Getting to Slane
How to reach Slane by train, bus, taxi, or car.
Train
Slane has no railway station. The nearest is Drogheda MacBride, about 14km east, on the Dublin Connolly to Belfast line. From there the connection is Bus Éireann route 190, but it does not call at the railway station: it leaves from Drogheda Bus Station on Donore Road, a little over a kilometre from MacBride in a straight line, so allow around fifteen minutes on foot or take a taxi across town. Route 190 runs roughly hourly from Drogheda to Slane from early morning until late evening, seven days a week, and takes about 20 to 40 minutes depending on the time of day, usually under half an hour. Navan, the other way, has no train at all.
- Nearest Station
- Drogheda MacBride, about 14km east, on the Dublin Connolly to Belfast line (Irish Rail station code DGHDA)
- Onward
- Bus Éireann route 190 from Drogheda Bus Station on Donore Road to Slane, about 20 to 40 minutes, usually under half an hour, roughly hourly. The bus station is a little over 1km from MacBride; walk about 15 minutes or take a taxi.
- Alternative
- From Dublin, Collins Coaches route 980 runs from Lower Abbey Street to Chapel Street in Slane in just under an hour, without a train at all.
Tips
- •Route 190 leaves from Drogheda Bus Station, not from the railway station; leave time for the walk between them.
- •The 190 timetable valid from 27 September 2026 has its first departure from Drogheda at 05:30 on weekdays and its last at 23:31, but check Bus Éireann's page before relying on a late bus.
Useful Links
Bus
Two services stop in the village. Bus Éireann route 190 runs Drogheda to Athlone through Slane, Navan and Trim, roughly every hour in each direction seven days a week, so it is the bus for Drogheda's trains and for Navan. Collins Coaches route 980 is the Dublin bus: it leaves Lower Abbey Street opposite Wynn's Hotel and comes up the N2 through Finglas to three Slane stops, at the Brink service station, McGruder's Cross and Chapel Street, before going on to Collon, Ardee and Carrickmacross. The run from Abbey Street to Chapel Street is timetabled at 55 minutes.
- Route190
- Bus Éireann, Drogheda Bus Station to Slane about 20 to 40 minutes, usually under half an hour, then on to Navan about 15 to 20 minutes; roughly hourly, seven days
- Route980
- Collins Coaches, Dublin Lower Abbey Street to Slane Chapel Street, timetabled at 55 minutes; several departures a day, fewer on Sundays
- Slane Stops
- Route 980: The Brink Service Station, McGruder's Cross, Chapel Street. Route 190: Slane village
Tips
- •Collins Coaches publishes its own timetable PDFs; check the current one on collinscoaches.ie, as some departures run September to May only.
- •Neither bus goes to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Donore.
Useful Links
Taxi
There is no taxi rank in Slane. Slane Hackney Service, run by Gerry, does airport runs, hospital appointments and trips to the sights; book by phone.
- Local
- Slane Hackney Service, 089 234 4854, listed by Visit Slane
Tips
- •Book the return when you book the outward trip, especially in the evening.
Driving
Slane sits where the N2 Dublin to Derry road crosses the N51 Navan to Drogheda road, and the village is laid out around that crossroads, with Chapel Street running north and Mill Hill dropping south to Slane Bridge over the Boyne. From Dublin it is the M2 and N2 north. Slane Bridge is a long, narrow multi-arched crossing and a known bottleneck on the N2, so expect a queue at busy times. Everything worth seeing out of the village needs a car or a taxi: the Hill and Littlewood are up the Collon road, Tankardstown is out at Rathkenny, and the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre is at Donore, south of the river, reached by the road through Donore rather than from the Newgrange side.
- From Dublin
- M2 then N2 north. The Conyngham Arms gives the hotel as just under an hour from Dublin city and 45 minutes from Dublin Airport
- To Bru Na Boinne
- Follow signs for the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Donore; do not drive to Newgrange or Knowth, which have no visitor access by car
- Parking
- On-street in the village and at the Hill of Slane's small car park
Tips
- •Slane Bridge is narrow and often queued; give it time.
- •On a Slane Castle concert weekend, read the promoter's travel advice before driving in.
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
- Duration
- About 35 to 45 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel
Slane Castle gives 35 minutes from Dublin Airport and the Conyngham Arms gives 45; allow the longer figure.
- Duration
- 55 minutes on route 980, plus the airport-to-city leg
- Cost
- Two separate fares
There is no direct bus from the airport to Slane. Take an airport bus into the city centre, then route 980 from Lower Abbey Street to Chapel Street, Slane, timetabled at 55 minutes.
Operator: Collins Coaches
- Duration
- Similar to driving
- Cost
- Agree the fare when booking
Listed by Visit Slane for airport drop-off and collection; phone 089 234 4854.
Operator: Slane Hackney Service
Parking
Parking options in and around Slane. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Hill of Slane car park
A small car park at the foot of the Hill, off the Collon road north of the village. Go through the gate and walk up to the ruins.
Broadboyne Bridge trailhead
Space for about eight cars at the Broadboyne Bridge trailhead near Stackallen, the start of the Boyne Ramparts walk to Navan.
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