Getting to Midleton
How to reach Midleton by Commuter train, bus, or car.
Train from Cork Kent
This is the easiest way to arrive and the reason a car-free day in Midleton works. Iarnród Éireann's Cork commuter service runs from Cork Kent out along the harbour and terminates at Midleton, so there is no station to miss: the train stops and everyone gets off. Journey time is 23 minutes. This is a Commuter service, not a DART; the DART is a Dublin network and has nothing to do with this line. Midleton station is on Mill Road, about ten minutes on foot from Main Street, and it doubles as the trailhead car park for the greenway.
- Operator
- Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)
- From
- Cork Kent
- Journey time
- 23 minutes
- Frequency
- Roughly every 30 minutes through the middle of the day on a weekday
- Station
- Midleton station, Mill Road
- Line
- Cork commuter line, Midleton branch
- Terminus
- Yes. Midleton is the end of the line.
Tips
- •You cannot overshoot. Midleton is the terminus, so the train empties here.
- •The same line branches for Cobh at Glounthaune, so check the destination on the train before boarding at Kent: Midleton and Cobh trains both serve the first few stations.
- •The station car park is the Greenway trailhead, which makes a train-out, cycle-back day straightforward if you bring a bike.
- •Journey time and frequency here were taken from the live departures board rather than from a printed timetable, so treat them as typical midday weekday figures.
Useful Links
🚂 Commuter from Midleton
All trains towards Dublin
Midleton is a Commuter terminus. Updates every minute
Bus from Cork
Bus Éireann runs three routes from Cork city through Midleton, all of them continuing into East Cork rather than terminating in the town: the 240 to Ballycotton, the 241 to Trabolgan and the 261 to Ballinacurra. For getting between Cork and Midleton the train is faster and more frequent, but the buses are how you reach the East Cork villages the train does not serve, Cloyne and Ballycotton among them.
- Operator
- Bus Éireann
- Route 240
- Cork to Ballycotton via Midleton
- Route 241
- Cork to Trabolgan via Midleton
- Route 261
- Cork to Ballinacurra via Midleton
- Useful for
- Cloyne, Ballycotton and the East Cork coast, which have no rail service
Tips
- •Check current timetables on the operator's site before relying on a bus for a connection. Rural East Cork frequencies are thinner than the train.
- •The 260 to Youghal and Ardmore does not serve Midleton, despite running in the same direction. Do not assume it stops here.
- •If you are cycling the greenway one way to Youghal, confirm with the operator whether bikes are carried before you plan on busing back.
Driving
Midleton sits just off the N25, the Cork to Waterford road, roughly 25km east of Cork city. It is a straightforward run and the town is signposted from the dual carriageway. Parking in the town centre is on-street and in the retail-park car parks; the free car park at the railway station on Mill Road is the most reliable option and is a ten-minute walk from Main Street. You will want a car for anything outside the town: Cloyne, Shanagarry, Ballycotton and Castlemartyr all need one.
- From Cork city
- About 25km east on the N25
- From Youghal
- About 30km west on the N25
- Parking
- On-street in the town centre, retail-park car parks, and free parking at the station on Mill Road
- Driving side
- Left
Tips
- •Park at the station on Mill Road if the centre is busy. It is free, it is the Greenway trailhead, and it is a ten-minute walk in.
- •Everything in the town centre is walkable once you have parked. Main Street, the distillery and The Square are within a few minutes of each other.
- •For the out-of-town places, Cloyne is about 8km south, Ballymaloe at Shanagarry about 12km southeast and Castlemartyr about 7km east.
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.
Cork AirportORK
24 km away- Duration
- Roughly 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic through or around the city
- Cost
- Metered; expect a substantial fare for the distance
The simplest option if you are arriving with luggage, and the only single-leg public option. There is no direct bus between the airport and Midleton.
- Duration
- Allow 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes including the connection
- Cost
- Two separate fares
Two legs with a change in Cork city. Check both timetables before you plan a tight connection.
Operator: Bus Éireann
- Duration
- Allow about 1 hour 15 minutes including the connection and the walk to Kent
- Cost
- Two separate fares
Usually the more comfortable of the two connecting options once you are at Kent, since the train runs roughly every half hour and takes 23 minutes.
Operator: Iarnród Éireann
- Duration
- About 35 to 45 minutes
- Cost
- Rental plus fuel
Worth it if East Cork rather than Midleton town is the plan. Cloyne, Shanagarry, Ballycotton and Castlemartyr are all car-only.
Parking
Parking options in and around Midleton. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the Commuter train is recommended.
Midleton Station car park
The Greenway trailhead car park at the railway station on Mill Road, which Cork County Council names as one of the four Greenway access points. Also the obvious park-and-walk for the town centre.
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 →Top Tip
The Commuter train is the best way to get to Midleton. You arrive right in the heart of Midleton, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.