Irish Rail — Booking Intercity Trains from Dublin

Two Stations, One App, and Prices That Reward Planning

Ireland's national rail service, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), connects Dublin to Cork, Galway, Limerick, and beyond. The trains are comfortable, the views are genuinely good, and the biggest factor shaping your experience is how early you book. Buy your ticket the morning you travel and you'll pay €40 or more. Book a few days out and the same seat costs €9.99. Here's how to use the system.

Heuston or Connolly? Pick the Right Station

Dublin has two main intercity rail stations serving completely different directions:

• Heuston Station — Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Killarney and Kerry. Located on the south quays, with a Luas Red Line stop right outside.
• Connolly Station — Belfast, Sligo, and Rosslare/Wexford. Also the DART hub. A 10-minute walk north of O'Connell Street.

Most weekend trips depart from Heuston. If you're heading to Belfast or along Wicklow's coast, you want Connolly.

How to Book — and Why Early Matters

Book through the Irish Rail app (iOS and Android) or at irishrail.ie. Create a free account and use mTickets — you display the ticket on your phone, no printing needed.

Web fares start from €9.99 each way on popular routes like Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Galway, but only when booked at least 3 days in advance. Walk-up fares on the same trains can reach €40–€60 each way. The gap is real and consistent.

• Book return at the same time — a return web fare is often €20–€30 total
• Early Saturday departures typically carry the cheapest available fares
• Select your seat when booking — preferred seats fill fast on busy Friday evening trains
• Watch for flash sales in January and September — Irish Rail runs promotions several times a year

Journey Times Worth Knowing

• Dublin → Cork: ~2 hours 30 minutes from Heuston. Arrives at Cork Kent Station in the city centre.
• Dublin → Galway: ~2 hours 20 minutes. Galway Ceannt Station is a 10-minute walk from Shop Street.
• Dublin → Limerick: ~2 hours. Limerick Colbert Station is central.
• Dublin → Killarney: ~3 hours 10 minutes — worth it if you want access to the Ring of Kerry.

On the Train

Intercity trains have reserved seating, a café carriage selling hot drinks and sandwiches, and power sockets at most seats. WiFi is available but can drop on rural stretches — download what you need before boarding.

Important: Your Leap Card does not work on intercity trains. It covers Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, and short-distance commuter services only. Intercity journeys need a separate ticket booked online or purchased at the station counter.

Dublin Commuter Lines — Also Irish Rail

Beyond the intercity network, Irish Rail operates commuter lines serving Dublin suburbs up to 50 km out — the Northern Commuter to Drogheda, the Kildare line, and the Maynooth line. Your Leap Card works on all of them. If your accommodation is near one of these stations, commuting by train can be faster and more reliable than any bus route into the city centre each morning.