Journey advice? Tullamore to Drogheda for Belfast

theguzman

I will be going to Belfast next week and a friend of mine will be joining me coming by train from Galway. I would be approaching on the M8 from Cork and I was thinking to collect her in either Tullamore or Portarlington Train Stations instead of going into Dublin to Heuston to collect her.

I would then cut cross country joining the M1 at Junction 10 north of the Boyne bridge at Drogheda to avoid the Naas Roadworks Speed Vans, M50 traffic and also the M50 and M1 tolls. I would drive the N51 and N52 roads from Tullamore to Drogheda and I have never driven these roads before so I want an idea of what to expect? How bad or good are they? I would be hitting the M50 at rush hour if I went via it.

elperello

It's not a bad plan.

Portlaoise to Tullamore is about a half hour.

Then out to the M6 near Killbeggan 100.

M6 to Kinnegad 120 all the way.

Then you will effectively be at 80 from there to Drogheda.

Kinnegad - Longwood - Trim - Navan - Slane

No big hold up except Navan if you hit it at school time or rush hour. No tolls.

Roads are ok but tractors can be a problem on some sections.

Hoboo

When you come to the crossroads in slane, go left towards Collon (N2), you'll hit the M1 at junction 12, no need to go to Drogs.

For Forks Sake

elperello wrote: »

It's not a bad plan.

Portlaoise to Tullamore is about a half hour.

Then out to the M6 near Killbeggan 100.

M6 to Kinnegad 120 all the way.

Then you will effectively be at 80 from there to Drogheda.

Kinnegad - Longwood - Trim - Navan - Slane

No big hold up except Navan if you hit it at school time or rush hour. No tolls.

Roads are ok but tractors can be a problem on some sections.

There's roadworks on the Portlaoise side of Mountmellick at the moment with traffic lights that will cause you a holdup depending on what time of day you hit it.

I live just outside of Tullamore, work has me in Belfast about once a month, I stick to the motorways the whole way (M6/M4/M50/M1) - Navan in particular is a dose to get throught heading north.

Wildly Boaring

If I was heading cork Belfast.

M8 M7 M50 M1

Hit the M50 outside ot 7 to 9 and 4:40 to 6:30

Lift your friend in portlaoise.

s14driftking

I’d meet your friend in portarlington and go back onto the motorway at monastervin. And then motorway the whole way to Belfast. Better roads and imo shorter time.

Wishbone Ash

Hoboo wrote: »

When you come to the crossroads in slane, go left towards Collon (N2), you'll hit the M1 at junction 12, no need to go to Drogs.

+1

About a km north of Collon take a right turn and it will take you onto the M1 near Dunleer.

(Much better than heading east on the N51 towards Drogheda).

Wildly Boaring

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

If I was heading cork Belfast.

M8 M7 M50 M1

Hit the M50 outside ot 7 to 9 and 4:40 to 6:30

Lift your friend in portlaoise.

Also looked at the other routes. No thank you.
Roads are only ok and trim and navan will hold you up.

Now I would chance the following too, but bear in mind I grew up on this lot

Sallins Clane Kilcock Summerhill Skryne - Up N2 to other side Collon and onto M1.

But I'd be calling into mammy for tea......
Did most of this lately and hit roadworks everywhere including what seemed to be a year and a half at warrenstown

Stick to the motorway.

demanufactured

Get onto the m6/m4, head for m50, head for m1.

Why make it so complicated?

theguzman

The trip has been changed, We booked the Enterprise instead from Connolly, but thanks for all the advice guys.