Transportation

Transportation in Ireland

Dublin has a functional public transport network, but Ireland overall is car-dependent. Outside major cities, public transport is limited and a car becomes necessary.

Dublin Public Transport

DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit):

• Coastal rail line from Greystones to Howth/Malahide
• Fast, reliable, scenic
• Expansion (DART+) adding routes to Drogheda, Maynooth, Celbridge by 2026-2028
• Great for living along the coast while commuting to city

Luas (Tram):

• Two lines: Green (north-south through city centre) and Red (east-west)
• Frequent service, covers key areas
• Cross city at interconnecting stops

Dublin Bus:

• Extensive network covering city and suburbs
• 24-hour routes on key corridors
• Can be slow in traffic

Fares and Leap Card

Leap Card is essential:

• Contactless smart card
• 20-30% cheaper than cash fares
• Works on DART, Luas, Dublin Bus, commuter rail
• Can top up online or at stations

TFI-90 Fare:

• Allows transfers between services within 90 minutes
• Single fare covers bus + Luas + DART connections
• Significantly cheaper for multi-leg journeys

Typical fares:

• Single bus journey: €2.00-2.80 (Leap)
• Luas city centre: €2.30 (Leap)
• DART inner Dublin: €2.30 (Leap)
• Monthly cap: ~€120 (Dublin)

Getting a Driver's Licence

EU licences: Valid indefinitely in Ireland.

Non-EU licences:

• Valid for 12 months from taking up residence
• Must exchange or pass Irish test within 12 months
• Exchange possible for some countries (USA varies by state, full list on NDLS.ie)

Irish driving test:

• Theory test: 45 questions, €45
• Practical test: 30-40 minutes, €85
• Waiting times can be long - book early
• Must complete 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons

Driving in Ireland

• Drive on the left
• Motorways: M50 (Dublin ring), M1 (Dublin-Belfast), toll roads
• Fuel: €1.60-1.80/litre (high by global standards)
• Parking: €2-5/hour in cities, often scarce

Buying/Renting a Car

Used car costs:

• Reliable used car: €8,000-15,000
• Motor tax: €200-600/year depending on emissions
• Insurance: €1,000-2,000/year (higher for new drivers)
• NCT (safety test): €55 every 1-2 years

Renting:

• Daily: €40-80
• Monthly: €800-1,500
• Required for rural travel

Intercity Transport

Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann):

• Dublin to Cork: 2.5 hours, €30-60
• Dublin to Galway: 2.5 hours, €25-50
• Dublin to Belfast: 2 hours, €25-40

Bus Éireann & Private Operators:

• Cheaper than train, slower
• Dublin Coach, GoBus for popular routes

Flights:

• Dublin, Cork, Shannon airports
• Ryanair hub - cheap flights to UK/Europe
• Convenient for weekend trips

Cycling

• Dublin Bikes: €35/year subscription, 30-minute free rides
• Growing bike lane infrastructure
• Flat city centre makes cycling viable
• E-bikes gaining popularity