Driving from Dublin to Cork tomorrow evening, best route to avoid Oxegen traffic?

Rowley Birkin QC · 07-07-2011 7:22pm #1

Hi all, heading home tomorrow evening and just looking for opinions on the best route to take to avoid the inevitable Oxegen traffic. I'll be starting out at Swords.

I was thinking of heading down the M50 past the Cork exit and through Tallaght and Blessington and rejoin the motorway south of Punchestown but there's still a good chance the traffic would be pretty hairy there given its proximity to Naas and the type of roads that exist there.

The other option I considered is to head West to Enfield and then tack South to Portlaoise and straight for Cork then.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

no1beemerfan · 07-07-2011 7:26pm

I'd avoid the blessington way as thats marked as an oxegen route.

I'd go with your second option definately....main roads too.

-Corkie- · 07-07-2011 7:29pm

You could just pull a sickie in the morning and head away home early..:)

Rowley Birkin QC · 07-07-2011 7:29pm

Yeah, the more I look at it the more it makes sense, just a short hop between motorways.

sentient_6 · 07-07-2011 7:34pm

If your thinking west & south for Portlaoise id stay on the M4/6 far as kinnegad, then tullamore, mountmellick, portlaoise. Its a fair way around though. You'll get stung for the M4 toll as well. But the N roads between Kinnegad & Portlaoise will probably be better & more direct than any R roads south of Enfield.

blindsider · 07-07-2011 7:36pm

I'm going the other way (Cork to Dublin) and hoping to leave at 1100. Am I likely to hit much Oxegen traffic?

Thanks!

esharknz · 07-07-2011 8:55pm

N11 through Wicklow and Wexford? Change to the N25 at Enniscorthy (I think).
Quite a nice drive, although a bit longer if coming from Dublin. Some dual carriageway too.

doolox · 07-07-2011 9:03pm

....for Cork on Satruday morning.

I want to be at Cork Airport for 11.00 AM.

I'd anticipate a Journey time of 3 hours to Cork City and another 1/2 hour to the Airport.

Will Oxygen affect me at that time???....I expect to be in Naas area at 6.40am or so.

Hal1 · 07-07-2011 9:10pm

Check AA roadwatch, I'm sure they will have updates on the road situation.

Absurdum · 07-07-2011 9:43pm

it starts tonight doesn't it? I'd take my chances with the M50/M7 tbh

ottostreet · 07-07-2011 10:00pm

I've always ended up on the N7 at Oxygen weekend, and have never experienced any hold-ups tbh. I wouldn't go near Naas town, but have never been held up on N7!

TylerIE · 07-07-2011 10:02pm

You should be fine tomorrow, allow about 90 mins extra. I drove up and down every year for the last six years and apart from a bit of traffic at Red Cow and in Naas, since it became a 4 night thing its not a problem to get by on Friday / Sat. You can still easily get to Naas in about 40 minutes from Red Cow on Friday.

kwalshe · 07-07-2011 10:06pm

Ottostreet is right , Oxegen causes a little bit of extra traffic but you normally never notice it. Friday from 3pm is always bad until about 5:30 to 6pm for friday traffic leaving Dublin on the N7. You might get slowed down but it's not gridlock.
Anyway is nice checking all the people and their happy little faces travelling down in their car.

Stheno · 07-07-2011 10:19pm

ottostreet wrote: »

I've always ended up on the N7 at Oxygen weekend, and have never experienced any hold-ups tbh. I wouldn't go near Naas town, but have never been held up on N7!

+1 to this, commuted Swords to Newbridge for two years of Oxygen, no more major hold ups than normal on a Friday tbh

Hal1 · 07-07-2011 10:37pm

Can't you smell that? convoy of boggers in wellies, driving daysul passats? I can

.

Rowley Birkin QC · 08-07-2011 6:25pm

s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/entries/icons/original/000/001/253/everything_went_better_than_expected.jpg?1257510959

Left Swords at 5:30, currently passing the Curragh. :-)

Driving from Dublin to Cork tomorrow evening, best route to avoid Oxegen traffic?

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