Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 bus and train services in Galway

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

for the

2025 Christmas and 2026 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.

Bus 409, North Pole - boarding now in Eyre Square 

Galway Christmas Park-and-Ride 2025

 

In the Christmas 2025 shopping period, there will not be a traditional park-and-ride service from Ballybrit Racecourse.

Instead, Galway City Council have organised for free parking to be available at two locations outside the city-centre, and provided information about the regular city-bus services that go to/from them.

Buses to the Galway Races in 2025

This is a summary of public transport (mainly bus) and traffic-management plans for the Galway Races Summer Meeting between Monday 28 July - Sunday 3 August 2025.

Summary

• Races shuttle buses, run by Bus Eireanan Expressway, 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
• 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.

Changes to buses from Galway to Ennis via Cliffs of Moher (route 350 and 351)

Transport for Ireland have announced changes to buses on route 350 between Galway and Ennis via the Cliffs of Moher (West Clare).

These take effect from Sunday 27 July 2025.

Changes on Route 350 Galway to Ennis, via Cliffs of Moher

• There will be more buses each day (10 buses each day Mon-Sun, and each bus will cover the whole route: 
  (Currently there are 7 but some only cover part of the route and/or only run on weekdays).
• Early and late buses (6am and 10:15pm from Galway, 5:20am and 10:15pm from Ennis.  (Currently earliest is 8am and latest 6pm).
• The following stops will not be served:   Maree (School) Nogra (Travellers Inn), New Quay (Opp Linnanes Bar), Bellharbour (Burren Cottages), Blackhead Lighthouse, Murroogh Bridge, Fanore Cross / ODonoghues Pub, Ballinalacken Castle, Doolin Hostel and Doolin Camp (but there are still stops at Hotel Doolin and Rainbow Hostel). 
• There are new bus stops at the G-Hotel, Tonroe Cross, Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara West, Ennis (Kelly's Corner  /St Josephs Hospital and at Dunnes Stores Friars Walk. 

New Route 351: Galway to Cliffs of Moher, via Fanore Cross

• This is a new bus service, starting from Sunday 27 July 2025
• It is managed by Local Link Limerick Clare, and operated on their behalf by Kinvara-based Keaveney Travel, using buses painted in TFI colours
• There will be five buses each way, each day - but some won't cover the full route.
• The same timetable apply Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.
• The full timetable is available here
• Fares are based on number of stops travelled: the lowest adult-singe fare is €2.50  (one stop to the next stop or  2/3/4), and the highest is €9  (from Galway City to the Cliffs).  Full fare details can be seen here (for now, under View Adult Cash Single at the bottom of the page)
• The bus will stop at some places that are no longer on Route 350, eg Maree, Nogra, New Quay, Bellharbour, Murrough, Fanore, Ballinalacken , Doonlin Hostel, Doolin Camp
• The bus will also stop at some places that did not have a bus-service before, including  The G-hotel, Oranmore Railway Station, Oranmore North (Station Road), Kinvara West (Ard an Mhuillinn), Doonmacfelim (Doolin Inn) and Doolin Pier.
• The Cliffs of Moher stop is in the coach park
• The Galway city stop is at as "Eyre Square Shelter (Eyre Square South)".   This is the bus stop beside Big O Taxis office, across the street from the Shopping Centre entrance (previously called the AIB bus stop).

Route 351 bus after arriving in Eyre Square, Galway

More buses between the Cliffs of Moher and Galway

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

Ticket office and public information service at Bus Éireann's Galway Bus Station, May 2025

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 "buy" 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 tickets like this do not guarantee that a seat will be available.  

There is no way to book seats for most Bus Éireann services.  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.

Ticket office services are no longer available.

You cannot buy ticket for Bus Eireann regional buses in advance any more

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.