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The National Transport Authorities website Transport for Ireland is an essential resource for planning your trip anywhere around Ireland. The planner provides timetable and map information from all licensed public transport providers across all of Ireland. It provides plans for trains, buses, trams, ferry, and taxi services and combines them into easy to read journey plans. It provides door-to-door route plans and has information about scheduled departures and trips near your current location and from any specified point. Your plans also can be for now or any time in the future.
Ireland’s National Transport Authority, Transport of Ireland
Transport for Ireland App
You can download the free Transport for Ireland App, see their website for more details on the available TFI apps. The TFI Live App enables you to access live departure information and plan your journey across on TFI buses, trains and trams.
Leap Card
The leap card is a pay as you go smart card used on the following public transport:
Dublin Bus
DART and Commuter Rail in Dublin’s ‘Short Hop Zone’
Dublin LUAS
Bus Éireann services services in Dublin and surrounding counties (excluding Expressway)
Bus Éireann services in Cork city, Limerick city, and Galway city
City Direct in Galway city
Wexford Bus, Swords Express, Collins Coaches and Matthews Coaches services
There are a range of Leap Cards to choose from and it is much cheaper to use the Leap Card than purchasing paper tickets for each trip. The Leap Cards are the same size as a credit card, so fits easily into your wallet.
Leap Visitor Card: Suitable for short stay visitors in Dublin
Purchase your Leap Visitor Card at the arrivals hall at Dublin airport. Go to the Bus and Travel Information Desk in Terminal 1, Spar shop in Terminal 2, or the Discover Ireland Tourist Information Desk in Terminal 2. If you don’t arrive via Dublin airport, you can still purchase a Leap Visitor Card in Dublin city centre. Visit Dublin Bus, 59 Upper O’Connell St; Discover Ireland Centre, 14 Upper O’Connell St.; Visit Dublin Centre, 25 Suffolk St.
How Do I Use the Visitor Leap Card?
On the Bus
On the Dublin Bus and Airlink 747, touch the ticket against the Leap Card validator device on the right-hand side as you enter the bus.
On the Train
To get to your train, you will need to touch your card on the Leap Card validator device at the platform entry to get through the electronic gates. Once you get off at your stop touch your card on the Leap Card device to get through the exit gates.
On the LUAS Tram
For the LUAS tram, touch your card on the Leap Card device located on the platform before getting into the tram. When you get off the tram, you need to touch the card on the Leap Card device at the station you are departing from.
Adult Leap Card: Suitable for those living in Ireland or those holidaying in Ireland.
The Adult Leap Card is a pay as you go, or ‘prepaid’ smart card, that can be used on public transport in Dublin, Galway and Cork. The fare is cheaper when using the Leap Card versus paying cash for single tickets.
You can also choose to get a personalised Adult Leap Card. Only the person whose name and photo printed on the card can use it. If someone else uses your personalised Leap Card, they may be fined and have the card confiscated.
Wexford Bus: Adult, Student and Child 10 journey Weekly tickets. Adult and Student Flexi 10 journey ticket.
Taxsaver Tickets: Employees and directors can receive Annual and Monthly commuter tickets Tax and PRSI (social insurance) free as part of their salary package.
These Taxsaver tickets include monthly and annual tickets from Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Luas. These tickets are ordered through your employer.
For information on the Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Irish Rail TaxSaver ticket options, visit taxsaver.ie.
For information on the Luas TaxSaver ticket options visit luas.ie.
How Do I Top-Up My Adult Leap Card?
You can top-up your card online, via the Leap Top-up App, at the TFI Leap Card outlets, or using the commuter rail ticket machines.
How Do I Use the Adult Leap Card?
On the Bus
For bus services, touch the card onto the device beside the driver and tell them where you wish to go. They will deduct the correct fare. You do not have to touch off.
On the Train
To get to your train, you will need to touch your card on the Leap Card device at the platform entry to get through the electronic gates. It will deduct the maximum fare. However, once you get off at your stop and touch your card on the Leap Card device to get through the exit gates. It will charge the correct fare for your trip and credit your account for the difference, unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
On the LUAS Tram
For the LUAS tram, touch your card on the Leap Card device on the platform before getting into the tram. It will deduct the maximum fare, but when you get off the tram, you need to touch your card to the Leap Card device at the station you are departing at. It will then adjust the fare accordingly and charge you the correct fare for your trip, unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
How Do I Use the Young Adult and Student Leap Card?
On the Bus
For bus services, touch the card onto the device beside the driver and tell them where you wish to go. They will deduct the correct fare. You do not have to touch off.
On the Train
To get to your train, you will need to touch your card on the Leap Card device at the platform entry to get through the electronic gates. It will deduct the maximum fare. However, once you get off at your stop and touch your card on the Leap Card device to get through the exit gates it will charge the correct fare for your trip and credit your account for the difference. Unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
On the LUAS Tram
For the LUAS tram, touch your card on the Leap Card device on the platform before getting into the tram. It will deduct the maximum fare, but when you get off the tram, you need to touch your card to the Leap Card device at the station you are departing at. It will then adjust the fare accordingly and charge you the correct fare for your trip, unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
Child Leap Card: Suitable for children between 4 and 18 years of age
Children 3 years of age and under can travel on public transport in Ireland for free. Children over 4 years of age can benefit from discounted fares. There are also cheap ‘school hours’ fares.
There are two types of child Leap Cards:
4 to 15 years of age
16 to 18 years of age. This card must be personalised, see below.
How Can I Get a Child Leap Card?
