Irish Citylink, one of Ireland’s leading private coach operators, continues its valued partnership with Connacht Rugby as the Official Coach Supplier!
One of Irish Citylink’s longest-running sponsorship relationships is set to continue as they take their partnership to a new level with their newly branded Connacht Rugby Team Coach. Irish Citylink began sponsoring Connacht Rugby in 2017. Connacht Rugby and Irish Citylink have agreed on a further two-year deal that means Irish Citylink is the Official Coach Supplier for the Senior Men and Women’s Teams for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons.
Ciara Rosney, Irish Citylink’s Head of Marketing and Public Relations, says: “We are absolutely delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with Connacht Rugby. This sponsorship encompasses the aligned values of Irish Citylink and Connacht Rugby, two brands that are at the heart of communities in Connacht. Our shared values and commitment to the communities in which we serve is at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to continuing this partnership over the next two years.”
The newly branded Connacht Rugby Team Coach was created in celebration of this partnership and to showcase the alignment of two strong brands that are proud to be from the province of Connacht. The design incorporates elements of both the Connacht Rugby and Irish Citylink brands, using the proud colours of Connacht Rugby along with the distinctive paint strokes design on the Citylink coaches.
Philip Patterson, Head of Commercial and Marketing at Connacht Rugby, says: “Irish Citylink has been a proud partner of ours for many years, so we’re extremely pleased to continue our relationship. Irish Citylink play a vital role for our Professional and Women’s teams, and the newly branded Team Coach will showcase our partnership all over the country. Both organisations also share the same values and ethos, so we look forward to working together into the future.”
Irish Citylink continues to make a strong presence in the local Galway sports community by continuing this partnership and supporting sports organisations in Galway.
Nothing beats the post Summer blues like a cheeky Autumn getaway to look forward to. There are many amazing destinations at our doorstep in Europe, waiting to be explored. Keep reading to find out about our Top 5 picks for an Autumn City Break in Europe.
Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, is well known for its sovereign heritage, cobbled streets lined with historic facades, and is the 2nd most bicycle-friendly city in the world. The beautiful city’s historical and cultural attractions have made it the second-most visited destination in the UK!
Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and the highest courts in Scotland. The city’s Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland, making it rich in history and artefacts.
You can fly to Edinburgh from all major airports in Ireland, including Cork Airport and Dublin Airport, served by Citylink Routes 251 and 761/763.
Some of the main attractions in Edinburgh include:
Arthurs Seat: An ancient volcano site in Edinburgh
Calton Hill: An exceptional viewpoint and site of many historical monuments
The Royal Mile: The walk from Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle
Illusion Museum: A really cool spectral museum near Edinburgh Castle
Travel time from Dublin Airport is 1 hr 10 mins
Travel time from Cork Airport is 1hr 20 mins
2. Brussels
The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is home to the seat of the European Parliament and the Belgian Royal Family is a wonderland to visit. Walking through the streets, you’re met with incredible buildings and sites.
Brussels is known for its exquisite cuisine and beverages, including its local waffles, chocolate, french fries and its numerous types of beers.
As well as its historical and architectural landmarks; some of them registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To top it all off, Brussels is a hub for rail, road and air traffic. Sometimes considered, together with Belgium, as the geographic, economic and cultural crossroads of Europe. Brussels will be beautiful in Autumn, with the evenings turning a bit colder and the leaves changing colour.
You can travel to Brussels from Dublin Airport daily, and it is well worth a weekend getaway.
Some things to see in Brussels:
The Royal Palace of Brussels – Seat of the Royal Family
European Commission/Parliament Buildings – Government buildings of the EU
Grand Place – Historic Square in Central Brussels
Mannekin Pis – Famous Bronze Statue in Brussels
Atomium – Museum, an art centre and a cultural place.
Travel time from Dublin Airport is 1hr 30 mins
3. Madrid
The capital of Spain, Madrid, lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is a hub of business and tourism in Spain, housing the headquarters of the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB).
As well as Spain’s political capital, Madrid is Spain’s royal capital, with the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) situated in the centre of the city. Madrid is bursting with activities and sites, including the Buen Retiro Park, the Reina Sofia and Prado Museum. Enjoy amazing art museums, the Gran Via shopping district, and a thriving nightlife.
The autonomous region of Madrid also hosts cities like Toledo and Segovia, both sites oozing with history.
