Comuting Galway to Dundalk

GalwayDriver

Hi all,

Just wondering the quickest route to Dundalk from Galway leaving Monday @ 6.30am. Motorway or through Mullingar, Kells....

Also returning from Dundalk in the evening at approximately 4.30, which way is quicker.

Thanks for your help.

Big Nasty

I would say head to Dublin / M50 on the way there and via Mullingar on the way back:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Galway,+Co.+Galway,+Ireland&daddr=dundalk+ireland&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=53.290053,-9.051704&sspn=0.096661,0.305901&ie=UTF8&z=8

roosterman71

Bear in mind that you'll pay 3 tolls on the motorway route. Its also a longer drive, and alot more boring. Motorway driving is very monotonous

Toyota_Avensis

Galway - Loughrea - Balinasloe - Athlone - Mullingar - Kells - Ardee - Dundalk

Avoid Motorway Tolls [M4, M50 & M1], M50 Traffic [early morning rush]

But be catious on Mullingar -Ardee [N52], There is a number of known Black Spots along that windy route but it should give a better driving experiance than sitting on Motorways the whole from Athlone.

Do tell us what route you choose in the end and how you got on time wise.

Hope I was of some Assistance.

mullingar

The N52 between Mullingar and Ardee is bad, especially between Kells and Ardee. Far too many bad bends and if you get stuck behind a truck forget about it, thare are NO safe over-taking streches for about 15 miles!

You will only save about 5-10 mins taking the N52 instead of the M4/M50/M1. the headache you get of driving on a very bad road is just not worth it if extra fuel/tolls are not a problem.
The 3 tolls do all add up, best part of €7 each way!

GTE

Im not an expert in how bad the traffic is on some parts but you could cut in on the M4 at Kinnegad and go on the old N4 untill you get to Kilcock and then you will miss that toll. Its a perfectly fine wide road with overtaking spots. I get the bus along the old N4 regularly in the mornings and I usually never hit traffic problems.

JHMEG

bbk wrote: »

Im not an expert in how bad the traffic is on some parts but you could cut in on the M4 at Kinnegad and go on the old N4 untill you get to Kilcock and then you will miss that toll. Its a perfectly fine wide road with overtaking spots. I get the bus along the old N4 regularly in the mornings and I usually never hit traffic problems.

Good point. I drive the N4 regularly, and as long as speed limits are taken into consideration the tolled section will save in the order of 5 minutes.

30km @ 120km/h takes 15 mins to complete.
30km @ 90km/h takes 20 mins to complete.

Zube

JHMEG wrote: »

30km @ 90km/h takes 20 mins to complete.

and is illegal on the whole length of the old N4, even ignoring Clonard, Enfield, and traffic lights.

GTE

Zube wrote: »

and is illegal on the whole length of the old N4, even ignoring Clonard, Enfield, and traffic lights.

Indeed, despite the 80km speed limit however most people are sticking to the old 100km limit the road used to have before the motorway popped up.

Traffic light wise you only meet one if you take the Enfield bybass. You only meet one if you go through Enfield but you shouldnt do that anyway.

Dan_B

If you get as far as Kilcock, it is quicker to get to dundalk via / summerhill / Trim / Navan / Slane / M1 and you avoid 2 tolls.

I drive it frequently and it's a good road.

GTE

Dan_B wrote: »

If you get as far as Kilcock, it is quicker to get to dundalk via / summerhill / Trim / Navan / Slane / M1 and you avoid 2 tolls.

I drive it frequently and it's a good road.

I should have remembered that. I went to a debs via that route and I was surprised how good the road was. Some places werent great but overall it was nice. I dunno about time wise though.

Dan_B

Yeah, apart from summerhill which appears to have been carpet bombed.

JHMEG

Zube wrote: »

and is illegal on the whole length of the old N4, even ignoring Clonard, Enfield, and traffic lights.

Who said it was legal on the N4?

I merely stated there's only a 5 min difference between 30km covered at 120km/h and 90km/h.

GTE

Dan_B wrote: »

Yeah, apart from summerhill which appears to have been carpet bombed.

It has, it seems to have self destructed in the past few years with road work after road work. The Kilcock to summerhill road is very good now though.