Bus Hire in Dundalk

Dundalk is the county town of Louth and the largest town in Ireland's historic Pale boundary, sitting 85 kilometres north of Dublin via the M1 motorway and 80 kilometres south of Belfast via the A1. The town is positioned at the head of Dundalk Bay, with the Cooley Mountains rising to the south-west and Slieve Foye (589 metres, the highest peak) overlooking Carlingford Lough. The cross-border location makes Dundalk a natural staging post for coach tours combining the Republic with Northern Ireland.

The Cooley Peninsula (15 to 25 kilometres south-west of Dundalk via the R173) juts into Carlingford Lough opposite the Mourne Mountains of County Down. Carlingford village on the western shore of the lough is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Ireland, with a 12th-century Norman castle, town walls, and a Dominican friary. The Tain Trail (a 40-kilometre walking and cycling route through the Cooley Mountains) is the principal outdoor activity circuit, following the route of the cattle raid described in the Ulster Cycle epic, the Tain Bo Cuailnge.

Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford Village

Carlingford village (20 kilometres south-west of Dundalk via the R173, approximately 25 minutes by coach) is a well-preserved medieval fishing village on the south shore of Carlingford Lough. King John's Castle (a 12th-century Anglo-Norman fortification on the harbour) is managed by the Office of Public Works and is open for guided visits. The Tholsel (the medieval town gate) spans the main street and is the town's principal landmark. The Mint (a 15th-century fortified house) is on Church Street. Coaches park in the Carlingford waterfront car park; the main historic sites are within 5 minutes' walk. The Carlingford Lough ferry (seasonal, May to September) provides connections across the lough to Omeath and Greenore.

Proleek Dolmen and Megalithic Sites

The Proleek Dolmen (8 kilometres south-west of Dundalk via the Ballymascanlon Hotel road) is one of the most impressive portal tombs in Ireland: a capstone estimated at 46 tonnes resting on three tall uprights, in a field adjacent to the Ballymascanlon Hotel grounds. The site is freely accessible year-round; coaches park at the Ballymascanlon Hotel car park (with permission). The Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone (15 kilometres south-west, near Jonesborough village) is a 7th-century inscribed early Christian pillar stone, one of the earliest surviving Christian inscribed monuments in Ireland.

Cross-Border Touring: Dundalk to the Mourne Mountains

Dundalk is the last significant town in the Republic before the border into Northern Ireland. The border itself (crossing at Killeen/Killeen, 8 kilometres north via the N1) has no controls; coaches pass freely. Beyond the border, the A1 continues north to Newry (16 kilometres from Dundalk) and Belfast (80 kilometres from Dundalk). The Mourne Mountains (the highest point of which, Slieve Donard at 850 metres, is visible from Carlingford Lough) are 30 to 40 kilometres from Dundalk via the border crossing and the A25 east. Newcastle-by-the-Sea in County Down is the main Mourne Mountains resort town and a standard half-day from Dundalk.

What Bus Hire Costs in Dundalk

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Dundalk runs around 240 to 450 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 400 to 780 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 620 to 1,180 EUR per day. Dundalk is a competitive market benefiting from its position on the Dublin-Belfast corridor. Demand is fairly even year-round with slight increases in summer for Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford excursions. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Dundalk