Ireland’s Underrated Train Journeys: Six Routes Worth Taking Slowly

The case for taking the train in Ireland rarely begins with speed. The Irish railway network built in the nineteenth century reduced dramatically in the mid-twentieth when branch lines were closed and now maintained and modestly expanded by Iarnród Éireann, does not compete with European high-speed rail on journey time. The Dublin to Cork route takes approximately two hours and thirty minutes; a car takes roughly the same time in light traffic.

But a car journey and a train journey are not the same experience, and the comparison misses what train travel in Ireland actually offers: the freedom to look out of the window, the passage through landscapes that a driver cannot safely observe, the arrival in a city centre without a parking problem, and a quality of unhurried attention to the country through which you are travelling that the motorway strips away entirely.

These six routes are chosen for the quality of the journey rather than the efficiency of the destination. Each is worth taking at least once, ideally on a clear day, ideally without a tight schedule at either end.

1. Dublin Heuston to Westport: The Connaught Line

The train from Dublin Heuston to Westport takes approximately three hours and twenty minutes via Athlone and Castlebar. It is one of the few remaining long-distance routes in Ireland that passes through genuinely remote landscape, the bogland of the midlands, the rising ground toward the west, and the final approach to Clew Bay with its island-dotted water visible from the carriage window on the right-hand side going west.

The stretch between Castlebar and Westport on a clear day, with Ben Bulben’s relatives, the Nephin Beg range, visible to the north, is among the most quietly spectacular rail views in Ireland. Tickets booked in advance through Iarnród Éireann can be as low as €19 each way on promotional fares. The return journey at evening, when the light over Clew Bay turns the water gold, is worth arranging your day to experience.

2. Dublin Heuston to Tralee via Killarney: The Kerry Line

The Kerry line is the longest continuous rail journey in Ireland. Dublin to Tralee, with the segment from Mallow to Killarney and on to Tralee winding through landscape that made Kerry the most visited county in Ireland for a reason. The viaduct at Gleann an Phréacháin (Crows Glen) near Rathmore, the passage through the Black Valley foothills, and the descent into Killarney’s lake district produce a sequence of views that no road route replicates.

Killarney itself is worth a stop, the town is busy in summer but the National Park immediately adjacent is enormous and easily escapable into. The Killarney to Tralee segment passes through a flatter, quieter landscape, but Tralee’s own attractions and the Dingle Peninsula beyond it make the full route worthwhile. Total journey time Dublin to Tralee is approximately three hours and fifty minutes.

3. Dublin Connolly to Sligo: The Northwestern Line

The Sligo line leaves Dublin Connolly and travels northwest through Maynooth, Mullingar, and Boyle before arriving in Sligo, a journey of approximately three hours. The section from Boyle onwards, skirting the edge of the Curlew Mountains and then dropping into the Sligo plain with the distinctive profile of Ben Bulben appearing ahead, is the highlight. Carrick-on-Shannon, the county town of Leitrim, is a stop worth considering as a day trip from Dublin, the town sits on the Shannon and is the hub of Ireland’s inland waterway cruising network.

The Sligo line is the furthest northwest any regular rail service reaches in Ireland. Beyond Sligo, the rail network ends, Donegal, despite being the most northerly county, has no passenger rail service. This makes the Sligo terminus feel genuinely peripheral in a way that is atmospherically appropriate for the landscape it serves.

4. Cork to Cobh: The Short Journey Worth Making

The Cobh line from Cork Kent station to Cobh (formerly Queenstown) is only 24km and takes less than 30 minutes the shortest journey on this list by a significant margin. But it is worth including because the journey is beautiful, the destination is historically significant, and it demonstrates that not every worthwhile rail journey requires half a day.

The line skirts the northern shore of Cork Harbour, crossing the Little Island industrial area before arriving at Fota Island, home to Fota Wildlife Park, a free-roaming animal park that is one of the finest family attractions in Ireland and then reaching Cobh on its island peninsula. Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and the primary departure point for generations of Irish emigrants. The Cobh Heritage Centre tells both stories with unusual directness. The town’s painted terrace houses climbing the hillside behind the Gothic cathedral are one of the most recognisable townscapes in Ireland.

5. Limerick Junction to Limerick: The Loop Worth Knowing About

This is the route that railway enthusiasts cite as the most surprising on the Irish network. Limerick Junction, a station in County Tipperary, not in County Limerick which says something about nineteenth-century railway politics, is the main interchange between Dublin-Cork main line trains and the branch to Limerick city. The branch itself, which runs west through Tipperary town and Limerick Junction toward the Shannon, passes through the Golden Vale, the heart of Irish dairy farming, with a quality of pastoral light in the mornings and evenings that would not embarrass a landscape painter.

Limerick city, at the end of the branch, is in the midst of a cultural and economic revival that makes it more interesting to visit than its historical reputation would suggest. The Hunt Museum’s collection, the Georgian quarter’s recent renovation, the Treaty City Brewery, and the food scene around the Milk Market are all worth the journey. The train from Dublin Heuston to Limerick direct takes approximately two hours.

6. Dublin Pearse to Rosslare Europort: The Wexford Coast

The Rosslare line from Dublin south through Wicklow, Arklow, Gorey, Wexford town and on to Rosslare is among the most underappreciated scenic rail routes in Ireland. From Wicklow southward, the train runs close to the coast, at some points within metres of the sea, providing views of the Irish Sea, the sandy beaches of north Wexford, and the long Hook Peninsula in the distance. The journey takes approximately two hours and forty minutes from Dublin Pearse to Rosslare Europort.

Wexford town is a natural stopping point, a compact, historically rich town whose narrow Viking-era street plan gives it a character distinct from most Irish towns of similar size. The Irish National Heritage Park at Ferrycarrig, just outside Wexford, reconstructs 9,000 years of Irish settlement from the Mesolithic to the Norman period in an outdoor museum on the River Slaney, genuinely educational and appropriate for all ages. Rosslare Europort itself is primarily a ferry terminal, services to Fishguard, Pembroke, Cherbourg and Bilbao operate from here — but for a day trip or weekend, Wexford town is the destination of choice.

Practical Notes for Rail Travel in Ireland

All six routes are bookable through Iarnród Éireann’s website or app. Advance purchase fares are significantly cheaper than walk-up prices. The TFI 90-day pass and various commuter season tickets offer good value for regular travellers but day-return and single fares on promotional pricing represent the best value for occasional journeys.

Seat reservations are required on Intercity services, you cannot simply board without a ticket or reservation on Dublin to Cork, Dublin to Westport, or the other long-distance routes. Catering on most Intercity services is limited to a trolley service with sandwiches, hot drinks and snacks; for longer journeys, bringing your own lunch is recommended. Wi-Fi is available on most Intercity trains, with reliability varying.

The single most important piece of advice for enjoying an Irish train journey is to sit on the correct side. For Dublin to Westport, sit on the right going west for the best Clew Bay views. For the Kerry line, sit on the right going south from Mallow for the mountain views. For Cobh, sit on the left going east from Cork for the harbour. These details are small but, on a clear day, they make a genuine difference to the quality of the experience.