Train stations in Galway

Galway (Ceannt Station) is the station for the city centre. It stands beside Eyre Square, so the old town is on foot from the platform.

Arriving at Galway station

Eyre Square, officially the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, is the centre of Galway, and the tourist office on Forster Street is near the station at the lower end of the square. The Latin Quarter runs from the Spanish Arch to Middle Street and takes in High Street, Quay Street and Cross Street. You can walk there from the station.

Inside the station there is a ticket machine, a coffee kiosk, a Starbucks and sheltered bike parking. A new Ceannt Station is being built, so expect building works around the station. The booking office opens Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 18:45 and is closed at weekends; at other times buy online or at the ticket machine.

Trains to Dublin

Irish Rail runs InterCity trains from Galway to Dublin Heuston via Athenry, Ballinasloe, Athlone and Tullamore. They leave about every one to two hours from early morning into the evening, every day of the week. The journey takes between about 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes, depending on the train. A new national timetable starts on 13 December 2026.

Trains arrive at Heuston, on the west side of Dublin, not at Connolly. Your Galway ticket includes one trip within Dublin city, so choose Connolly when you book to include the Luas Red Line, or Dublin to include a bus to the centre. Irish Rail advises allowing 1 hour to change between Heuston and Connolly by Luas or bus.

Trains to Limerick and Ennis

The Western Rail Corridor runs south from Galway through Oranmore, Athenry, Craughwell, Ardrahan, Gort and Ennis to Limerick. Four or five direct trains a day run each way, four on Sundays, and the whole trip takes about 2 hours. For Cork, change at Limerick and again at Limerick Junction.

On Saturday 31 October 2026 ballast cleaning and Oranmore station works close the line between Athenry and Galway, and from 18:00 that day between Athlone and Galway, until 08:00 on Sunday 1 November. Dublin and Limerick trains to and from Galway are affected.

Oranmore and Athenry

Oranmore is about 10 minutes from Galway station and Athenry about 20 minutes on the local trains. Irish Rail sells a special day return from Oranmore to Galway for €6, and €4 for a child.

Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands

Bus Éireann route 350 leaves from Galway Bus Station, which is part of Ceannt Station, and reaches the Cliffs of Moher in about 2 hours. Aran Island Ferries sails year-round from Rossaveel, about 40 minutes to the islands, with a shuttle bus from Victoria Place in Galway.

Tickets

Booking online in advance gives Irish Rail's lowest web fares, and tickets go on sale up to 90 days ahead. The standard fare from Dublin Heuston to Galway is €30.45 for an adult single, €33.30 for a day return and €43.35 for an open return. Children aged 5 to 18 pay half the adult fare and under-5s travel free with a fare-paying adult. Student and young adult fares need a Student or Young Adult Leap card as proof. Irish Rail lists Galway station as not smart-card enabled, so do not plan on tapping Leap at the station.

Irish Rail recommends booking a seat on InterCity trains in advance, which also makes sure you get one.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, seat reservations on Irish InterCity trains are optional with an Interrail pass, so the Dublin and Limerick trains from Galway need none. A pass holder who wants a seat can book a Reservation Only on the Irish Rail site. An allocation is free, and when it is fully booked each seat costs €2.50 per journey. Interrail passes are valid on Irish InterCity trains.