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Reunion: How To Get Here

There are three international airports on the island of Ireland: Dublin International Airport (DUB), Shannon Airport (SNN), and Belfast International Airport (BFS). Below are directions on how to get to Inishowen, Co. Donegal, from each.

From the Dublin Intl. Airport

To get from Dublin International Airport to Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, Ireland, there are a few different transportation options:

  1. Car rental: You can rent a car from Dublin Airport and drive to Buncrana. The drive is about 3 hours and 30 minutes. You can take the M1 from the airport towards Belfast, then switch to the A6 towards Derry/Londonderry, and finally take the R238 to Buncrana.

  2. Bus: You can take a bus from Dublin Airport to Buncrana. The bus company that operates this route is Bus Éireann. You would need to take a bus from Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre, then transfer to a bus that goes to Buncrana. The total journey time is about 5 hours. You can find schedules and book tickets on the Bus Éireann website.

  3. Private transfer: You can book a private transfer from Dublin Airport to Inishowen Gateway Hotel. This can be more expensive than the other options, but it can be more convenient and comfortable. You can find companies that offer this service online.

  4. Train: There is no direct train service from Dublin Airport to Buncrana. However, you can take a train from Dublin Heuston Station to Derry/Londonderry, and then take a bus or taxi to Buncrana. The train journey is about 3 hours, and you can find schedules and book tickets on the Irish Rail website.

Scheduled Bus Transfer Information

from Dublin Airport to Inishowen

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John McGinley Coach Travel

Website: https://johnmcginley.com/routes-times/

Telephone: +353 74 9135201

Email: info@johnmcginley.com

 

Their daily routes include Annagry – Letterkenny to Dublin and back, as well as Inishowen – Derry to Dublin and back. Both routes offer a direct link to Dublin Airport.

 

Click on the links underlined above for additional information on each route.

 

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Bus Éireann Expressway

Website: https://www.expressway.ie/

Telephone: +353 1 836 6111

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Dublin Airport Services: https://www.expressway.ie/dublin-airport-services

Group Travel: https://www.expressway.ie/group-travel

From the Shannon Airport

Directions from Shannon Airport to Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, Co. Donegal:

  1. Head north on the N19 toward the R471.

  2. Continue straight onto the R471.

  3. Turn right onto the N18.

  4. Take the exit toward Galway/Sligo/N59/N17.

  5. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto the N18 ramp to Galway/Sligo.

  6. Merge onto the N18.

  7. Follow the N18 for approximately 35 km, then take the exit for the N17 toward Tuam/Claremorris.

  8. Continue on the N17 for approximately 38 km, then turn right onto the N5.

  9. Follow the N5 for approximately 30 km, then turn left onto the N15.

  10. Follow the N15 for approximately 56 km, then turn left onto the R238.

  11. Follow the R238 for approximately 3 km, then turn left onto the R239.

  12. Follow the R239 for approximately 10 km, then turn left onto the R238.

  13. Follow the R238 for approximately 3 km, then turn right onto the R238 (signs for Buncrana).

  14. Follow the R238 for approximately 7 km, then turn left onto the R238/R241 (signs for Buncrana).

  15. Continue on the R238/R241 for approximately 2 km, then turn right onto the R238 (signs for Buncrana).

  16. Follow the R238 for approximately 1 km, then turn left onto the Cockhill Road (R238).

  17. Follow the Cockhill Road for approximately 2 km, then turn left onto Railway Road.

  18. The Inishowen Gateway Hotel will be on your right.

The total driving distance is approximately 285 km and should take around 4 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

From Belfast Intl. Airport

Directions from Belfast International Airport to the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, Co. Donegal:

  1. Leave the airport and take the A57 towards the M2 motorway.

  2. Merge onto the M2 and continue northbound towards Antrim.

  3. At junction 1, take the A26 exit towards Ballymena/Coleraine.

  4. Follow the A26 for approximately 20 miles until you reach the Glarryford roundabout.

  5. Take the second exit onto the A44 towards Londonderry/Derry.

  6. Follow the A44 for approximately 10 miles, then turn right onto the A29 towards Coleraine.

  7. Follow the A29 for approximately 17 miles, then turn left onto the A2.

  8. Follow the A2 for approximately 2 miles, then turn right onto the A37.

  9. Follow the A37 for approximately 8 miles, then turn left onto the A38.

  10. Follow the A38 for approximately 3 miles, then turn right onto the A37.

  11. Follow the A37 for approximately 4 miles, then turn left onto the A2.

  12. Follow the A2 for approximately 3 miles, then turn right onto the A546.

  13. Follow the A546 for approximately 4 miles, then turn left onto the R238.

  14. Follow the R238 for approximately 5 miles, then turn right onto the Cockhill Road (R238).

  15. Follow the Cockhill Road for approximately 2 km, then turn left onto Railway Road.

  16. The Inishowen Gateway Hotel will be on your right.

  17. The total driving distance is approximately 109 miles and should take around 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

The O'Doherty Heritage website is designed to be your place for all things Ó Dochartaigh. Whether your name or ancestry is from a Doherty, Dougherty, Daugherty, Docherty, Dogherty, if your family used another spelling of our name, or if you're from one of our related County Donegal families, such as the McDevitt/McDaid, McBride, McConlogue, or others–we welcome you to the O'Doherty Heritage website!

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The vision of the O'Doherty Heritage is "Telling our story, uniting us together." This was the same vision of our ancestors, the Ó Dochartaigh patriarchs, when they established our clann motto, Ár nDúthchas–which means 'Our Heritage'. Below are the goals of O'Doherty Heritage:

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TELLING OUR STORY:

  • Share our heritage with our entire clann

  • Research, document, & bring our history to life

  • Curate a digital clann genealogy research library

UNITING US TOGETHER:

  • Encourage quality genealogical research

  • Promote clann identity and pride in our heritage

  • Facilitate communication amongst our clanfolk

 

This site is curated by Will Dougherty III in coordination with the Association of Ó Dochartaighs. ©2024 O'Doherty Heritage. Site Policies. Email hello[at]odohertyheritage.org.

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