Pick up wherever suits
Over 30 locations across the island. Dublin Airport, Shannon, Belfast, Galway, Cork, and everywhere sensible in between.
Athlone
Co. Westmeath
Athlone sits on the River Shannon, right at the geographic centre of Ireland. The branch is at Golden Island on the Bower Road, close to the town centre and the N6 motorway. The town straddles Lough Ree, one of the largest lakes on the Shannon. Clonmacnoise, the famous 6th-century monastic site, is twenty minutes south. Athlone Castle guards the river crossing and the town itself has an excellent food scene that punches well above its weight. Athlone is the ideal midpoint stop if you are driving Dublin to Galway, and it is a genuine base for exploring the Shannon region and Ireland's hidden midlands.
Belfast City Airport
Co. Down
Belfast City Airport sits on the eastern edge of the city, five minutes from the Titanic Quarter and ten minutes from the city centre. It is the closer of Belfast's two airports to the action, and the counter is in the arrivals hall. From here you can reach the Giant's Causeway in under two hours, the Mourne Mountains in just over an hour, and the Antrim Coast Road, one of Europe's great coastal drives, starts thirty minutes north. Belfast City is ideal if your trip focuses on Northern Ireland or if you want to start in Belfast and drive south into the Republic. Cross-border driving is seamless and included in every rental.
Belfast International Airport
Co. Antrim
Belfast International Airport is the larger of the two Belfast airports, located near Antrim, about thirty minutes northwest of the city. It handles most of Northern Ireland's long-haul and charter traffic. From here you are already north of Belfast, which means the Causeway Coast and Giant's Causeway are closer. The M2 motorway takes you straight to the Antrim Coast Road. Heading south, you can reach Dublin in about two hours on the M1. If you are flying in from mainland Europe or on a charter, this is likely where you will land. The car hire area is well signposted from arrivals.
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
Castlebar is the county town of Mayo, in the heart of Ireland's rugged northwest. The branch is at the Moneen Industrial Estate, right off the N5 and easy to find. Westport, one of Ireland's most beautiful planned towns, is fifteen minutes west. Achill Island, connected to the mainland by bridge, is an hour's drive and worth every minute. Croagh Patrick, the holy mountain, rises from the coast thirty minutes away. Mayo is consistently rated among the best places to visit in Ireland, and for good reason. The beaches are huge and empty, the mountains are dramatic, and the pace of life is genuinely slower here.
Cavan
Co. Cavan
Cavan is Ireland's lake country. The county has 365 lakes, one for every day of the year, and the branch is on the Cockhill Road, just off the town centre. This is the quiet heart of Ireland, far from the tourist trail. The Shannon-Erne Blueway starts here. Killykeen Forest Park, set on a peninsula jutting into Lough Oughter, is twenty minutes west. The border with Northern Ireland runs along the county's northern edge. Cavan is the pickup point for people who want to fish, walk, or simply disappear into the Irish countryside for a few days. It is also a practical midpoint if you are driving between Dublin and Donegal.
Cork Airport
Co. Cork
Cork Airport is the gateway to Ireland's south. It is a compact, single-terminal airport, and the desk is right in the arrivals hall. You can be in your car and on the road within fifteen minutes of clearing customs. Head south for Kinsale, the harbour town that put Irish food on the map. Drive west and within two hours you are on the Ring of Kerry or the Beara Peninsula. The N20 north reaches Limerick in under ninety minutes. Cork Airport is the closest pickup point to the Wild Atlantic Way's southern stretch, and you skip the congestion of Cork city entirely.
Donegal Airport
Co. Donegal
Donegal Airport is Ireland's most remote commercial airport, perched on the coast of Carrickfinn with the Atlantic on one side and Errigal Mountain on the other. Flights land on a runway that practically ends at the beach. This corner of Donegal is one of the least-visited parts of Ireland, and it is spectacular. The Gaeltacht villages of Gweedore and Dungloe are minutes away. The sea stacks at Slieve League, twice the height of the Cliffs of Moher, are an hour south. Glenveagh National Park is forty minutes inland. A car is not optional here. There is no public transport to speak of, and that is part of the appeal. You will have these roads to yourself.
Downtown Belfast
Co. Antrim
The Belfast city branch is on Cromac Street, south of the city centre and a short walk from the Cathedral Quarter. If you are spending a night or two in Belfast before hitting the road, this is the pickup point that saves you airport parking fees. Belfast is a city worth exploring on foot first: the Titanic Museum, St George's Market, and the murals of the Falls and Shankill Roads are all within the city. When you are ready to drive, the M2 takes you north to the Causeway Coast, and the M1 heads south toward Dublin. This branch is also the most convenient drop-off if your trip ends in Belfast city.
