Arriving at Shannon International Airport - where Irish coffee was invented to placate stranded passengers - you're most likely to want to head for Limerick, barely fifteen miles away, where you can get bus and train connections to just about anywhere in the country.

Ennis, a similar distance, is also easily accessible and a pleasant place to stop over if you plan to spend some time in County Clare or want to break your journey before you head north. Alternatively, Bunratty is worth considering as an overnight option. From the airport Bus Éireann buses (phone 061/313333) run around twenty services daily to Bunratty (20min; £2.20/?2.79), around fourteen daily to Ennis (45 min; £3.70/?4.74) and around twenty daily to Limerick (45min; £3.70/?4.70). A taxi (phone 061/471538) to Bunratty will cost about £9/11.43, and to Ennis or Limerick about £17/21.59. If you just want to find a bed for the night, you could stay at one of the B&Bs in Shannon town, all around a five-minute drive from the airport. Try Mrs. Lohan , 35 Tullyglass Crescent (phone 061/364268; £33-40/?41.90-50.79), or Avalon , 11 Balleycaseymore Hill (phone 061/362032; £33-40/?41.90-50.79).

The airport tourist office (daily for all major flights; phone 061/471664) is extremely helpful and will book accommodation for you for the usual charge. There's a Bus Éireann and Irish Rail information point (April-Oct), and an airport information desk , open to serve all flights - if there's no one there, pick up the phone and dial 0. For Aer Lingus enquiries call 061/471666. The airport bank is open daily from 6am until 5.30pm, though it sometimes closes early if there are no flights.

Travel Details

Trains

Ennis to: Dublin (1-2 daily; 3hr); Limerick (1-2 daily; 1hr).

Buses

Bunratty to: Shannon Airport (20 daily; 20min).

Doolin to: Galway (summer 2-4 daily; 1hr 30min).

Ennis to: Doolin (1-3 daily; 1hr 15min); Galway (12 daily; 1hr 30min); Kilkee (1-3 daily; 1hr 15min); Lahinch (1-3 daily; 45min); Limerick (8-19 daily; 45min); Lisdoonvarna (summer 1 daily; 1hr 15min); Shannon Airport (14 daily; 45min).

Galway to: Lisdoonvarna (summer 2-4 daily, mid-Sept-mid-May Mon-Sat 2-4 daily; 1hr 20min).

Limerick to: Doolin (1-3 daily; 1hr 40min-2hr 20min); Ennis (15 daily; 1hr); Ennistymon (1-3 daily; 1hr 15min); Killaloe (Mon-Sat 1-2 daily; 45min); Lisdoonvarna (1-5 daily; 1hr 55min); Mountshannon (Sat only 1 daily; 1hr 25min); Shannon Airport (20 daily; 45 min).

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