How to get to Ireland: flights, ferries

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HOW TO GET TO IRELAND: FLIGHTS AND AIRPORTS

The most comfortable way and the one used by almost all tourists to get to Ireland is undoubtedly the plane. The Republic of Ireland has three main airports (Dublin, Shannon and Cork) connected with the rest of Europe and the world with numerous flights. Dublin airport is the busiest in Ireland. This airport is located a few kilometers north of Dublin. In Northern Ireland the most important airports are the two Belfast airports (Belfast City and Belfast International).

The Irish national airline is Aer Lingus, although Ryanair, the famous low-cost airline, is the most important Irish airline. Ireland is well connected to the rest of Europe by scheduled and low-cost flights.

HOW TO GET TO IRELAND: FERRIES

International Transport: Most ferries to the UK depart from the Irish ports of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Rosslare, Larne and Belfast. Rosslare is connected with the British ports of Fishguard and Pembroke. The Welsh port of Holyhead is connected by ferries with the Irish port of Dún Laoghaire and with Dublin (Dublin Port). The latter port (Dublin Port) is also connected to the ports of Liverpool, Douglas and Heysham. In Northern Ireland ferries to Great Britain leave from the ports of Larne and Belfast. The French port of Cherbourg is connected by ferries with the Irish port of Rosslare. While the French one in Roscoff is connected by ferries with the Irish port of Cork.

Internal Transport: Ferries regularly connect the Aran islands with the port town of Rossaveal on the Galway coast. Other islands connected by ferry services are those of Aranmore off the coast of Donegal, Clare Island off the coast of the Mayo, and of Sherkin island and the Cape Clear islands off the west coast of Cork.

TRAINS

Ireland has a good network of rail services, which branch out from Dublin and touch much of the country with the exclusion of the Donegal region. The Irish railways are operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). The current network covers a total of 2,000 km.

BUS

The island is served by a dense bus network covering most of the country. This network of bus connections is managed by the Bus Éireann (Irish Bus). The bus network of the Republic of Ireland has over fifty routes. Additionally, in partnership with Ulsterbus (Translink), it provides regular services to many cities across Northern Ireland. There are also regular daily services in many rural areas.