Getting from Belfast to Shannon

Damarr

I'm getting a flight from Shannon to Washington DC on the 20th and from there a bus to NYC. Surprisingly planning all this was relatively easy. That is, compared to trying to get from Northern Ireland to Shannon Airport. I was quite surprised to find no-one flies from either of the Belfast airports to Shannon and I can't find any way to do it that doesn't involve changing between buses and trains over and over.

My flight leaves Shannon at 3:15pm on the 20th. Aer Lingus recommend check in 2hr30mins before that so I need to arrive at Shannon by about 12:30pm. As far as I can tell getting from Belfast to Shannon is impossible to do in one morning on public transport so I guess I'm going to have to go to Dublin the night before and then make my way to Shannon. Can anyone recommend the best and most reliable way to do this? I don't want to be stuck on a broken down train in the middle of nowhere while my plane takes off.

The first leg of the journey would be the most complicated, wouldn't it?

HarryD

Not an easy one.
There's a bus from Belfast to Galway, with one change in Cavan IIRC,
but maybe the train to Dublin would be handier..
I don't think it's feasible to do in one morning, short of hiring a car.

John R

Train: Belfast Central 06.50 Dublin Connolly 09.05
Bus: route 747/748 from Busaras (2mns walk from Connolly) - Airport ETA 09.50 (max 30mns journey +10mns wait)

AerLingus EI133 Dublin 11.00 - Shannon 11.45

Originally posted by HarryD

I don't think it's feasible to do in one morning, short of hiring a car.

And indeed I've looked up Hertz.ie for you.
You can rent a ford focus in Hertz at Belfast and leave it back at hertz in Shannon airport for a total of GB£202.
Assuming you have a full licence and can drive.

All you need then is a road map to pick your shortest route.
The bonus is that you are free to make the journey at your own pace and theres no changing busses,planes and excessively out of the way long bus or train journies.
And of course you will have a big boot so won't be hauling luggage all over the place.

John R

€300 plus petrol to get from Belfast to Shannon. Bargain:rolleyes:

fragile

www.aerarann.com

Adult Regular £ 50.47 GBP Tue, 20 Jul 04
Flight 302
09:20 Depart Belfast (BHD)
10:30 Arrives Cork (ORK)

A taxi to Parnell place bus station, then....

www.buseireann.ie

Cork (Parnell Place Bus Station) dep 11:25
Shannon Airport arr 14:00

Of course, whether Aer Lingus will let you check in that late for an 15:15 flight is another matter :dunno: I have cut European flights a lot tighter than that, but trans-atlantic flights may be more strict, especially when going to the US

Originally posted by John R
€300 plus petrol to get from Belfast to Shannon. Bargain:rolleyes:

Rofl

Half that price with thrifty @ €144 (or one of the others) thats euro not stg plus a tank of petrol bought in the Republic at ROI prices back in shannon so maybe another €50

The taxes bring the Aer arann price up to £70
1 Adult at £ 58.54 GBP £ 58.54 GBP
Taxes and Fees (details) £ 11.48 GBP

Which will still work out cheaper of course by about 60 or 70 Euro than car rental.
For convenience I'd still take a car though

But if you don't mind the hassle of taxi's buses and waiting for the luggage on the carousell at another airport and of course cork city trafic then go with the cheaper option for sure

My apoligies johnR

According to Aerlingus.com , a one way econ flex ticket from Dublin to shannon is €50 including taxes.

So your way is best,having looked at that imho.
But at least the person has a few options now anyway.