Drogheda
Co. Louth
Drogheda is the largest town on Ireland's east coast between Dublin and Belfast. The branch is at the Drogheda Retail Park on Donore Road, just off the M1 motorway. Newgrange, the 5,000-year-old passage tomb older than the pyramids, is fifteen minutes west. The Boyne Valley, one of the most historically significant landscapes in Ireland, surrounds the town. The medieval ruins of Monasterboice, with its famous high crosses, are ten minutes north. Drogheda is the ideal pickup if you are visiting Newgrange or exploring Ireland's Ancient East. It is also the first stop north of Dublin on the M1 if you are heading to Belfast.
Dublin - Swords
Co. Dublin
The Swords branch is on the North Street Business Park, about five minutes from Dublin Airport but away from the airport compound. It is the local-area alternative to the airport pickup. Swords itself is a north Dublin suburb with a Norman castle, a good main street, and fast access to the M1 motorway. If you are staying in north Dublin, or if someone is dropping you at the branch, it can be more convenient than navigating the airport car hire compound. From Swords, you are twenty minutes from the city centre, forty minutes from the Boyne Valley, and under two hours from Belfast.
Dublin - Tallaght
Co. Dublin
The Tallaght branch is in south Dublin, at Talbot House near Tallaght Cross. It is the closest pickup point to the Wicklow Mountains and the N81, the road that takes you straight into the hills. Glendalough, the most famous monastic valley in Ireland, is about fifty minutes south. Powerscourt Waterfall and Gardens are forty-five minutes via the M50. The Sally Gap, one of the best high-mountain drives in Ireland, is under an hour. If your trip focuses on Wicklow, Wexford, or the southeast, Tallaght saves you driving across Dublin from the airport.
Dublin Airport
Co. Dublin
Dublin Airport is where most visitors first touch Irish soil. The desk is inside the car hire compound, a short shuttle ride from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. You will not need to queue at a generic counter or hunt for a bus stop. From the airport you are twenty minutes to Dublin city on the M1, an hour south to the Wicklow Mountains on the M11, or three hours west to Galway on the M6. Every major motorway in the country starts within a few kilometres of the terminal. If you are landing on a transatlantic red-eye and just want to get moving, this is the smoothest start. Flight delays are monitored at the airport, and there is nothing to sign that you have not already agreed to online.
Dublin City - Russell St.
Co. Dublin
The Russell Street branch is on Dublin's northside, a few minutes' walk from Croke Park and the Mountjoy Square Georgian quarter. It is the city-centre pickup that makes sense if you are staying north of the Liffey. From Russell Street, you can walk to the Jameson Distillery Bow St in fifteen minutes, or reach the GPO and O'Connell Street in ten. When you are ready to drive, the M50 ring road is twenty minutes away, connecting you to every motorway in the country. This branch is popular with visitors who want to spend a day or two in Dublin on foot before picking up their car and heading west.
Dublin City - Stephen's Green
Co. Dublin
The Stephen's Green branch is in the shopping centre at the top of Grafton Street, right in the heart of Dublin's south side. If you are staying near Temple Bar, Trinity College, or the Georgian squares, this is the most central pickup in the city. The Guinness Storehouse is a twenty-minute walk or a five-minute drive. Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed parks in any European capital, is fifteen minutes by car. When you are ready to leave Dublin, the M50 is accessible from several south-city routes. This branch is ideal for visitors who want to do Dublin properly before picking up a car. You will not need a car in central Dublin, and you should not have one: the streets are narrow and parking is expensive.
Dublin North - Finglas
Co. Dublin
The Finglas branch is in north Dublin, on McKee Avenue near the M50 interchange. It sits between Dublin Airport and the city centre, giving you fast access to both without being in either. The M50 is minutes away, connecting you to every major motorway. Head north to Belfast on the M1, west to Galway on the M4/M6, or south to Cork and Limerick on the M7. Dublin city centre is about fifteen minutes south. Finglas is a practical pickup for visitors who are staying in north Dublin or who want to skip the airport compound and collect their car in a quieter setting.
