Limerick to Kilkenny ? M7 ? Is there a junction 20 ?

lifer_sean

Have to go from Limerick to Kilkenny later this week. The AA routeplanner is saying M7 to jn 21, then a series of R roads via Rathdowney, Durrow, etc, and entering Kilkenny via the N77.

Is this the best route ?

Looking at the map it would seem better to stay on M7 for longer, but there doesn't seem to be a junction 20, and it looks like you can't take M8 at junction 19 if going northbound.

Any regulars on this trip who could advise best option ?

Thanks !

charlemont

Well, There was a junction not built on the M7 just after the M8 Exit, There is Junction 2 missing from the M8 also. Both junctions were refused planning. Yes you cannot join the M8 southbound if coming from the Limerick on the M7.

ninty9er

Most people I know from Kilkenny would use the N24, horrible andnallmas it is, and head for Kilkenny from Tipp.

charlemont

You could get off at J21 and go into Borris In Ossory and follow the old N7 towards Portlaoise for about 3 Km then take a right on the R434 which takes you through Aghaboe and Ballycolla to Durrow then just follow the N77 to Kilkenny.

blackbird99

limk to Tipp town onto Cashel, take the ring road around Cashel onto the motorway.
take turn off for Urlingford on motorway, KIlkenny is signposted from there via Freshford.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Limerick+City,+Ireland&daddr=52.5918208,-7.8148828+to:Kilkenny,+Ireland&hl=en&ll=52.717995,-7.517395&spn=0.903384,2.705383&sll=52.74892,-7.93877&sspn=0.90273,2.705383&geocode=FXSmIwMdH098_ykTUVQfYVxbSDEwczGXqccACg%3BFcx8IgMdHsGI_ynFAPhyoc9cSDEypehuWA-F2g%3BFUFwIwMdDHSR_ymrxSM0oTBdSDHAczGXqccACg&oq=kilkenny&mra=prv&t=m&z=9&via=1

joe 77

You can take the exit for Rathdowney , go through Rathdowney and head for Johnstown, its 25 mins from Johnstown to Kilkenny city, Rathdowney is 15 mins from Johnstown . Hope this is of some use to you.

lifer_sean

Thanks all for the suggestions.

@blackbird99, thanks for the link. That google routeplanner seems better than the AA one. I especially like the way it gives alternative routes.

@charlemont, I'll probably go with your suggestion of the R434. I had been looking at that one on the map and it seems a bit more straightforward than going through Rathdowney.

Not a fan of the N24, will stick to the M7 I think, but thanks again for the suggestions.

joe 77

So you are going to go to Durrow to Ballyragget to Kilkenny ?

road_high

charlemont wrote: »

You could get off at J21 and go into Borris In Ossory and follow the old N7 towards Portlaoise for about 3 Km then take a right on the R434 which takes you through Aghaboe and Ballycolla to Durrow then just follow the N77 to Kilkenny.

That's the one. In my opinion, Kilkenny should be signed off the M7 at this junction and a pity it isn't.Definitely the easiest drive to Limerick now. The N24 is shocking.

joe 77

charlemont wrote: »

You could get off at J21 and go into Borris In Ossory and follow the old N7 towards Portlaoise for about 3 Km then take a right on the R434 which takes you through Aghaboe and Ballycolla to Durrow then just follow the N77 to Kilkenny.

Im from Kilkenny and thats a very strange way to get to kk . Why you would want to go as far as Durrow to then go the whole way back to kk is beyond me . The Durrow to kk road going through Ballyraggett is a rough enough road, lots of twists and a few master pot holes !! so be careful and take your time , have a safe journey and make sure and let us know how you get on.

road_high

joe 77 wrote: »

Im from Kilkenny and thats a very strange way to get to kk . Why you would want to go as far as Durrow to then go the whole way back to kk is beyond me . The Durrow to kk road going through Ballyraggett is a rough enough road, lots of twists and a few master pot holes !! so be careful and take your time , have a safe journey and make sure and let us know how you get on.

Yea but ya have motorway as far as Borris In Ossary (less than an hour to/from Limerick), then it's a run into KK of 30-40 mins. It's easier than the N24/Cashel/M8 way. Might seem odd on the map but it's the best way now.

charlemont

joe 77 wrote: »

Im from Kilkenny and thats a very strange way to get to kk . Why you would want to go as far as Durrow to then go the whole way back to kk is beyond me . The Durrow to kk road going through Ballyraggett is a rough enough road, lots of twists and a few master pot holes !! so be careful and take your time , have a safe journey and make sure and let us know how you get on.

Its by far the quickest way from Limerick To Kilkenny City, And it makes use of the motorway M7, The N24 is a crap road to use to get to KK due to it being very congested and slow, It may be similar distance wise but the motorway easily saves time, And I'm sure the R434 and N77 aren't much worse than some sections of the N24 and N76.

joe 77

From Borris in ossory to Durrow is a good half hour drive, from Durrow to Kk could take at least 40 mins, more if you get stuck behind a Glanbia lorry or a tractor as there are very few places to overtake on that road. I totally understand what you are saying about the Cashel route , that would not be my route either, the quickest and most straightforward way is Rathdowney - Johnstown - Freshford - Kilkenny. Once you get past whats left of Galmoy Mines outside Rathdowney the road is actually not that bad, I travel that road at least 3 times a week. Safe journey to the op .

hi5

charlemont wrote: »

You could get off at J21 and go into Borris In Ossory and follow the old N7 towards Portlaoise for about 3 Km then take a right on the R434 which takes you through Aghaboe and Ballycolla to Durrow then just follow the N77 to Kilkenny.

