irish word for ‘speed’)
is a hi-tech light transit rail (or tram)
transport system within Dublin, with a
range of tickets to suit your needs.
In Northern Ireland, a westward line
ˆ”‘
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™‹ŽŽ
–ƒ‡
›‘—
–‘
Londonderry via Coleraine (for the
Giant’s Causeway). There’s an express
train to Larne Harbour. There is a high
speed cross-border link with several
trains to Dublin, all plying out of Central
Station. It might be a better idea to take
a plane to Cork, and then travel leisurely
across the Republic to its buzzing capital
…‹–›ǡ —„Ž‹ǡ ˆ”‘ ™Š‡”‡ ›‘— …ƒ ϐŽ› „ƒ…
home via London or other European
stop.
Check out on travel cards such as the
Emerald Card or the Irish Explorer which
give you concessions, and allow both bus
and train travel.
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