Travel

River of billows, to whose mighty heart

The tide-wave rushes of the Atlantic sea;

River of quiet depths, by cultured lea,

Romantic wood, or city’s crowded mart;

River of old poetic founts, which start

From their lone mountain-cradles, wild and free

Sir Aubrey de Vere

Ireland - Gateway to Europe

Map below of one-way flight prices from Dublin.

Estimating Costs

First, you may want to consider whether you'd like to make this part of your vacation! Ireland is a great stepping stone to other European countries (see the map above for example one-way flight prices from Dublin in May).

Flights - for those traveling from the NYC area and not using credit card points, round trip airfare may be between $490 - $670 to Dublin in late May 2025. Try booking between Nov 14 - Feb 12 (or between 3-6 months ahead of the wedding) for the best prices. Heads up, starting in 2025, any travel to the UK, which includes Northern Ireland, (even a layover) will require an “electronic travel authorisation” you can apply for online. You’ll need a headshot/photo of yourself, photo of your passport, and about $15 for each person traveling there. Apply for your ETA using this website.

Local transportation - rent a car for about $35/day. This is the easiest option, but buses and trains are also available.

Meals - outside the day of the wedding, might be $50/day.

Accommodation - shared rooms from $15/day. A mid-range room could be $150/day. More information on our Accommodations page.

Gifts - No gifts necessary please!

Booking Flights

We recommend using Google Flights search tool to look for flight prices (even if you eventually decide to book using credit card points). We estimate that the best time to book flights will be between 3 to 6 months before the wedding (November 2024 to February 2025).

Coming from the U.S., the most convenient airport will be Dublin, which is about a 1 hour drive from the wedding venue at Cabra Castle.

Heads up, starting in 2025, any travel to the UK, which includes Northern Ireland, (even a layover) will require an “electronic travel authorisation” you can apply for online. You’ll need a headshot/photo of yourself, photo of your passport, and about $15 for each person traveling there. Apply for your ETA using this website.

Getting Around Ireland / Northern Ireland

Domestic flights across Ireland are not something you should count on to be able to get around Ireland easily.

These notes are directly from Lonely Planet:

Transport in Ireland is efficient and reasonably priced to and from major urban centres; smaller towns and villages along those routes are well served. Service to destinations not on major routes is less frequent and often impractical.

  • Car: The most convenient way to explore Ireland’s every nook and cranny. Cars can be hired in every major town and city. Drive on the left. (note that if you want to travel to Northern Ireland (UK) then you will need make sure your rental car is allowed to drive across the border).

  • Bus: The extensive network of public and private buses is the most cost-effective way to get around. There’s service to and from most inhabited areas.

  • Bicycle: Dublin operates a bike-share scheme with more than 100 stations spread throughout the city. Train A limited (and expensive) network links Dublin to all major urban centers, including Belfast in Northern Ireland.

  • Train: A limited network links Dublin to all major urban centers, including Belfast in Northern Ireland. It’s best to pre-purchase for the best price.

European Travel

  • Flights are going to be your most convenient option, although there are cheap and fast ferries from Northern Ireland to Scotland and from Dublin to Wales.

What to Pack

The dress code for the wedding is formal. Here's a guide to formal wedding attire. Beyond your clothes for the wedding, we recommend packing layers. Average temperatures in Ireland in May are highs of 59°F to lows of 48°F with long days and you should always prepare for rain and wind. Consider bringing:

  • Layers (t-shirts, hoodies, shirts etc.)

  • Some decent hiking/walking footwear

  • A light waterproof jacket

  • Water resistant pants.