Cork to Letterkenny

Léan

Hi, i wasn't sure whether to leave this here or in the Cork City forum. I also did a search but the information was fairly old.


Anyway.
I'm looking to get from Cork to Letterkenny and back, this Saturday May3rd and back on Monday 5th (which i have a feeling might be difficult due to the bank holiday).

There seems to be no train to that part of the country at all () so it's looking like a bus all the way..

I've been on the Bus Eireann website and it seems the only bus option is the number 53 ? With loads of stops along the way. Looks like it takes a good 8 hours or so.

Is there any other route? I was thinking maybe the City link to Galway and then Bus Eireann to Letterkenny but it's not really knocking much time off.


Any help appreciated

LXFlyer

Not an easy trip at all unfortunately. Any option is going to be at least 8 hours.

You have a couple of options:

1) Bus Eireann via Galway - you can get a through ticket - Route 51 to Galway and Route 64 to Letterkenny

2) Train/Bus Cork to Dublin and Bus Eireann route 32 to Letterkenny

You could get one of the Aircoach, GoBE, or Bus Eireann route X8 services to Dublin Airport and change there.

Use the National Transport Authority journey planner (www.a-b.ie) and you will get a variety of options.

corktina

Train to Derry or Sligo and then bus? probably costly and not quick either

Polar101

The link you posted says 4h 20min to Galway, and then 4h 45min to Letterkenny. Might be faster to via Dublin?

Banjoxed

I find a-b.ie solves most transport problems - failing that, I recommend this link: http://igtfy.com/

If I was doing Cork to Letterkenny, out of sheer badness and dislike of long distance buses I'd take the train to Heuston, Luas to Connolly, train to Belfast Central and then train to Derry. Bus Eireann do the bus connection from Derry to Letterkenny in 35 minutes after that. Timetables are available at www.irishrail.ie and at www.translink.co.uk

Victor

Banjoxed wrote: »

failing that, I recommend this link: http://igtfy.com/

Play nice.

Moderator

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The one advantage with Bus Éireann is that you can get a through ticket for the entire journey. Irish Rail can sell you a Cork-Dublin-Luas-Belfast-Derry ticket, but compare prices.

Note that the Lough Swilly bus service seems to be no longer running.

_Kaiser_

Would renting a car be an option? (again comparing the cost of doing so)

8/9 hours on public transport would not be my preference if at all avoidable. You'd do Cork-Dublin in just over 2 hours depending on the time of day and Dublin-Donegal in just under 3.

5 hours is a lot better than 8/9. Faster and more flexible when you get there too.

Léan

Thanks for all the (mostly :rolleyes:) helpful responses guys.

@Kaiser2000 Unfortunately I don't drive so renting a car is out and i don't know anyone heading that direction this weekend so public transport it is.

In a mission to avoid a lengthy stint on the bus i looked into the Dublin option as suggested by a few people and i think i'l try do that, looks like I can get a cheapish train to Dublin and bus it to Letterkenny and back again.



Thanks.

LXFlyer

That really is the best option.

Just leave enough time to get from Heuston to Busaras.

sob1467

Léan wrote: »

.

In a mission to avoid a lengthy stint on the bus i looked into the Dublin option as suggested by a few people and i think i'l try do that, looks like I can get a cheapish train to Dublin and bus it to Letterkenny and back again.



Thanks.

There is also a private company that does the Dublin Letterkenny bus route and it is quicker because it only stops once in Monaghan and not in every village along the way (There are a lot) it is also cheaper than Bus Eireann 26 return and 18 one way.

http://www.johnmcginley.com/timetable.html

mickey1985

Driving this route Friday which is the best way of going?

_Kaiser_

M8-M7-M50 anyway.

After that there's a few options but personally I'd take the M1 to Dunleer, across then to Monaghan and over the border via Omagh and Strabane

BUT... it also depends on the time you're travelling as those routes will be heavy in the afternoon/evening