Less than 60 miles from the City of Cork - taking the N22 towards Killarney and Tralee or alternatively following the N71 through County Cork and Bantry Bay to Kenmare.

Traveling to Ireland and Onward to Cork & Kerry

As Ireland is an island nation, traveling to Ireland means arriving by either air or sea. This following points aim to provide you with all the information required so as to make your journey here as pleasant as possible.

Traveling by Air

If you intend to arrive by air, you will enter the country through one of four airports. Your point of departure will largely determine the airport at which you will arrive.

For visitors arriving on flights directly from/through North America either Shannon or Dublin airports will be your destination. Shannon Airport due to its proximity to Cork & Kerry is the most ideal destination as it is only 2 hours away by car. Dublin Airport is Ireland's biggest airport, serving the North Atlantic routes, Middle and Far Eastern routes and European routes. Regular shuttle flights are available between Dublin and both Cork and Kerry Airports. Cork Airport which is just outside Cork City is the best destination choice available. Cork Airport can be reached from many European destinations as well as from all over the world if you change flights at either London or Dublin. Cork Airport is, at the most, just two hours away from where you intend to stay in the Cork / Kerry region. Your final choice of arrival airport is Kerry Airport which is ideal for those who want short check-in/arrival times. Kerry Airport can be reached by flights from the U. K., or Dusseldorf. Many private companies such as Gaelic Helicopters offer very attractive alternatives for airport transfers and inland journeys.

Traveling by Sea

If you intend to arrive by sea, which is ideal for those who wish to use their own car, there is a choice of 3 ports of arrival. The closest port of arrival is Ringaskiddy which is just outside Cork City. Ringaskiddy serves Swansea in Wales and Le Havre, Cherbourg, Roscoff and St. Malo in France. Next Rosslare which is located in the south-east corner of Ireland is suitable for those who prefer a shorter sea journey. From here Fishguard in Wales is just 90 minutes away by Sea Lynx. Standard Ferries (Irish Ferries) also serve Fishguard and Pembroke in Wales, and Cherbourg and Roscoff in France. Finally Dun Laoghaire just outside Dublin links with Holyhead in North Wales and Liverpool for visitors coming from the Midlands and Northern England.

Traveling by Rail

If you have arrived in Ireland by air or sea at Dublin / Dun Laoghaire or by sea at Rosslare, a comfortable way to travel onward to Cork or Kerry is by train (Iarnród Éireann).

A taxi (cab) can be taken from Dublin Airport to Hueston Station and from Dun Laoghaire Ferry port to Hueston station . A regular bus service AIRLINK also runs from the airport. There is no direct bus link from Dun Laoghaire, so you take the DART (Suburban rail service) to Pearse St. Station in Dublin city centre and then the No. 90 bus to Hueston Station.

Trains leave Hueston station regularly for Cork Kent station all day. The travel time is approx. 3 hours and costs. From Rosslare, one train leaves daily directly to Cork via Limerick Junction Time: 3 hours. Otherwise you will have to go via Dublin - changing from Pearse St. station to Houston Station (No. 90 bus) which takes approx. 6 hours.

Kent station in Cork is less than 5 minutes walk from the city centre. It is also possible to change trains at Mallow to get to Millstreet, Killarney and Tralee. For Killarney and Tralee this will cost a small bit extra. Full timetables are posted at all stations.

Traveling by Car

For complete travel independence a car is your best choice whether you bring your own or hire one. The roads in Ireland are uncluttered and once off the main National primary routes, roads are considered crowded if you see another car going in the same direction and one coming against you at the same time. There are a variety of car hire firms who may be booked locally or through your travel agent. Generally a small family car will average 40 miles per gallon (14Km / litre). Note - a gallon here is larger than a US gallon. All service stations supply fuel in litres. Diesel is slightly cheaper. Note: Ireland has just changed over all our speed limit signage to Kilometres per hour.

Below is a guide to mileages around the country - Killarney is the closest town given to Shaminir.

Distances table.

Traveling by Bus & Coach

Traveling by bus (Bus Eireann) is a cheap way to get around Ireland and a great way to meet people. Often very lively conversations will develop during your journey, with plenty of advice given for you stay in Ireland. Bus Schedules are available also on Aertel (RTE Television) The Dublin Bus Navigator is useful for finding your way around our capital city.

The cheapest way to travel by bus is to get a RAMBLER TICKET available from most bus stations. These give unlimited travel on all Scheduled services - excluding Day Tours.

If you are traveling as a group of 10 people or more, then why not hire a coach for your stay in Ireland. This way you will be chauffeured day and night to you chosen destinations in safety and with no worries about who drinks and who does the driving!

Cycling

For those who want to travel at a leisurely pace and enjoy the fresh air, Ireland is ideal cycling country. Bicycles can be hired nationwide Bikes are all hybrid touring or mountain bikes and pannier bags can also be hired. Bikes can be returned to over 90 Dealer's Nationwide. Some contacts are as follows:

Dublin

C. Harding, O'Connell St. Bridge - Tel: +353-1-8732455

Shannon / Limerick

Emerald Cycles, 1 Patrick St. Limerick - Tel: +353-61-416983

Cork

Kilgrew's Cycles, 6/7 Kyle Street, Cork - Tel: +353-21-276255

Rothar Cycles, 11 Magazine Road, Cork - Tel: +353-21-313133

Bicycles can also be hired at most of the towns listed within the Cork / Kerry region.

Hitchhiking

Hitchiking is perfectly safe in Ireland, for those on a low budget this is an ideal way to get around and meet people. If you intend hitchhiking for the first time it is advisable to get as comfortable a pair of walking boots and backpack as you can afford before you come. It will pay in the long-term as who wants a sore back or feet when you are supposed to be enjoying yourself on holidays. Getting a lift is quite easy, especially if you have the flag of your country sewn onto the back of your backpack and displayed so drivers can see it easily. Many local people in Ireland hitchhike so you will often have competition at the best locations for a lift which is usually between the 50k.p.h. and 60k.p.h. signs on the road leaving town.

Please note:- while care has been taken to ensure that the information given above is accurate, it is provided purely as a guide. To ensure that your visit goes as smoothly as possible it is advisable to check through your own travel arrangements thoroughly before departure.