Sligo to Dublin by Coach or Minibus
Sligo to Dublin is about 200 km on the N4 and M4, the main road between the north-west and the capital. Plan on two and three-quarter hours, more at peak times, with a comfort stop and a clear idea of where in Dublin you are going.
Journey
- Sligo to Dublin
- Approximately 2h 45m
- Serving Sligo
Airports at Dublin
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
Why groups travel to Dublin
- Guinness Storehouse
- Trinity College & Book of Kells
- Temple Bar
The N4 corridor
From Sligo the N4 runs south through Collooney on a dual carriageway as far as Castlebaldwin, then over the Curlew Mountains past Boyle to Carrick-on-Shannon. It continues through Dromod and Roosky to Longford and Mullingar, and becomes the M4 motorway near Kinnegad for the run into Dublin. The M4 between Kilcock and Kinnegad is tolled.
Where to stop
Carrick-on-Shannon, about an hour from Sligo, is the usual comfort stop, with quays on the river and cafés in the town. Longford and Mullingar are later options. On a day return to Dublin the driver spends well over five hours at the wheel, so the compulsory 45-minute rest, due once four and a half hours of driving are reached, has to fit into the schedule.
Arriving in Dublin
Coaches come in on the N4 and can reach the city centre without using the tolled section of the M50. Dublin City Council keeps on-street coach parking bays at 19 sites with a two-hour limit, but these are not for loading; passengers board and alight at the signed coach stops. For a longer stay, the NTA Docklands Coach Park, entered from Park Lane off North Wall Quay, takes coaches off the street. Connolly Station, for trains back to Sligo, is north of the Liffey.
Matches, concerts and the airport
Sligo groups often travel for games at Croke Park or the Aviva Stadium, or for concerts at the 3Arena. On big match days the main roads near Croke Park are closed to coach set-down and pick-up, so expect a walk from where the group gets off. For Dublin Airport, the coach leaves the N4 for the M50 and passes the barrier-free toll; arriving passengers are collected at the Zone 16 coach park.
Is the train a better option?
The Sligo line runs to Dublin Connolly through Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford. It suits individuals; a group heading for a stadium, hotel or the airport rather than Connolly, or travelling with kit, is better served by a coach.
Can the coach bring us home after a late concert?
Yes, with planning. A late finish and a three-hour drive home make a long day, and drivers' daily driving and rest limits apply. Tell the operator the expected finish time so the schedule fits the rules; on some days that means a second driver.
Popular Transfers from Sligo
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