I do this journey regularly and have found this to be the most comfortable and stress free route.
Whatever you do don't take the Templemore route,terrible road where it crosses the bog where the windmills are:mad:

road_high

joe 77 wrote: »

From Borris in ossory to Durrow is a good half hour drive, from Durrow to Kk could take at least 40 mins, more if you get stuck behind a Glanbia lorry or a tractor as there are very few places to overtake on that road. I totally understand what you are saying about the Cashel route , that would not be my route either, the quickest and most straightforward way is Rathdowney - Johnstown - Freshford - Kilkenny. Once you get past whats left of Galmoy Mines outside Rathdowney the road is actually not that bad, I travel that road at least 3 times a week. Safe journey to the op .

Seriously, in what? A shopping trolley . It's 10/15 mins drive Borris to Durrow, plus Durrow/KK 20/25 mins.
Rathdowney route defo not quicker though I gues it might depend where in KK you're going as well.

road_high

charlemont wrote: »

Its by far the quickest way from Limerick To Kilkenny City, And it makes use of the motorway M7, The N24 is a crap road to use to get to KK due to it being very congested and slow, It may be similar distance wise but the motorway easily saves time, And I'm sure the R434 and N77 aren't much worse than some sections of the N24 and N76.

They really aren't. The N24 is horrendous. Good hour and half to Clonmel plus another good 45 mins-hour up to Kilkenny. Crazy way to go now.
M7 all the way with the M8 to Cashel/N24 not too bad an option either as at least you have some motorway.

joe 77

mfitzy wrote: »

Seriously, in what? A shopping trolley . It's 10/15 mins drive Borris to Durrow, plus Durrow/KK 20/25 mins.
Rathdowney route defo not quicker though I gues it might depend where in KK you're going as well.

I think we should agree to disagree, seriously if I'm in a shopping trolley you must be in a helicopter !! You can get from borris in ossory to Kilkenny city in 30 mins ? 40 mins max ? In all fairness now it would take an hour, maybe a few mins less if you were tipping it !! I must try it the next time for craic

sean1141

crap roads either way. Im from near boris and I wouldnt go to kk via rathdowney. I would go via durrow. never liked the rathdowny way..

Our man in Havana

Agreed, keep the hell out of Rathdowney. Also that route is now speed camera central these days.

lifer_sean

Made the trip today, M7 to Jn21, then Borris-in-Ossory, out the "old" Dublin road about a mile, then right for Durrow (R434), onto the N77 for Ballyragget and Kilkenny.

Took about 1hr 30mins, about 45 mins on the M7 and another 45mins from Borris to Kilkenny. Worked out as the same on the way back.

Fairly hassle free except for the google directions around Borris-on-Ossory which were a bit misleading, but the route was fairly obvious if I just looked at the landmarks that were familiar before Borris was bypassed.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. As it turned out, my question was a lot more controversial than I had expected !

road_high

lifer_sean wrote: »

Made the trip today, M7 to Jn21, then Borris-in-Ossory, out the "old" Dublin road about a mile, then right for Durrow (R434), onto the N77 for Ballyragget and Kilkenny.

Took about 1hr 30mins, about 45 mins on the M7 and another 45mins from Borris to Kilkenny. Worked out as the same on the way back.

Fairly hassle free except for the google directions around Borris-on-Ossory which were a bit misleading, but the route was fairly obvious if I just looked at the landmarks that were familiar before Borris was bypassed.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. As it turned out, my question was a lot more controversial than I had expected !

Done it a few times lately. Used to always go via M8/Golden/Tipp Town but this way is way better as you have m-way for most of the journey rather than endure the crap N24. Kilkenny should be signed properly off the M7 and onto the Durrow road. I must drop the NRA a line.
Also, the N77 exit at Portlaoise reads Durrow/Abbeyleix solely which is ridicoulous as Kilkenny is the southern terminus of the N77 and infinitely bigger than these two towns. A lot of west of Ireland and midland traffic use the N77 for Kilkenny and it really ought to be fully signed from Portlaoise as are Carlow and Tullamore on the N80. Sorry for going OT on my little rant but valid points, Kilkenny should be signed properly.

Red Silurian

You could always take the M7 as far as J10, turn around at that exit and use the M9+N10 to take you the rest of the way to Kilkenny... Longer but straighter road and always able to overtake the slow coaches

road_high

colmtheperson wrote: »

You could always take the M7 as far as J10, turn around at that exit and use the M9+N10 to take you the rest of the way to Kilkenny... Longer but straighter road and always able to overtake the slow coaches

Sadly you'd be going almost to Dublin to get to kilkenny plus a toll and a lot extra petrol. The way via Durrow is best as pointed out. An hour and half to from limerick is good going