Getting to Adare

How to reach Adare by train, bus, car, or bicycle.

Train

Adare has no railway station. The old line through the village closed to passengers in 1963, so there is no rail service in Adare itself and no in-village station to arrive at. The nearest station is Limerick Colbert, about 16 km away in Limerick city, on the Iarnrod Eireann network with connections to Dublin, Ennis, Galway and beyond. From Limerick Colbert, reach Adare by bus on the Bus Eireann N21 services or by taxi, roughly a 20 to 30 minute road transfer. Plan on the train getting you as far as Limerick and the bus or a taxi finishing the journey.

Nearest Station: Limerick Colbert, about 16 km away in Limerick city
Onward Travel: Bus Eireann N21 services or a taxi from Limerick Colbert to Adare, roughly 20 to 30 minutes
Network: Iarnrod Eireann, with Limerick connections to Dublin, Ennis and Galway

Tips

•There is no station in Adare; the line closed to passengers in 1963.
•Take the train to Limerick Colbert, then the N21 bus or a taxi to Adare.
•Allow time for the road transfer from Limerick city to the village.

Bus & Coach

The bus is the main public-transport way into Adare. The village sits on the N21 between Limerick and Kerry, and Bus Eireann services along the N21 call at Adare, linking it with Limerick city and Limerick Colbert station in one direction and Newcastle West, Tralee and Killarney in the other. It is the practical way to reach Adare without a car, running daily, though frequencies are limited and journey times can be affected by the ongoing Adare bypass roadworks, so check the current timetable and allow extra time.

From Limerick: Bus Eireann N21 services from Limerick city and Limerick Colbert station, about 20 to 30 minutes
From Kerry: Bus Eireann N21 services via Newcastle West from Tralee and Killarney
Fare: Adult fares with Leap Card or cash

Tips

•Adare is on the N21 Limerick to Kerry corridor served by Bus Eireann.
•Limerick city and Limerick Colbert are the nearest rail and coach hubs; connect there.
•Bypass roadworks (2025-27) can affect journey times; check the timetable.

Local Link Limerick

TFI Local Link runs rural bus services across County Limerick that supplement the main N21 route, linking Adare and the surrounding villages with Limerick city, Newcastle West and the wider area. Services are limited and some run only on certain days, so they are useful for filling gaps rather than as a frequent option. Check the Local Link Limerick timetable before relying on a return.

Area: Local Link routes connect Adare and west Limerick villages with Limerick city and Newcastle West
Frequency: Limited; some services run only on certain days

Tips

•Local Link supplements the N21 buses around west Limerick.
•Frequencies are limited; confirm the timetable before depending on a return.
•Useful for reaching smaller villages off the main road.

Driving

Most visitors arrive and get around by car. Adare sits on the N21 about 16 km south-west of Limerick city, roughly a 20 to 30 minute drive, with Shannon Airport about 40 minutes away. The village is a well-known stop on the road between Limerick and Kerry, which is part of the problem: Main Street carries heavy through-traffic, and a bypass is under construction (2025-27) to take the N21 traffic around the village, which means ongoing roadworks and changing traffic arrangements in the near term. Allow extra time, and use the village car parking rather than expecting to stop on Main Street.

From Limerick: About 20 to 30 minutes via the N21, around 16 km
From Shannon: About 40 minutes from Shannon Airport
From Kerry: N21 via Newcastle West from Tralee and Killarney
Parking: Village car parking; avoid stopping on the busy Main Street. Bypass roadworks affect access (2025-27).

Tips

•Main Street carries heavy through-traffic; use the village car parking.
•A bypass is under construction (2025-27); expect roadworks and changing traffic.
•Allow extra time on the N21, especially in summer and around events.

Cycling & Bike Hire

The quiet country roads and gentle terrain around Adare and the River Maigue make pleasant cycling, and the wider County Limerick countryside is easy going for casual riders. There is no large dedicated bike-hire operation in the village at the level of a coastal resort, so confirm current hire options locally or with your accommodation. Take care on the N21 itself, which is busy with through-traffic and affected by the bypass works; the smaller side roads are the better cycling.

Terrain: Gentle countryside and quiet side roads around the Maigue valley
Hire: No large dedicated hire operation in the village; confirm options locally
Caution: The N21 is busy; use quieter side roads

Tips

•Stick to the quiet side roads rather than the busy N21.
•Confirm bike-hire options locally or through your accommodation.
•The flat Maigue valley makes easy riding for casual cyclists.

From the Airport

Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.

Shannon AirportSNN

40 km away

DrivingDrive via the N21 and Limerick

Duration: ~40 minutes
Cost: Fuel and parking, or car hire

Shannon Airport is the nearest airport, about 40 minutes from Adare by road via Limerick and the N21. Car hire at the airport is the most flexible way to reach Adare and the wider Mid-West.

BusBus via Limerick

Duration: ~1.5 to 2 hours with a connection
Cost: Adult fares with Leap Card or cash

From Shannon Airport reach Limerick city by Bus Eireann, then take an N21 service to Adare. Allow for the connection and check current timetables.

Operator: Bus Eireann

Kerry AirportKIR

80 km away

DrivingDrive via the N21

Duration: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Cost: Fuel and parking, or car hire

Kerry Airport at Farranfore is the secondary option, about an hour and a quarter south-west of Adare via the N21. Useful for some regional and UK connections.

Leap Card

The Leap Card is Ireland's national reusable transport card. It works on Bus Eireann services in the Mid-West, including the N21 buses through Adare and the Limerick city network, usually at a discount on the cash fare.

Cost: €5 for the card plus top-up
Savings: Cheaper than cash on the bus
Where To Get: Spar, Centra, Londis and online

Parking

Parking options in and around Adare. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.

Village car parking

Confirm current rates and any charges locally. Use the village car parking rather than stopping on the busy Main Street, which carries heavy N21 through-traffic. Note that the N21 bypass roadworks (2025-27) affect traffic and parking arrangements; allow extra time and check for temporary changes.

Planning the wider trip?

Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.

Getting Around Ireland →