Driving Donegal Town to Dublin Fastest Route?

bettlebrox

I was just looking at Yahoo Maps, and their directions to Dublin has one go via Strabane & Omagh (Google Maps suggests the same route only if you going to Dublin airport otherwise it has you going via Manorhamilton).

Yahoo Route:
http://uk.maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&q2=dublin&q1=DONEGAL%2C+COUNTY+DONEGAL%2C+Ireland&trf=0&lon=-7.187805&lat=53.999698&mag=10
Google Route:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=Donegal+Town,+Donegal,+Co.+Donegal,+Ireland&daddr=Dublin&sll=54.101281,-7.047729&sspn=1.359266,3.658447&ie=UTF8&ll=53.884916,-6.973572&spn=1.366347,3.658447&z=9&om=1

I know that sometimes these online mapping services can be a bit off! But, me cousin claims that going via Omagh is faster. Anyone gone that route recently? Are the roads pretty decent? Is it faster? Is there much traffic? I think if I went via Omagh I'd go by Pettigo.

I used to go via Enniskillen but more often than naught I go via Sligo as the roads are a bit better and it's easier as you can just sit back and relax on the various bit of dual-carriageway on the way (and me sister's place is right at the end/start of the N4).

What do you think? What's your favourite route and why?

Thanks
Mick

smashey

If I went by Pettigo, I'd be inclined to go through Enniskillen. Going via Omagh from Donegal Town seems a bit out of the way although you should make Monaghan from there in about 45 minutes.

shiibata

Well, from living a few miles outside ballybofey have gone both way several times..airport and croker, I go via Omagh and then when going to sis-in-law in kildare, go via Sligo...I myself prefer the omagh route as could drive it with my eyes closed:D have done it that often..From Donegal town though going to Omagh seems to make no sense at all, as mentioned enniskillen would be the route to take..That Sligo route is terrible for guards with hair dryers:D

Redsoxfan

I made Maynooth in 3.5 hours on a busy Friday over Xmas going via Sligo (coming from between Letterkenny and Ballybofey). There is now dual carriageway on the Roosky/Dromod section of the N4, and it's dual carriageway/motorway all the way from Mullingar to Dublin.

I found the Bundoran-Sligo section and Carrick on Shannon to be the worst parts.

Michelin suggest going via Enniskillen. Going via Omagh (from Donegal Town) makes no sense to me.

I guess it depends where in the city you're heading.

ednwireland

if your going to west or south dublin i find the quickest way is down through blacklion and manorhamilton and pick the N4 at masonite otherwise its enniskillen and the N3 for me. havnt been down the N2 for years so cant comment on that route only use the omagh cut across when heading to belfast

maos

Via Sligo.....all Towns By Passed And New Motorway From Kinnegad Make It In 3.10mins

Redsoxfan

maos wrote: »

Via Sligo.....all Towns By Passed

What about Carrick on Shannon?

There are others as well.

bettlebrox

maos wrote: »

Via Sligo.....all Towns By Passed And New Motorway From Kinnegad Make It In 3.10mins

The N4/M4 it is then! Not sure if I'll go via Sligo Town or Manorcunningham. Anyone know a good place to stop for breakfast along the way? I'm home for a week and flying into Dublin, grabing a hirecar, and heading straight home, roads should be nice and empty at 6am! I'm hoping to find somewhere at the end of the M4 to grab a nice big fry-up!

Hey Redsoxfan, you in Boston? Me too.

smashey

bettlebrox wrote: »

The N4/M4 it is then! Not sure if I'll go via Sligo Town or Manorcunningham. Anyone know a good place to stop for breakfast along the way? I'm home for a week and flying into Dublin, grabing a hirecar, and heading straight home, roads should be nice and empty at 6am! I'm hoping to find somewhere at the end of the M4 to grab a nice big fry-up!

Hey Redsoxfan, you in Boston? Me too.

Manorcunningham might be a bit further out of your way than Omagh.

Try Manorhamilton.

bohsboy

Donegal Town-Laghy-Kesh-Enniskillen-Maguiresbridge-Lisnaskea-Newtownbutler-Cavan-Virginia-Kells-Navan-Dublin. Took me two hours 14 minutes on St Stephens morning. Sligo route is notorious for police.

clearz

Donegal Town
Lahey
Pettigo
Kesh
Enniskillen
Maguires Bridge
Lisnaskee
New Town Buttler
Buttlersbridge
Cavan Town
Vaginnia
Kellls
Navan
Dunshoklen
Blanchardstown
Dublin.

Fastest route guaranteed. Done it a few hundredth times. Some towns are probably spelt a bit wrong.

bohsboy

Vaginnia? Dunshoklen? Do you even look at the road signs? :eek:

bettlebrox

smashey wrote: »

Manorcunningham might be a bit further out of your way than Omagh.

Try Manorhamilton.

Hee hee! I'll drive really, really fast and be wondering what all them blue lights are behind me! :eek: For some reason I always do that; call Manorhamilton Manorcunningham and vice-versa. :rolleyes:

Redsoxfan

bettlebrox wrote: »

Hey Redsoxfan, you in Boston? Me too.

Nah. Once upon a time........

taung

I'd recommend the following;

Donegal Town
Lahey
Pettigo
Kesh
Enniskillen
Ballinaleck
Derrylin
Belturbet
Cavan Town
Virginia
Kells
Navan
Dunshaughlin
Blanchardstown (or Lucan if you're heading south-side)
Dublin.

This alternative Enniskillen-Cavan route is a wee bit longer distance-wise but the road is straighter, wider and better maintained meaning it is a wee bit better, time-wise.

Miss Fluff

taung wrote: »

I'd recommend the following;

Donegal Town
Lahey
Pettigo
Kesh
Enniskillen
Ballinaleck
Derrylin
Belturbet
Cavan Town
Virginia
Kells
Navan
Dunshaughlin
Blanchardstown (or Lucan if you're heading south-side)
Dublin.

This alternative Enniskillen-Cavan route is a wee bit longer distance-wise but the road is straighter, wider and better maintained meaning it is a wee bit better, time-wise.

I agree, cutting through Derrylin saves a little bit of time as road is better.

bettlebrox

I ended up going up and down via Sligo (my usual route). About 3.5 hours of easy driving. Also, stopped at Carrowkeel for the first time on me way home (to Donegal). Amazing spot if your into megalithic sites, our heritage, and a bit of hill walking.

Of course on the way back to Dublin I had to drop of a renta-car with a full tank and spent almost an hour driving around Drumcondra looking for a petrol station! :mad: At least next time I'll remember there's one on Richmond road!

ScouseMouse

I saw it done the laghey, enniskillen, cavan, dublin route with the wife onboard.

Ok, it was a sunday and we were on a Honda CBR Hurricance.

donegalman1

I'd get that guy in the subaru on you tube to take me!

Seriously, has anyone tried the Bus Eireann service recently. It appears to have gotten much faster and convienent for airport etc

bohsboy

My quickest ever was Stephens morning, 2hrs 8 minutes, Donegal Town to Clonee. Not proud of it!

bettlebrox

Any suggestions on where to stop for a half-decent bite to eat?