In association with GalwayTransport.info - Galway's public transport information site

Monday, July 29, 2013

Bus and coach services to Oxegen 2013

Oxegen / O2 music festival 2013 logo.  (spelling in logo in Oxegen, not Oxygen)
Oxegen Music Festival is being held at Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, over the August 2013 Bank Holiday weekend:  Fri 2nd - Mon 5th August.

The following companies are providing return bus or coach services from Galway city:
  • Reaneys of Galway - from Galway city, in conjunction with OMG/Zhivago. From Galway at 10am on Friday, returning ex Oxygen at 11am on Monday 5th.
  • Kelly Travel - multiple buses from Galway city, via Athlone
  • Bus Éireann: leaving Eyre Square at 12-noon on Fri 2nd, returning Monday at 10am, fare €35, book in advance at the Travel Centre (contact details here).  Note - this service is not mentioned in their on-line announcements, but is advertised on page 29 of the 1 August Galway Advertiser

Check with the company for timetable, booking and departure / pickup points.  Likely departure points include:

For concerts, return services generally leave 30-60 minutes after the concert ends, from the same place where the bus drops you off.   Festival arrangements are sometimes slightly different.


Services from other towns and cities

  • Kelly Travel - services from Limerick, Nenagh, Roscrea; Cork, Mitchelstown, Cahir; Tipparary, Cashel, Portlaois.   
  • Oxygen - a shuttle bus to/from Naas
  • Dualway - a bus to/from the Green Isle Hotel in Newlands Cross - tickets must be booked in advance

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Buses and trains for the Galway Races 2013 August meeting

The following information is for services to the Galway Races in 2013. 

 See Galway Races Bus Services for this year's details.





Michael D Higgins and?  standing in front of a horse

Summary

The Galway Races Summer Meeting is from Monday 29 July - Sunday 4 August 2013.

  • Bus Éireann special races shuttle buses will run from Eyre Square.  Details below.
  • Farrell Travel are running a Nightlink service to/from Athenry daily during race week, and shuttle services from Claregalway Athenry and Oranmore.  Details below.
  • Both the route 409 - Parkmore  and route 403 - Ballybrit city buses also go to the racecourse (Avenue entrance).  But there are some restrictions during peak racing traffic hours Mon - Fri.  Details below.
  • The Park and Ride from Galway Airport to Galway City will operate during race week.
  • Some extra train services are running during the week, details below


Race days and times

  • Monday 29 July - Hotels Day:   First race at 5:10pm -  last race at 8:15pm 
  • Tuesday 30 July:  First race at 5:05pm  -  last race at 8:15pm 
  • Wednesday 31 July - Galway Plate Day: First race at 3pm -  last race at 7:10pm
  • Thursday 1 August - Ladies Day:   First race at  1:50pm -  last race at 6:10pm
  • Friday 2 August - Guinness Day / Local's day:  First race at  5:05pm -  last race at 8:25pm
  • Saturday 3 August - Ladbrokes Red Day:  First race at 2pm -  last race at 5:55pm
  • Sunday 4 August - Mad Hatters Day / Family day - first race at 2:15pm -  last race at 5:30pm


Special Bus Services to Ballybrit Racecourse


From Eyre Square (Galway city centre)


Bus Éireann are running the races-special service between Eyre Square and Galway Racecourse.

Monday, 29 July and Tuesday, 30 July

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 3pm
  • The return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 9:30pm.

Wednesday 31 July and Thursday 1 August

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
  • The return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 8:30pm.

Friday, 2 August

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 3pm
  • Return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 9:30pm.

Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
  • Return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 8:30pm.

Fares

  • Adult: €6 single and €9 return.
  • Children: €3 single and €5 return.
  • Free Travel Pass is not accepted on the Galway Races shuttle buses.

Route

Shuttle buses will leave from the west side of Eyre Square (departure point is outside the Skeffington Arms Hotel on the west side of the square (map).   Drop off is through the tunnel entrance, within 50 yards of the course-entry.

These are shuttle buses, and do not pick-up or drop-off along the way.   (See "Regular Galway city services to Ballybrit" below for information about services which do.)


From Oranmore

BusLink are running races-special buses from Oranmore village to the Galway races.

