Ireland by sea and sky

Being a small Island nation on the edge of Europe, Ireland is very reliant on sea and air travel for both tourism and business purposes. There are numerous international airports and ferry ports around the country, serviced by both overseas companies and our own providers like Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Irish Ferries and Stena Line.

Here is some vital information on the main arteries in and out of the island.

Ferry Ports

The humble ferry has enjoyed a bit of a regeneration in the last decade, and many older ships have been redesigned or let go, in favour of newer, more comfortable alternatives. Though a slow process generally, travel by ferry is very hand for trips to Wales and France, and also, the option of bringing along your car, enjoying a private cabin and a chance to stretch your legs are key considerations above air travel. Some of Ireland’s main ports include:

Rosslare

Situated in Co. Wexford, looking across the Irish Sea towards Wales, Rosslare is well served by both bus and train from Dublin, and has always been part of a strong link between the South East and the valleys of the Principality. Irish Ferries, Celtic Link and Stena Line operate regular services to and from Fishguard, Pembroke, Cherbourg and Roscoff.

Larne and Belfast

The Co. Antirm hubs are Northern Ireland’s only ferry ports, and over easy access to the Isle of Man, Scotland and Northern England. Services include Troon, Cairnryan, Stranraer, Douglas and Birkenhead. These two ports also see a huge amount of freight traffic yearly.

Dublin and Dun Laoghaire

County Dublin’s two main ports service the wider capital metropolitan area. Dublin Port, only 10 minutes or so from O Connell Street, is the by far the larger of the two, and one of the largest ports of any kind in Ireland. Both offer seamless, hassle free travel straight into the city, and four ferry companies operate sailings to Holyhead, Birkenhead, Douglas, Liverpool.

Cork

A small operation, located across the Bay from Cork city in Ringaskiddy, the Cork Port offers a recently re-established service to Swansea in Wales, and a fairly frequent service to Roscoff in France for Southern travellers from Britany Ferries and Fastnet Line.

Airports

Ireland boasts four international airports, along with 7 other regional airports, and has traditionally been one of the man stopping points for transatlantic flights from the US.

Dublin

The Republics main hub for air travel, Dublin has recently been expanded to two terminals, and is the base for Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Offering very regular services to the U.K., Europe and further afield, and with strong links with British airports for further flight paths, Dublin is a large, modern and easily accessible airport which serves most of the east of Ireland. Though no train link exists with Dublin city itself, this is on the way, and the regular cheap bus services and small distance to the city centre makes up for this.

Belfast International

Not to be confused with the smaller “George Best” Belfast Airport, Belfast International is a the North’s best choice for air travel. Scheduled and chartered flights to a host of European destinations exist, and again, there are strong links with the UK. Also referred to as “Aldergrove Airport”, Belfast Int. boasts great road and transport links with the centre of the city, including a 24 hour bus service.

Shannon

The fourth busiest airport on the island, Shannon is located in Shannon, Co. Clare, and serves Limerick and the west. The first airport one reaches when flying across the Atlantic from the United States, Shannon is a main refuelling stop, and also offers seasonal direct services to New York, Boston, and Toronto, as well as regular regional flights to the U.K.

Cork

Cork Airport serves the republic’s second largest city, and is located 6km south of the city. A main business attraction for the area, the airport handles around 2.5 million passengers per year, with busy routes to London Heathrow, Paris, Manchester and Birmingham making up much of this. Prone to fog, the airport is home to a new luxury terminal building, and development is ongoing. Flights to Dublin are being discontinued soon, with many other low cost options emerging. Bus Eireann and Citylink operate high frequency services from the airport to the city, Kent Railway Station and surrounding towns like Mallow, Galway and Limerick.

Other large airports in Ireland include Knock Airport in Mayo, Kerry International Airport, City of Derry Airport, Waterford Airport and Sligo Airport, most of which operate limited capacity flights around Ireland and the UK mainly.

words by Shane O’Leary