Lough Derg - Easy to Reach
Lough Derg is so well located and is easily reached. The lake has a number of natural gateways and is surrounded by airports, to the South West at Shannon, to the South at Cork and to the North West at Galway. Dublin Airport located 110 miles/ 177kms from Portumna is also an option. The main ferry ports are located at Dublin, Rosslare Europort and Cork. Tipperary, Clare and Limerick have excellent rail connections and a network of uncrowded roads, both national primary and secondary roads, which are a pleasure for the motorist or cyclist. Below, we detail the main transport services and links relevent to Lough Derg.
By Air
Shannon International Airport www.shannonairport.com (40 miles/65 Kms to Nenagh) has direct flights from the UK, North America, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden. Airlines serving Shannon include Aer Lingus, (www.aerlingus.com) Air Canada, www.aircanada.com Centralwings, www.centralwings.com, Continental Airlines, www.continental.com Delta www.delta.com and Ryanair www.ryanair.com A full route finder together with the most up to date information and links on flights and airport facilities can be accessed on the airport website www.shannonairport.com
Galway Airport which is located 6kms from Galway City and 38miles/61kms from Portumna, is served by Aer Arann www.aerarann.ie with destinations to Dublin, Northern France, London and regional cities throughout the UK and by Flybe www.flybe.com with flights to Belfast and to Regional Cities throughout the UK. The Galway Airport website www.galwayairport.com has detailed information and links on flight services.
By Sea
A number of ferry companies link Ireland with the UK and Europe. The main ports within easy reach of Lough Derg are Rosslare Europort (125 miles/217km to Killaloe/Ballina) with crossings from the UK and Europe and Cork Port (88miles/ 141kms to Killaloe/Ballina) with services from the UK and Europe and Dublin/Dun Laoghaire ports (110 miles/ 177kms to Portumna)
The ferry companies serving these ports include:
www.brittany-ferries.ie/ to Cork
www.irishferries.ie/ to Rosslare Europort
www.stenaline.ie/ to Rosslare Europort
Route Planning
When in Ireland and traveling by car make sure that you use the www.discoverloughderg.ie website to plan your journey on and around the lake. This has a detailed listing and map of all of the lake area.
Additionally, a very good website and route planner is the AA Roadwatch website which has loads of information on driving in Ireland, traffic advice and a special route planner. This allows you to put in your travel location and your destination and the website will plan and plot your journey giving you specific directions. www.aaroadwatch.ie