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
Dun Laoghaire is a Victorian harbour town on Dublin's south coast, about twenty minutes from the city centre. The branch is on the Bray Road, close to the seafront and the DART train line. The East Pier walk, the Forty Foot swimming spot, and the views across Dublin Bay are right on the doorstep. Dalkey, Killiney Hill, and the start of the Wicklow coastal drive are all within ten minutes. Dun Laoghaire is the pickup that makes sense if you are staying along the south Dublin coast. You can enjoy the seaside towns by train, then pick up your car when you are ready to head south to Wicklow or west across Ireland.
Ennis
Co. Clare
Ennis is the county town of Clare and the closest town to both the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. The branch is on the Kilrush Road, on the western edge of town, right on the route toward the coast. The Cliffs of Moher are forty minutes northwest. The Burren, with its moonscape limestone and wildflower crevices, starts twenty minutes north. Doolin, the traditional music capital, is fifty minutes away. Shannon Airport is only twenty minutes south. Ennis itself is a town of narrow streets and good pubs. If you want a Clare base that is not an airport or a tourist hub, this is it.
Galway
Co. Galway
Galway is the unofficial capital of the west. The branch is on the Tuam Road, on the eastern side of the city. It is easy to reach from the N6/M6 motorway and avoids the narrow streets of the city centre. Connemara starts twenty minutes west. The Aran Islands ferry at Rossaveal is about forty minutes. The Cliffs of Moher are a ninety-minute drive south through the Burren. Galway is the hub that connects all the signature landscapes of the west coast. The city itself is worth a day or two before you pick up the car. Walk the Latin Quarter, eat oysters at the Spanish Arch, and catch some live music. Then drive.
Kerry Airport
Co. Kerry
Kerry Airport sits between Killarney and Tralee, right at the start of the Ring of Kerry. It is a small, single-runway airport, and you will be through the terminal and in your car in minutes. No shuttle, no compound, no fuss. Killarney National Park is twenty minutes south. The Dingle Peninsula is thirty minutes west. The Skellig Ring, the detour that tour coaches cannot take, starts within the hour. This is the part of Ireland that appears on every postcard, and you are already in it. Kerry Airport is the only pickup point where you step out of the terminal and the scenery has already started.
Kilkenny
Co. Kilkenny
Kilkenny is Ireland's best-preserved medieval city, and the branch sits on the Dublin Road, a few minutes from the castle. If you are driving Ireland's Ancient East, this is your natural base. Kilkenny Castle, Smithwick's brewery, and the Medieval Mile are all within walking distance of the branch. From here, you can drive to the Rock of Cashel in under an hour, Waterford's Viking Triangle in fifty minutes, or Glendalough in ninety minutes. This is the quieter side of Ireland. Fewer coaches, emptier roads, and a concentration of history that rivals anywhere on the island.
Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
Letterkenny is the largest town in Donegal and the gateway to the county's wild Atlantic coastline. The branch is at the Canal Road Complex, close to the town centre and the N13 toward Derry. Fanad Head Lighthouse, one of the most photographed spots in Ireland, is an hour north. The Inishowen Peninsula and Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly point, are about ninety minutes. Glenveagh National Park is thirty minutes to the west. Donegal is one of Ireland's largest counties and its least populated. A car transforms it from inaccessible to extraordinary. The roads are empty, the views are constant, and you will wonder why more people do not come here.
Limerick
Co. Limerick
Limerick sits at the head of the Shannon estuary, right where the west coast meets the midlands. The branch is on Upper William Street, in the city centre, walking distance from King John's Castle. From here you are an hour from the Cliffs of Moher, forty-five minutes from the Burren, and ninety minutes from Killarney. The M7 east reaches Dublin in under two and a half hours. Limerick is the junction where most cross-country routes intersect. The city itself has changed enormously in recent years. The Milk Market, the Hunt Museum, and the Georgian Quarter are worth a morning before you hit the road.
Naas
Co. Kildare
Naas is the county town of Kildare, just off the M7 motorway, about forty minutes south of Dublin. The branch is on the Kilcullen Road, right by the motorway interchange. Kildare is horse country. The Curragh racecourse is ten minutes away. The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens are fifteen minutes south. If you are heading southwest toward Kilkenny, Cashel, or Cork, Naas is the first convenient pickup point outside Dublin. Naas is also a practical alternative to Dublin Airport if you are staying south of the city and want to avoid driving through Dublin entirely.