Services leave the astroturf pitches (see the Oranmore neighbourhood map for the location) at the times below, and pick up at the Maldron hotel before going direct to Ballybrit
Monday and Tuesday – 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wednesday – 1:30pm, then every 15 minutes between 2pm and 3pm
Thursday – 12-noon, 12:30pm, then every 15 minutes between 1 and 2pm
Friday –  3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – 1:30pm and 2pm
€6 single,  €9 return.

Return buses leave 10 and 30 minutes after the last race each day.


From Athenry:

BusLink are running a shuttle bus from the Raheen Woods Hotel, and picking up ten minutes later at the Arch carpark (beside the two secondary schools).   Bus times:
Monday and Tuesday – 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wednesday –  1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm
Thursday – 12-noon, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2pm
Friday –  3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – 1:30pm and 2pm
€9 single,  €12 return.

Return buses leave 10 and 30 minutes after the last race each day.


From Claregalway

BusLink are running a shuttle bus from the Claregalway Hotel (see the Claregalway Neighbourhood Map for the location).   Bus times:
Monday – shuttles as required from 4:10pm, and returns from 8:30pm
Tuesday – shuttles as required from 4:05pm, and returns from 8:30pm
Wednesday – shuttles as required from 2pm, and returns from 7:30pm
Thursday – shuttles as required from 12:50pm, and returns from 6:25pm
Friday – shuttles as required from 4:05pm, and returns from 8:40pm
Saturday  – shuttles as required from 1:35pm, and returns from 6:10pm
Sunday  – shuttles as required from 1:15pm, and returns from 6:15pm

Fares - check with the Claregalway Hotel.


From other towns:

Some hotels in County Galway and beyond offer packages including races tickets and access to a shuttle-bus - contact them directly for more information.


Regular Galway city services to Ballybrit

The Avenue (back) entrance to the racecourse (number (5) on the Parkmore area map) is served by these buses, which pick up from all stops along their route:
  • Route 403 - from Eyre Square, travesl along College Rd, through Wellpark, Mervue, Castlepark and Ballybrit, then on to Parkmore
  • Route 409 - from Eyre Square, travels along College and Dublin and Doughiska Rd

The usual city bus fares (including Travel Pass and TaxSaver tickets) apply.

These routes will end at the Briarhill Shopping Centre Junction (previously called the Lynch Roundabout) between
  • 3pm and 5pm on Monday and Tuesday 29 and 30 July
  • 12:30pm and 4 pm on Wednesday 31 July
  • 11.30am and 3pm on Thursday 1 August
  • 4pm and 6pm on Friday 2 August
The last bus-stop serviced during these times is at the top of Doughiska Rd (route 409)  or Clayton Hotel (route 403) - both shown on the Doughiska neighbourhood map.

People travelling at these times on route 403 or 409 to the racecourse, or to/from work in Parkmore area   (Parkmore West Industrial Estate, Parkmore East Business and Technology Park, Galway Technology Park, Racecourse Business Park Briarhill Business Park), will need to walk for approx 15-20 minutes from this last stop.   There are now traffic lights at the intersection, but these may be under manual / Garda control.  There is also a pedestrian underpass beside the Clayton Hotel.

NB  These times are based on the overall road closure times in the area, and may be extended if there are traffic management problems in the area.



Changes to regional bus services


Burkes Buses have cancelled these services for Race Week and the following week:
  • 7am from Dunmore to Galway. 
  • 7am from Tuam to Galway. 
  • 5:10pm from Galway to Dunmore. 
  • 5:10pm will operate from Galway to Tuam only
  • 4pm from Galway to Headford
  • 4:45pm from Headford to Galway


Bus Éireann have advertised these changes for Wed 31st July and Thurs 1st August:
  • 4:25pm Galway to Longford - delayed until 5:15pm
  • 5:45pm Galway to Castlerea - delayed until 6pm


BusLink have advised
  • The 5:10pm service from Galway to Athenry will not run between Mon 29th July and Fri 2nd August.
  • The Galway City East Park and Ride will operate during race week, but there may be route changes due to the traffic management plan.



All other Galway regional bus services are expected to operate normally during Race Week - though may be delayed due to traffic volumes.


Trains

As well as their standard services, Irish Rail have announced that they are running one extra service each way between Limerick and Galway:

Wednesday 31st

  • From Limerick at 9:20am
  • Returning from Galway at 8:50pm

Thursday 1st

  • From Limerick at 9:20am
  • Returning from Galway at 7:45pm

They have also announced that there will be shuttle buses between the new Oranmore Railway Station and Ballybrit during race week:   the service is based on train arrival times - contact Bus Éireann for more details.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Hailo moblile-phone taxi hailing service is now live in Galway


Hailo have announced that their smart-phone based taxi-cab service is now live in Galway,

They report that 150 of Galway's taxi-drivers have signed up to use it so far.

