Route x51 buses to Shannon airport for summer 2025

Bus Éireann have announced that for the 2025 summer-season, there will be four bues each way on the Expressway x51 Galway - Shannon Airport service:

• Three in the very early morning (leaving Galway at midnight, 2:45am and 5:45am) 
• One in the evening, from Galway at 9pm.

These buses will stop at ATU Dublin Road (ex GMIT).

This starts from Sunday 27 April, several months earlier than in 2024.   End-date for these services is to be advised.

Other services on route 51:  Galway to Cork via Limerick, are not affected.

Because this in an Expressway service, tickets can be booked and purchased from their website.

Bus Eireann on-line seat-booking and ticket-purchase has been stopped

Bus Éireann have announced that from 8 April 20205, it is not possible to book seats or buy tickets on-line for their public local and commuter bus services.

The only exception is for Expressway services, for which tickets can still be booked and purchased online, using the Expressway website.

For all other Bus Éireann services, the only way to buy a ticket is:

• With a Leap Card:   Single tickets and some 24 hour and 7-Day  / 1-week tickets can be bought from a bus driver, using a  Leap-card
• With the Transport For Ireland TFI Go App:  Single, 2 Journey and 10 Journey tickets, and 24-hour and 7-Day / 1-week tickets can be purchased using the Transport for Ireland TFI Go smart-phone app.
• From the driver on a board bus using with cash
• From a ticket vending machines at main bus stations only, using cash or an ATM / debit card. 

This means that the only way to "book" a seat in advance on Bus Éireann non-expressway coaches is to buy a ticket from a ticket vending machine at a main bus station - and even then, it's not clear if these "bookings" will be honoured if there are more passengers than seats.

The only exception is wheelchair accessible Regional PSO services, which must be booked by phoning LoCall: 0818 294 015  (or +353 1 575 6110 from outside of the Republic of Ireland) at least 24 hours in advance.

Bus 409 route going in to Parkmore West Industrial Estate

Bus Éireann have announced that from Sunday 9 March, the 409 Parkmore bus route will be extended into Parkmore West business park.

The new terminal is outside Celestica building 1, and there is one bus stop half way through the estate, outside Medtronic building One.

The 409 route is now described as "Celestica" on the RTPI signs, while signs on the 401 and 409 buses are now "An Pháirc Mhór" instead of the previous "Parkmore Industrial".

The bus 409 route map has been updated to show this change.

See the Parkmore neighbourhood map for information about facilities in the area.

Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 bus and train services in Galway

A summary of  bus and train services in Galway city and county 

for the

2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year period.

This is based on information published by the bus companies, and may change.
  Always check the services you want to use with the bus company.

New evening bus-service from Galway to Loughrea

Local Link Galway have announced they will be running three buses from Galway city to Loughrea each evening/night, starting on Monday 23 December 2024.

Route 439 will run from Galway Cathedral, stopping at Eyre Square, The G Hotel, ATU (formerly GMIT) Dublin Road, Oranmore Town Centre, Derrydonnell Cross, Craughwell, and Loughrea (Supervalu Athenry Rd, and Beattys). 

This is a 7-day, Monday to Sunday service, running every day except Christmas Day.

Buses will leave Eyre Square at 7:30pm, 9:30pm and 11:30pm.   Each journey takes approx. 50 minutes.   

No return (Loughrea to Galway) services are run by LocalLink - see East Galway regional buses for other options.

Fares have not been announced yet, but will probably be available on this page soon.   Leap card is accepted, and gives a 30% discount.   Free travel pass is also accepted on LocalLink services.

For queries, or to book a seat, phone (091) 842 384, or see www.locallinkgalway.ie