Athlone to Galway by Coach or Minibus
Athlone to Galway is the western half of the Dublin-Galway corridor and a straight motorway hour. Groups take it for race week, a night out in the Latin Quarter, a Connacht rugby match, or as the second leg after a coach change in Athlone. The road is simple; the Galway end needs more thought.
Journey
- Athlone to Galway
- Approximately 1h
- Serving Athlone
Airports at Galway
- Ireland West (Knock) (NOC)
- Shannon Airport (SNN)
Why groups travel to Galway
- Cliffs of Moher
- Connemara
- Aran Islands
The M6 west
The coach crosses the Shannon and runs west on the M6 the whole way, past Ballinasloe and Loughrea towards the edge of Galway. There is one toll point on this side of the country, the N6 Galway-Ballinasloe toll. The Galway Plaza service area at junction 16 is there if the group needs it, though on a one-hour run most do not stop. Expect slower going on the approach roads into the city at the evening peak.
Race week and big days
Galway Racecourse at Ballybrit sits just off the M6 on the east side of the city, so race traffic meets you before you reach town. During the summer festival the approach roads are heavy all week. Tell the operator which day and which enclosure the group has tickets for, and when you want to leave. The driver then plans the arrival and the collection around the crowd rather than the timetable on the ticket.
Set-down in Galway city
The Latin Quarter, with Shop Street at its heart, is closed to vehicles, so no coach reaches the door of a pub there. Visiting coaches have used a set-down area on Merchants Road, a short walk from the Spanish Arch, and the city council has been reviewing where tour buses stop. The other natural meeting point is Eyre Square, next to Ceannt Station and the bus station. The driver confirms the current stop on the day and where the group should be at collection time.
Is there a toll between Athlone and Galway?
Yes. The route passes the N6 Galway-Ballinasloe toll point on the M6. Toll handling is between you and the operator and is set out on the quote.
Can Athlone be the changeover point for a Dublin-Galway group?
Yes. Athlone is the natural midpoint, and some groups split there, with one vehicle returning east and another carrying on west. Send both legs in the same request.
Can we go on to the Cliffs of Moher the same day?
Add roughly ninety minutes of driving beyond Galway, and the cliffs need an advance booking for coach groups. It makes a long day, planned around driver hours.
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