How the Hailo service works

  • Taxi-drivers sign up to use the service - this makes them eligible to be assigned to any jobs that are requested in Hailo.
  • People who want to use the service download software (the "Hailo app") onto an iPhone or Android phone - see the Getting started page for details.   They they register an account, and may register a credit or debit card as well.
  • Then when a person wants a taxi, they use the app:  the phone's GPS works out where they are (the customer can refine this, and add more details), and place an order.   One of the registered taxi-drivers picks it up.
See their website for more detailed information about how the service work.


Advantages of using Hailo

  • All taxi-journeys are with registered taxis, and are logged - this makes it safer
  • You can pay using your registered card if you want - less cash for you and the taxi driver to carry
  • There is no call-out fee.   (Regular fares, including flag-fall, still apply)
  • Both the passenger and the taxi-driver get better information.


Note:   the service was only started in Dublin and Cork recently.  It is not yet clear how well it is set up to work in Galway.

See Taxi-offices in Galway for city-centre locations where you can walk-up and request a taxi for no call-out-fee.

Train timetable changes / opening of Oranmore Railway Station


Oranmore Railway Station will open on Sunday 28 July 2013, Irish Rail have announced.

It will be stopped at by some train services on the Dublin-Galway and Limerick-Galway lines.

Location / How to get to the station

Oranmore Train Station is accessed from on the Coast Road, west of Oranmore Village - see the Oranmore Neighbourhood map for the exact location.


Timetable changes

There are some alternations to Galway/Dublin and Galway/Limerick train timetables from Sunday 28th July.

Overall

  • Most services arrive at their destination 5-10 minutes later than currently.

Galway to Dublin (Heuston) services

  • 11.30am leaves at the earlier time of 11:05am
  • 1.30pm leaves at the earlier time of 1:05pm
  • 3.30pm leaves at the earlier time of 3:05pm

Train fares

Prices for the Galway / Oranmore journey have not yet been announced.   

But based on the existing Western Rail Corridor pricing grid, standard fares are likely to be:
  • Adult single: €5.70
  • Adult day return: €8.60

Tickets for this journey are not currently available for on-line purchases.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Buses from Galway to Bruce Springsteen in Kilkenny

Bruce Springsteen in 2013 in front of a concert audience, pointing to the sky with a microphone in his left hand.
The following companies are providing return coach services from Galway city to Nowland Park Kilkenny for the Bruce Springsteen concert on 27-28 July 2013:


Check with the company for timetable, booking and departure / pickup points.  Likely departure points include:


Return services generally leave 30-60 minutes after the concert ends, from the same place where the bus drops you off.


Services from other towns and cities


Buses / coaches from other cities are being provided by:
  • To be advised

Friday, July 12, 2013

Price increase for car-parking at Ceannt Station, Galway

Irish Rail provide a car-park at Ceannt Station (Galway Railway Station) for passengers.

They have announced that the price for this will increase to €7 (from €6) per day, effective from Monday 15 July 2013.

 This applies to both cash and park-by-text customers.

See:

Buses from Galway to Thormond Park, Limerick for the Bruce Springsteen concert on 16 July 2013

Bruce Springsteen in 2013 in front of a concert audience, pointing to the sky with a microphone in his left hand.
The following companies are providing return coach services from Galway city to Limerick for the Bruce Springsteen concert on 16 July 2013:


Check with the company for timetable, booking and departure / pickup points.  Likely departure points include:


Return services generally leave 30-60 minutes after the concert ends, from the same place where the bus drops you off.


Services from other towns and cities


Buses / coaches from other cities are being provided by:
  • To be advised.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Free shuttle bus to the Claregalway Garden Festival 2013

Giant purple and red model flowers with a gazebo and trees in the background
Galway Garden Festival is being held at Claregalway Castle on 6th -7th July, 2013, with opening hours from 11am-6pm each day.

The castle is on the N17 at Claregalway, and there are likely to be traffic restrictions and delays.  Limited free parking is available at the castle.

A free  Bus will run from Galway Railway station to the Festival every hour from 10:30am.
Admission to the castle grounds is €7, and the day is in support of   The Christian Blind Mission and Galway Simon Community.

Related links: