Arklow To Tralee

admiralofthefleet

Hi lads, im wondering if i can get advice on the best way to tralee from arklow?

im thinking arklow>new ross>clonmel>cahir>michelstown>mallow>banteer>rathmore>killarney>tralee

but a woman was telling me i should go up to the m50 and take the motorway to limerick.

any ideas on the fastest route?

thanks

lottpaul

The best route is definitely via the M50 and Limerick. I would guess about 4 hours max time wise.
The other route has dreadful roads in places - especially from Mallow onwards - and you'd go via Scartaglen and Castleisland for the last leg, not via Killarney - and thats little better than most local back roads.
Even the parts that are officially N roads are not great and you will need to take your time - lots of dangerous spots. Plus you will get delayed in New Ross and possibly other places. Time wise, it might not be too much more - maybe 4 hours 40 or so, but it's a more difficult route.
That said, if you want a leisurely saunter enjoying the scenery it's great - if not go via the Motorways!

dowlingm

Definitely M7/N21 but Google seems to think going via Ballymore Eustace or Graiguecullen to Portlaoise is the better bet than M50 because journey times similar but 35km longer. Weather conditions could be a factor though - not sure I'd want to trek through Wicklow Mountains if adverse but if sunny it would be a pretty nice drive.

The N24/N73/N72 route is about the same distance but the roads so much slower.

bmaxi

dowlingm wrote: »

Definitely M7/N21 but Google seems to think going via Ballymore Eustace or Graiguecullen to Portlaoise is the better bet than M50 because journey times similar but 35km longer. Weather conditions could be a factor though - not sure I'd want to trek through Wicklow Mountains if adverse but if sunny it would be a pretty nice drive.

The N24/N73/N72 route is about the same distance but the roads so much slower.

Take it from one who has travelled via Wicklow Gap and via Aughrim-Tinahely-Portlaoise, M50/M7 is best option whatever the weather.

unkymo

Get on to the M7 as soon as possible!

Then the N21 to Tralee. You might get caught in traffic in Adare, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale but the rest should be plain sailing to Tralee. Avoid North Cork and South Kerry completely! Nightmare roads.

If your not really in hurry down to Tralee may I suggest you take the N69 towards Foynes and Tarbert after you reach Limerick. Its a wonderful coastal drive along the Shannon Estuary and plenty of stop off places to take a break and enjoy the views and stretch the legs. Then keep following the N69 to Listowel onto Tralee.

Oh and enjoy Tralee. Its going to be a bit quiet here since we've had the Rose of Tralee finish up last week but still a great little town!

coylemj

Remember that routing s/w assumes that an N road is better than an R road and that all N roads are of similar quality, something which is most definitely not the case.

I'm thinking of the N66 from Loughrea to Gort in Co. Galway which is an awful winding road and the N81 Blessington road which I made the mistake of taking one new year to get to a wedding in Tullow a few years ago, instead of taking the N9 to Castledermot and then going cross country.

Carawaystick

It is faster from Arklow to Portloaise via Dublin M50/N/M7

I'd definitely go the M7/N20 way

admiralofthefleet

thanks folks, going to go the m50/m7 route