Dublin
<map lat='53.337433437129675' lng='-6.38580322265625' zoom='10' view='0' float='right' /> Dublin is the capital of Ireland with more than 500 thousand inhabitants, but together with other towns around Dublin, the urban area has more than one million citizens. All Irish motorways begin here.
Hitching Out
Hitching out of Dublin is okay. The easiest way is to take a bus to the outskirts in any direction and try to get a ride there. Buses are quite cheap.
If you arrived in Dublin (or Dún Laoghaire) by ferry, you should try to hitch a ride at the exit of the ferry port, as there are a lot of cars going to any part of the country.
Ferry Timetables for boats between Ireland and Britain http://www.aferry.co.uk/dublin-holyhead-ferry.htm
Be sure to have a large card with the town name you want to go to spelt correctly and shown to oncoming drivers. If you need to stay in Dublin there's a free accommodation finder called Almara Accommodations Dublin.
North towards Dundalk, Belfast
Go to the Dublin Airport Roundabout. There are plenty of buses from the city centre to there (i.e. 16, 746) You should then follow the motorway signs in the direction of Belfast and the M1 motorway. Please stand on the grass along the road until you reach the traffic lights just before the motorway exit. You can ask drivers for a lift only when the light is red. Be careful.
Please be warned that the motorway toll booth/peage on the Dublin-Belfast road is NOT a good place to stop at. Some of the management directly prevent hitchhikers from using the area.
Go to Blanchardstown Roundabout or Castleknock Roundabout. Take the following buses: 38, 38A, 38B, 38C, 39, 39A, 70, 76A, 236, 237, 238, 239, 270. This is linked to the N2.
West towards Mullingar, Athlone, Galway
- Option 1
Last traffic lights before M50 bypass (Junction 7). You can get here by buses 25, 66, 67 from Pearse Str.
- Option 2
Get a train from Connolly station to Maynooth. Ticket costs around 3 Euro. From here it is a 2 KM walk towards a M4 motorway exit to the West of Ireland. This should all take 60 minutes.
Southwest towards Portlaoise, Limerick, Cork
Go to the Rathcoole petrol station on the West side of the city. This can be reached by the number 69 bus from Dublin City Centre i.e. Aston Quay for around 2 Euro. It takes about one hour to reach this excellent spot. From the An Poitin Stil Bar bus stop, you walk up the motorway (the path can be found via the bar car park) for 5 minutes until you reach a petrol station on the left hand side. We got a lift after 2 minutes, with a sign, from friendly customers towards Cork city.
South towards Enniscorthy, Wexford, Rosslare
Go to the Bray Roundabout near the petrol station. Take the Dart train to Bray station or the following buses: 145, 184, 185, 45, 45A, 84. This is linked to the M11.
North northwest towards Ashbourne, Ardee
Go to Finglas village and walk down the motorway exit (sign post Derry). Stand on the side of the road with sign and/or thumb. Take the following buses: 17A, 40, 40A, 40 C, 40D, 83, 104. This is linked to the N2.
South southwest towards Blessington, Tullow
Get the Luas red line tram to the last stop Tallaght. The best place to hitch is at the traffic lights just before the Square Shopping Centre exit at Tallaght Pass. This leads on to the N81.