There are three ways you can obtain an age 4 to 15 years of age Leap Card:
The age 16 to 18 years Leap Card can only be purchased using the Leap Card Website. Once your order is submitted, you will receive a reference number via email. Bring this reference number along with your ID (Passport/ Driving Licence/Garda Age Card) to a validation centre so your age can be validated. Then, your card will be sent to you by post, usually within 5 working days.
How Much Does the Child Leap Card Cost?
Leap Cards are free, but to obtain one you must place a minimum of €3 travel credit on it.
How Do I Top-Up My Child’s Leap Card?
You can top-up your card online, via the Leap Top-up App, at the TFI Leap Card outlets, or using the commuter rail ticket machines.
How Do I Use the Child Leap Card?
On the Bus
For bus services, touch the card onto the device beside the driver and tell them where you wish to go. They will deduct the correct fare. You do not have to touch off.
On the Train
To get to your train, you will need to touch your card on the Leap Card device at the platform entry to get through the electronic gates. It will deduct the maximum fare. However, once you get off at your stop and touch your card on the Leap Card device to get through the exit gates it will charge the correct fare for your trip and credit your account for the difference. Unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
On the LUAS Tram
For the LUAS tram, touch your card on the Leap Card device on the platform before getting into the tram. It will deduct the maximum fare, but when you get off the tram, you need to touch your card to the Leap Card device at the station you are departing at. It will then adjust the fare accordingly and charge you the correct fare for your trip, unless of course your trip costs the maximum amount.
As well as the public bus services, there are also a large number of licensed private bus services operating both city and intercity services throughout Ireland.
Some of the bigger operators are listed below though the list is not exhaustive:
aircoach.ie – Provides Dublin airport transfers and transport between Dublin and Cork as well as Dublin and Belfast.
buseireann.ie – Provides transport services throughout Ireland. If you are planning to travel around Ireland using their buses, they also offer an “Open-Road” pass which is valid for travel on Bus Éireann’s scheduled services in the Republic of Ireland including Expressway, commuter, local city and town services. For each Open-Road ticket purchased you can avail of 3 days of unlimited travel out of 6 consecutive days. You can extend your trip by purchasing extra “stamps” for your Open-Road ticket.
jjkavanagh.ie – Transport services between Limerick, Waterford and Clonmel to Shannon and Dublin airport
finnegan-bray.ie – Services that link the Southern Cross with Bray Dart and Sandyford LUAS and a night bus from Dublin to Bray, Greystones, Charlesland, and Kilcoole.
citylink.ie – Services Ireland’s major cities and towns
gobus.ie – Provides transport services between Dublin and Galway and Cork
Irish Rail
Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail, provides train links between Irelands main cities and towns. To book a rail journey and to find out more go to the Irish Rail website.
The Eurail Ireland Pass
Visitors to Ireland can get unlimited travel on the national rail network of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. You can choose from 3, 4, 5 or 8 days of unlimited travel within a 1 month period and travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively. Only non-European residents can travel with a Eurail pass. If you’re a European resident you can travel with an Interrail pass.
Before purchasing this pass, just make sure that you are going to get your money’s worth by checking the fares to all the places that you plan to visit. Also, be aware that many of the Irish rural areas can only be accessed by bus. To purchase the Eurail Ireland Pass and to learn more, visit Eurail.
Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail
Ireland’s Free Travel Scheme
If you are aged 66 years or over and receive a social welfare pension, you are eligible for free travel on Irish public transport. You need not apply as you should be issued the Free Travel Pass automatically. Those under 66 years of age and receiving an Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance or Carer’s Allowance will also be issued with the pass.
The Government has now introduced a Public Services Card which will eventually replace the Free Travel Pass. If you are entitled to free travel, when you are issued with your new Public Services Card it will also be your Free Travel Card. The card will have F-T printed in a yellow octagon in the top-left-hand corner of the card.
You must show your Public Services Card when you are travelling on public transport. In some cases you may be asked to scan your Public Services Card however not all transport operators have this facility. When you receive your new Public Services Card, you must return your old free travel pass to the Department of Social Protection.
There are 3 categories of free travel:
If FT-P is written on your Public Services Card, you are entitled to free travel.
If FT+S is written on your Public Services Card, your spouse, partner or cohabitant can join you for free when you are travelling (they cannot travel for free alone). Your spouse, partner or cohabitant’s name will not be on the card.
If FT+C is written on your Public Services Card a companion (over 16) can travel with you for free (because you are unable to travel alone for medical reasons).
Senior SmartPass for travelling in Northern Ireland
The All Ireland Free Travel Scheme allows a Free Travel cardholder to travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland using a Senior Smartpass card. Similarly, Northern Ireland Senior Smartpass holders are entitled to travel for free on services in Ireland using their existing Senior Smartpass.
If you wish to access the All Ireland Free Travel scheme within Northern Ireland you will need to first get a Senior SmartPass card by filling in an application form FTNI1. Unfortunately you can’t get this form online, to get one you will need to contact your social welfare local office.
The application form must be returned in person (not posted) to your social welfare local office, and you must bring the following items with you to your social welfare local office:
Your current Free Travel Pass/Public Services Card
Evidence of your address, (for example, a gas, electricity, phone bill or bank statement)
Evidence of your identity, (for example, your drivers licence, passport or another form of photo identification)
A recent passport standard colour photograph.
It may take up to six weeks to process your application. However you can only apply 3 weeks before your 66th birthday. If you apply more than 3 weeks before your 66th birthday, your application will be rejected.
LYNN MCNEELY
Your transportation program sounds wonderful
Barbara
What a fabulous resource you have been. Going to Ireland in
July. Plan to use public transport exclusively.
Probably even have enough time to get Senior Smartpass.
Thank you!
Colleen
Thanks Barbara, I hope you have a great trip. Have you checked out my travel section?