Bus from Cork to Portlaoise (Athlone or Tullamore)

iPink

There used to be a Buseireann bus from Cork to Portlaoise, it was the Dublin (airport) bus I think that stopped in Portlaoise... it was discontinued a while ago...

My daughter needs to make that journey a couple of times a year but now it's a nightmare as I have to go to Limerick to drop her off & pick her up... (from near Moate\Athlone) or else it's almost a 5 hour journey now by bus!

I've looked & looked for a private bus that stops in Portlaoise but can't find one... I think there must be one as it's on the main route to Dublin... please can anyone help??

PS I know that there's a train that goes that route but it works out way more expensive...!
Thanks in advance

Peppa Pig

M and A coaches from Portlaoise to Cashel, to connect with the BE bus to Cork.

Seems to be a tie up with BE as well.

Link

Mind you, booking the train a month in advance looks a cheaper option.

KCAccidental

The train would be simpler, surely.

Mrs OBumble

www.a-b.ie is your man ....

Jamie2k9

Is your daughter a student? 21 euro return fares are available if she is and has valid college ID.

You can get return fares for 30 euro return (adult) 22 (child under 16) if booked 2 or 3 weeks in advance.

All from Portlaoise. Much cheaper as its on Cork route and online fares are available.

Sean9015

As others have said, BÉ abandoned Portlaoise - South servcies. 12/12X Limerick - Dublin has also followed a similar pattern of reduction of intermediate stops, and removal from Portlaoise is (IMHO) only a matter of time. If you try and buy a Portlaoise - Cork ticket on the BÉ website and it actually offers 12/12X to LIMERICK, then 51 to Cork!!! Of the others, Aircoach did call at Portlaoise at first, but pulled it due to "lack of use". The fact that Dublin - Portlaoise was charged the same as Dublin - Cork may have had something to do with it, but the company claimed otherwise in correspondance with them.

Train is now the only real offer Portlaoise - South.

If you are at Moate / Athlone, train via Portarlington is also possible (but awkward) - but to cut costs you should buy a ticket to Portarlington then another onward, as IE seldom offer cheap tickets across different radial routes (Portlaoise - Galway vs Portarlington - Galway being an example I am aware of).

tv3tg4

I am just wondering - what would be the easiest way getting from Cork to Athlone by public transport?

thebiglad

tv3tg4 wrote: »

I am just wondering - what would be the easiest way getting from Cork to Athlone by public transport?

See post #4...

Lord Glentoran

tv3tg4 wrote: »

I am just wondering - what would be the easiest way getting from Cork to Athlone by public transport?

See post #3...

tv3tg4

The frequency of the buses from Cork isn't great. If I got the train from Dublin train from Cork - would there be a stop I could get off and get a bus to athlone?

Try_harder

You could see is there a option to change at Portarlington for Westport/Galway services which serve Athlone (all train)

Isambard

you could change at Portlaoise and get a connection from there to Portarlington and connect to Athlone. Might be simpler to change at Heuston though.

Isambard

bus option changing in Oranmore

http://getthere.ie/athlone-cork/?operator=buseireann