Getting to Killaloe
How to reach Killaloe by train, bus, taxi, car, or bicycle.
Train (nearest station Birdhill)
Neither Killaloe nor Ballina has a railway station. The nearest is Birdhill, Co. Tipperary, about 6.6km by road south of the bridge, on the Limerick to Ballybrophy line via Nenagh. It is a small station with few trains: a live check of the Irish Rail board for Birdhill (station code BHILL) at 07:05 on 16 October 2026 showed two trains in the next 90 minutes, one towards Ballybrophy and one towards Limerick, while Limerick Colbert showed departures to Dublin Heuston and Limerick Junction in the same window. For Dublin, Cork, Galway or Ennis, use Limerick Colbert, about 29km and roughly half an hour by road from Killaloe. Either way the last leg is Bus Éireann route 323, which calls at Birdhill on its way from Limerick to Ballina, Co. Tipperary and Nenagh; the Birdhill stop is about 170 metres from the station.
- From
- Limerick Colbert, or Birdhill on the Limerick to Ballybrophy line, then bus 323 or a taxi
- Duration
- Birdhill to Ballina is about 7 minutes on route 323; Limerick Colbert to Ballina is about 45 minutes on the bus
- Frequency
- Infrequent at Birdhill; many more at Limerick Colbert. Check irishrail.ie
- Fare
- Varies; check irishrail.ie
- Station
- Birdhill (BHILL), about 6.6km by road. Limerick Colbert (LMRCK), about 29km.
- Note
- There is no train to Killaloe or Ballina. Route 323 stops mainly on the Ballina, Co. Tipperary side; Killaloe is a five-minute walk back across the bridge.
Tips
- •Check the Birdhill timetable before relying on it; the line has few trains.
- •Bus 323 from Limerick Colbert is usually simpler than changing at Birdhill.
- •If you need a taxi from Birdhill, book it ahead.
Useful Links
Bus
Bus Éireann route 323, Limerick to Nenagh via Birdhill, is the twin towns' bus. It leaves Limerick Colbert Station, calls at Arthur's Quay, the University of Limerick, Annacotty, Castleconnell and Birdhill, and stops in Ballina, Co. Tipperary before going on through Portroe to Nenagh. On the timetable for Friday 16 October 2026 there were seven departures from Limerick Colbert towards Ballina and Nenagh, the first at 06:45 and the last at 20:45, and the run to Ballina took about 45 minutes. A small number of journeys also serve a Killaloe stop on the Clare side by way of O'Briensbridge; most do not, so plan on getting off in Ballina and walking across the bridge.
- Operators
- Bus Éireann
- Route
- 323 Limerick to Nenagh via Birdhill, calling at Ballina, Co. Tipperary
- Frequency
- Seven departures from Limerick Colbert on Friday 16 October 2026, 06:45 to 20:45
- Fares
- Check buseireann.ie
- Stops
- Ballina, Co. Tipperary, near the Ballina end of the bridge; a few journeys also serve Killaloe, Co. Clare
Tips
- •Use the Bus Éireann or TFI journey planner for the exact day you travel; timetables vary by day.
- •The Ballina stop is a five-minute walk from St Flannan's Cathedral across the bridge.
Useful Links
Taxis
We found no published taxi rank in either town. The jobs that matter are the transfer from Birdhill or Limerick and the lift up to the Graves of the Leinstermen trailhead, both pre-book work. Ask your accommodation to arrange a car, and book ahead for a late train.
- Note
- Pre-book. Your accommodation can arrange a local car.
- Station Transfers
- Birdhill about 6.6km, Limerick Colbert about 29km
Tips
- •Book a lift for the Tountinna walk if you plan to walk one way only.
Driving
Killaloe is on the R463, the lakeshore road north to Tuamgraney and Mountshannon, and Ballina is on the R494, which climbs north over the Arra Mountains towards Portroe and Nenagh. Road distances from the bridge, measured on the public OSRM routing engine: Limerick Colbert about 29km and under half an hour, University Hospital Limerick about 33km, Nenagh about 22km, Birdhill station about 6.6km, Shannon Airport about 55km and Dublin city centre about 178km. The towns themselves are small and best walked once you have parked; Killaloe River Cruises says there is free parking at its Lakeside Drive meeting point in Ballina.
- Routes
- R463 on the Clare side, R494 on the Tipperary side
- From Limerick
- About 29km, under half an hour
- From Dublin
- About 178km, a little over two hours
- From Shannon Airport
- About 55km, around 45 minutes
- Parking
- Free parking at Lakeside Drive, Ballina, per Killaloe River Cruises
- Note
- Mountshannon, for Holy Island, is about 23km north on the R463.
Tips
- •Park once and walk; everything in the two town centres is within about ten minutes of the bridge.
Cycling
Lough Derg eBike Tours runs guided rides and eBike rental around the lake, including a Holy Island tour that starts at Killaloe Hotel & Spa and runs 48km along the western shore. Its bikes come with a helmet, lock, GPS and a hi-vis vest. The hills on either side of the towns are steep, so an eBike is the sensible choice for anything beyond the lakeshore.
- Hire
- Lough Derg eBike Tours, eBike rental and guided tours
- Lakeshore
- The Holy Island tour route follows the western shore to Tuamgraney and on to Mountshannon
Tips
- •Guided tours must be booked by close of business the day before, per the operator.
Useful Links
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
55 km away- Duration
- Around 45 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel
About 55km by road, measured on the OSRM routing engine. The nearest airport.
- Duration
- Allow 2 hours or more including the connection
- Cost
- Two separate fares
There is no direct bus from Shannon Airport. Change in Limerick for route 323, which stops in Ballina, Co. Tipperary.
Operator: Bus Éireann
- Duration
- Around 45 minutes
- Cost
- Quote in advance
Pre-book.
Dublin AirportDUB
189 km away- Duration
- Around 2 hours 20 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel and M50 toll
About 189km by road, measured on the OSRM routing engine. The M50 toll is paid online by 8pm the next day.
- Duration
- Allow 4 hours or more including transfers
- Cost
- Separate rail and bus fares
Get from the airport to Heuston first, then the train to Limerick, then route 323 to Ballina.
Operator: Iarnród Éireann
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
Accessibility Facilities
Killaloe River Cruises boarding ramp
Ramp access · Lakeside Drive, Ballina, Co. Tipperary
The operator states it has an access ramp taking wheelchairs and prams up to 60cm wide, and toilets on board.
Killaloe Farmers Market site
Accessible toilet · Between the Waters, The Bridge, Killaloe, Co. Clare
Visit Clare lists the market site as fully wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets.
Parking
Parking options in and around Killaloe. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Lakeside Drive, Ballina, Co. Tipperary
Killaloe River Cruises states there is free parking at its meeting point on Lakeside Drive, across the bridge from Killaloe.
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