Getting to Kells
How to reach Kells by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Train
Kells has no railway station and no passenger trains. The nearest stations are Enfield, about 35 km south in a straight line on the Dublin Connolly to Sligo line, and Drogheda MacBride, about 36 km east on the Dublin to Belfast line. Neither has a direct bus to Kells. From Drogheda, the station is about 1 km from Drogheda bus station, where Bus Éireann route 190 leaves for Navan; change in Navan for the 109 or 109A to Kells. From Enfield there is no simple connection at all. In practice, anyone coming by rail from Dublin is better off taking the bus all the way from Busáras or the airport.
- Nearest Station
- Enfield (about 35 km) or Drogheda MacBride (about 36 km), both in a straight line; neither has a direct bus to Kells
- Connections
- Drogheda MacBride to Drogheda bus station, about 1 km on foot, then Bus Éireann 190 to Navan and the 109 or 109A on to Kells
- Onward
- The direct Bus Éireann 109 from Busáras or 109A from Dublin Airport is simpler than any rail connection
Tips
- •There is no station in Kells. Plan on the bus.
- •If you do arrive at Drogheda by train, the 190 to Navan leaves from the bus station, not the railway station.
- •Check both timetables before relying on a train and bus connection; they are not co-ordinated.
Useful Links
Bus & Coach
Kells is a bus town and a well-served one. Bus Éireann route 109 runs from Busáras in Dublin through Dunshaughlin, past Tara and through Navan to Kells, and the weekday timetable has services through the day from early morning to late evening; the scheduled run from Busáras to the Kells stop is a little under an hour and a half. Route 109A starts at Dublin Airport, runs through Ashbourne, Ratoath and Navan, and reaches Kells in about an hour and a quarter, with buses through the day and night. Route 109X is the Dublin to Cavan service that calls at Kells, and route 187 runs on from Kells to Virginia by Oldcastle and Ballyjamesduff. In town the buses stop at Kells and Kells West, and the 109 also calls at the Eureka School stop on the Navan Road.
- From Dublin
- Bus Éireann 109 from Busáras via Navan, a little under 1 hour 30 minutes, with services through the day
- From Dublin Airport
- Bus Éireann 109A from Dublin Airport via Ashbourne and Navan, about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Express Option
- Bus Éireann 109X, Dublin to Cavan via Kells
- Local Connections
- Bus Éireann 187, Kells to Virginia via Oldcastle and Ballyjamesduff
Tips
- •The 109A from the airport is the easiest way in if you are flying: no change in the city centre.
- •Timetables differ on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Check the Bus Éireann route page for the day you travel.
- •There is no direct bus between Kells and Trim or Slane. Change in Navan.
Taxi
There is no taxi rank to rely on in Kells. Book a local hackney or taxi ahead, especially for an early airport run or a late night after the Kelltic, and ask your accommodation for the number they use. No individual operator's own website could be confirmed for this guide.
- Local
- Book ahead through your accommodation; no rank in the centre
- Airport
- The 109A bus runs from Dublin Airport to Kells through the day and night
Tips
- •Arrange the return before you go out in the evening.
Driving
From Dublin it is a motorway run up the M3, leaving at exit 10 for Kells South; the Headfort Arms puts it at about 35 minutes from the city and 40 from Dublin Airport, which is a light-traffic figure. The N52 runs west from Kells to Mullingar, and the Kells bypass takes through traffic on the N52 round the centre. Parking in the centre is on-street; the Spire of Lloyd has a free car park, and the Printing Works booking page warns that parking around Church Lane is paid and restricted.
- From Dublin
- M3 north to exit 10, about 35 minutes from the city in light traffic according to the Headfort Arms
- From Dublin Airport
- About 40 minutes according to the Headfort Arms, by the M50 and M3
- Parking
- On-street in the centre, metered; free at the Spire of Lloyd car park on the R163
Tips
- •Drive out to the Spire of Lloyd and Girley Bog; walk everything in the town.
Cycling
North Meath is rolling farmland and quiet lanes, good cycling if you bring a bike, though the national roads out of Kells, the N3 and the N52, are busy and best avoided. The Headfort Arms advertises bike rental delivered to the hotel for exploring the Boyne Valley. The Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway is sometimes described as starting in Kells, but it runs from Navan to Kingscourt and does not pass through the town.
- Terrain
- Rolling farmland and minor roads; avoid the N3 and N52
- Hire
- Bike delivery advertised by the Headfort Arms for its guests
- Routes
- Minor roads to the Hill of Lloyd and Girley Bog; the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway starts in Navan, about 15 km away
Tips
- •The greenway is a Navan to Kingscourt route. Do not ride out of Kells expecting to find it.
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.
Dublin AirportDUB
53 km away- Duration
- About 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cost
- Bus Éireann fare; Leap Card accepted
The 109A starts at the airport and runs through Ashbourne, Ratoath and Navan to Kells, with buses through the day and night. No change needed.
Operator: Bus Éireann
- Duration
- About 40 minutes in light traffic
- Cost
- Fuel and car hire
Leave the M3 at exit 10. Allow more time at peak hours on the M50.
Leap Card
The Leap Card is the national reusable travel card and it works on Bus Éireann's TFI services, which include the routes into Kells, and on the Dublin legs of a journey. It is generally cheaper than paying cash.
- Cost
- Card plus top-up
- Savings
- Cheaper than cash on TFI services
- Where To Get
- Shops displaying the Leap sign and online
Parking
Parking options in and around Kells. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Spire of Lloyd car park
Free. Free parking beside the playground at the People's Park, on the R163 about 2 km west of the town centre.
Kells town centre on-street parking
Check the sign on the day. On-street parking in the centre is metered by Meath County Council; the Printing Works booking page describes parking around Church Lane as paid and restricted. Read the sign rather than trusting a figure in a guide.
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 →