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Dublin to Castlebar - via Longford or via Athlone?

  • 23-06-2015 11:43am
    #1
    Pipmae
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭


    Any advice which is the better road.

    Thanks in advance


Comments

  • #2
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭cml387


    Standard route is Dublin-Mullingar Longford-Ballaghdereen Castlebar.
    The only bad stretch of road is in Roscommon, and now Ballaghdereen is bypassed it's a bit better.


  • #3
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,620 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    cml387 wrote: »
    Standard route is Dublin-Mullingar Longford-Ballaghdereen Castlebar.
    The only bad stretch of road is in Roscommon, and now Ballaghdereen is bypassed it's a bit better.

    +1 going via Athlone would involve a lot of rural Co. Roscommon, I'd go the N4/N5 as advised above.


  • #4
    Pipmae
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭Pipmae


    Thanks folks.

    Strangely enough the AA route planner is defaulting to the Athlone route.


  • #5
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,921 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Pipmae wrote: »
    Thanks folks.

    Strangely enough the AA route planner is defaulting to the Athlone route.
    route planners seem to favour more motorway if possible, and some would see a national primary and secondary as being the same quality, even if they are not.


  • #6
    plodder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,555 ✭✭✭plodder


    Athlone to Roscommon is a decent road. You could go from there to Tulsk to rejoin the N5, if you want to maximise motorway. Straight N4/N5 is probably fastest though.


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  • #7
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,620 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Pipmae wrote: »
    Thanks folks.

    Strangely enough the AA route planner is defaulting to the Athlone route.

    That's because Athlone to Roscommon and on to Tulsk (where you'd turn left for the N5) is an 'N' road (N61) so as far as route planners are concerned it's almost as good as a motorway even though it's a regular country road passing through several small villages.

    As a comparison, the N7 from the Naas north exit to the M50 is a multi-lane dual-carriageway and as good as a motorway if it wasn't for the lower speed lmits, the N61 from Athlone to Roscommon is the same category of road as far as route planning software is concerned.


  • #8
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,258 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    Going via Athlone you have Motorway/Dual carriageway as far as Athlone with just the turn off from the N 6 and Knockcroghery slowing you down until you get to Roscommon. The road from Mullingar to beyond Strokestown and Tulsk is slower but on the Mayo side you will catch up a lot. That N 51 isn't great at all but you won't be on it for too long.

    Another variable to consider My sister told me that she drive Westport to Dublin via Galway in less 3 hours. I tried it myself twice and she was right; I did Galway on a Saturday evening in a bit over 2.


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