Bus Éireann Expressway fare increases, July 2024

Bus Éireann have announced that Expressway bus fares are going up, from 29 July 2024.

• Adult single fares are increasing by at least 50 cent (more for longer journeys).
  
  
• On average, fares are going up by 4.5%.
  eg   Galway / Cork adult single increases from €17.60 to €18.40 
  
  
• A new 6-trip weekly ticket is available:   You can buy it either online or the a bus, and you get a discount of up to 22%  
  (This ticket is aimed at people who work-from-home part of the week.   There is an existing 10-trip weekly ticket which can be purchased the same way)

Buses to the Galway Races, 2024

Public transport and traffic-management plans for the Galway Races Summer Meeting between Monday 29 July - Sunday 46 August 2024.

Summary

• Races shuttle buses will run from Eyre Square, leaving from outside the Skeff.

• Some bus companies are running special services from various towns and villages.  Some hotels are also organising shuttle services. 

• Bus Eireann's route 409 - Parkmore  and route 401 - Salthill to Ballybrit / Parkmore Industrial city buses go to the racecourse (Avenue entrance).  But there are restrictions during peak racing traffic hours Mon - Fri, and you will be dropped approx 20 minutes walk from the entrance
• BE have announced that regular city services during Race Week cost €1.35 per journey if you use a Leap Card.

• There are some changes to regular regional buses during race week and the next week.

Route x51 buses to Shannon airport for summer 2024

Bus Éireann have announced that for the 2024 summer-season, there will be seven services each way on the Expressway x51 Galway - Limerick service:

• Five buses between Galway and Shannon airport.
• Two express (x51) buses between Galway and Limerick via Shannon Airport.

These buses do not stop at ATU (previously called GMIT).

This starts from 20 June 2024. 

Other services on route 51:  Galway to Cork via Limerick, are no affected.

Cancellation of route 706 - Aircoach Galway to Dublin airport

Aircoach route 706 approaching The Huntsman

With little in the way of public announcements, Aircoach cancelled all services on route 706  (Galway to Dublin airport, via Portincula Hospital (Ballinasloe), Athlone, Maynooth and Dublin city-centre.

This service started in 2021, and the last day for this service was 8 April 2024.

See Galway eastern regional bus services for information about other options in on these routes.

Summer ferry services from Galway city to Inis Mor

Aran Ferries have announced that they will be running ferry services from Galway city centre to for the 2024 summer season.

This service will start from Friday 29 March 2024.   No end-date has been announced.

There is one sailing each day, leaving Galway city at 9:30am, and from Inis Mór at 4:15pm.

Sailings take 1.5 hours from Galway, and 1 and 3/4 hours on the return journey, which travels via the Cliffs of Mohr.

Note:  although this has been announced as a public-transport service, it is aimed at tourists.    Regular ferry services between Galway and the Aran Islands run from Rosaveal, and the ferry company provides a shuttle bus to and from Galway City.