North Cork
Co. Cork
The North Cork branch is on Commons Road in Blackpool, on the northern side of Cork city. It is close to the N20 toward Limerick and the M8 toward Dublin, making it a convenient pickup if you are heading north. Cork city centre is ten minutes south. The English Market, one of the oldest covered markets in Europe, is the culinary heart of the city. Blarney Castle is fifteen minutes northwest. The Jameson Distillery in Midleton is thirty minutes east. North Cork is the right pickup if you want city access but also quick escape routes to the rest of the country. If your trip focuses on West Cork and Kinsale, the South Cork or Cork Airport branches are closer.
Shannon Airport
Co. Clare
Shannon Airport is where North America meets the west of Ireland. Direct flights from the US and Canada land here daily, and the counter is on the ground floor of the terminal building. You can collect your keys and be driving toward the Cliffs of Moher within the hour. The airport sits at the crossroads of Clare, Limerick, and Galway. Bunratty Castle is a ten-minute detour. The Burren's lunar limestone landscape is forty-five minutes north. Galway city is just over an hour up the N18. Shannon is the quieter alternative to Dublin for transatlantic arrivals. Shorter queues, easier parking, and you start on the Wild Atlantic Way instead of fighting eastbound motorway traffic.
Sligo
Co. Sligo
Sligo is Yeats country: Benbulben, Knocknarea, Lough Gill, and the landscapes that inspired some of Ireland's greatest poetry. The branch is at Carrickhenry on the Carraroe Road, on the southern approach to the town. Strandhill beach is fifteen minutes west, and the surfing there is world-class. Mullaghmore and Classiebawn Castle are thirty minutes north. The Ceide Fields, the oldest known stone-walled fields in the world, are an hour away in north Mayo. Sligo is the part of the Wild Atlantic Way that most visitors skip because it is furthest from Dublin. That is exactly why you should go.
South Cork
Co. Cork
The South Cork branch is on Kinsale Road, the southern approach to Cork city. It is the closest branch to Kinsale, the harbour town that many consider Ireland's food capital, and to the West Cork coast. Kinsale is twenty minutes south. Clonakilty, another West Cork gem, is an hour's drive. The Beara Peninsula, wilder and quieter than the Ring of Kerry, is about two hours southwest. Cork city centre is ten minutes north. South Cork is the right starting point if your trip focuses on West Cork's coast, harbours, and foodie towns. The roads are narrow and beautiful, and the pace of life slows the further west you go.
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Tralee is the county town of Kerry and the northern gateway to both the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. The branch is on John Joe Sheehy Road, close to the Aqua Dome and the town centre. Dingle is thirty minutes west on the N86, one of the most scenic approach roads in the country. Killarney is thirty minutes south on the N22. The Connor Pass, the highest mountain pass in Ireland open to regular traffic, is on the Dingle route. Tralee is a working town, not a tourist village. Prices are lower, the pubs are full of locals, and you get a real sense of Kerry life before you hit the famous drives.
Waterford
Co. Waterford
Waterford is Ireland's oldest city, founded by Vikings in 914 AD. The branch is at Coolgower, on the western approach to the city, close to the N25 and easy to reach from Cork or Dublin. The Viking Triangle in the city centre is Ireland's most concentrated collection of medieval architecture. The Copper Coast, a UNESCO Global Geopark, starts twenty minutes east along the coast road. Dunmore East and Tramore are popular beach towns nearby. Waterford is at the heart of Ireland's Ancient East, a region of 5,000-year-old tombs, ruined abbeys, and empty beaches that most visitors overlook in favour of the west coast.
West Dublin - Kylemore
Co. Dublin
The Kylemore branch is in west Dublin, on Kylemore Road in Dublin 12. It is close to the M50 junction and the Naas Road, making it the fastest route out of Dublin if you are heading south or west. From here, the M7 to Limerick and Cork is minutes away. The M4 to Galway is reachable via the M50 in about fifteen minutes. Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed parks in any European capital, is ten minutes north. Kylemore is the most practical Dublin pickup if you do not need to be in the city centre and want to get on the road quickly. It avoids the congestion of the northside and the airport.
Wexford
Co. Wexford
Wexford is Ireland's sunniest corner, with more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on the island. The branch is at the Ardcavan Business Park, on the northern edge of town, close to the N11 Dublin road. Curracloe Beach, where the Normandy landing scenes in Saving Private Ryan were filmed, is fifteen minutes away. The Hook Peninsula, with one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world, with a tower dating to the 13th century, is thirty minutes south. Rosslare Europort, for ferries to Wales and France, is twenty minutes southeast. Wexford is the most overlooked county in Ireland. That means quieter beaches, cheaper food, and roads you will have almost entirely to yourself.