You can fly directly to Madrid from Dublin Airport, making it a very convenient city to travel to!
Some sites to see include:
Retiro Park – Huge park in the City Centre with 2 leisurely lakes
Gran Via – Shopping district in Madrid with many famous brand stores
Segovia – Medieval town in Madrid with a massive viaduct at the entrance of the town
Museums – The Reina Sofia and Prado are famous museums hosting artists like Picasso and Goya
Teatro Real – The Spanish Opera, hosting magnificent operatic art performances
Palacio Real – The Royal Palace of Spain and the city residence of the Spanish royal family
Travel time from Dublin Airport is 2hrs 30 mins
4. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is a world of culture, politics, media and science. It is Germany’s capital and largest city, bursting with a fascinating history. Not only that, but it is one of the most populous cities in Europe!
The city’s main features are the many lakes in the western and southeastern boroughs formed by the Spree, Havel, and Dahme rivers. Due to its location in the European Plain, Berlin is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. As a result, about one-third of the city’s area comprises forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals and lakes.
The city has numerous orchestras, museums, and entertainment venues and hosts many sporting events. Its Zoological Garden is the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. The city is also well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and very high quality of living.
Things to do:
Brandenburg Gate – Grand classical archway and city divide
Reichstag Building – Historic, glass-domed home of Parliament
East Side Gallery – Section of Berlin Wall for street art
Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe – Columns commemorating the Holocaust
Checkpoint Charlie– Cold War and East/West border landmark
Museum Island – Art museum and Cathedral
Travel Time from Dublin Airport is 2hrs 20 Mins
5. Venice, Italy
Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is situated on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. Venice was once a financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. And a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto. During this period, it was also an important centre of commerce – especially for silk, grain, spices, and art from the 13th century to the end of the 17th.
The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parts of Venice are renowned for the beauty of their settings, architecture, and artwork. In addition, Venice is known for several important artistic movements – especially during the Renaissance period.
Although the city is facing some challenges (including an excessive number of tourists and problems caused by pollution), Venice remains a top-rated tourist destination. It has been ranked the most beautiful city in the world numerous times. It has been described by the Times Online as one of Europe’s most romantic cities and by The New York Times as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”.
Things to do:
Grand Canal – Canal, basilica and palace
Rialto Bridge – Ornate footbridge over the Grand Canal
St. Mark’s Square – Landmark basilica-dominated square
St. Mark’s Basilica – Landmark cathedral with gilded domes
Burano – Island of lace-making and colourful fishermen’s homes
Murano – Museo del Vetro and glass souvenirs
Bridge of Sighs – Iconic white-stone enclosed bridge
Flight time from Dublin Airport is 2 hrs 40 mins
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No matter where you decide to travel, you are guaranteed to find some delicious cuisine, historic landmarks, fantastic nightlife, beautiful scenery and much more!
Travelling to Dublin Airport? Travel in luxury with Citylink. Our coaches offer onboard toilets, Free WiFi, charging points, generous luggage allowances, comfortable seats and friendly and helpful drivers.
Have any queries about our services? All information about our services can be found on http://www.citylink.ie
If you are a regular user of air travel, you are well accustomed to flight delays & cancellations. We here at Citylink completely understand that this can be a stressful situation for our customers coming from the airport.
So, if you book a seat with us and your flight is delayed, we will honour your ticket and put you on the next available service at no extra cost.
I’m concerned it will be busy and I won’t get a seat on the next service; what do I do?
We hear you! This is where our Manage My Booking feature comes to the rescue.
To help our customers have more flexibility and control over their travel plans, customers can now amend their booking up to 3 times prior to the scheduled service departure time.
Conditions:
You can amend your booking with Citylink up to 30 minutes before a service departs its first stop
We are happy to change the time and date of your booking, but we cannot change the destination.
If you need help amending your ticket, please click here.
Important to note:
• If you book another ticket with Citylink to guarantee your seat, the unused ticket is non-refundable. • If you book another ticket with another provider, your Citylink ticket is non-refundable.
We understand that life is hectic and sometimes plans change. We here at Citylink want to make your experience as pleasant and seamless as possible.
A question we get asked a lot is “Can I change my booking?” and the answer is, yes! To help our customers have more flexibility and control over their travel plans customers can now amend their booking up to 3 times prior to the scheduled service departure time.
Conditions:
You can amend your booking with Citylink up to 30 minutes before a service departs its first stop
We are happy to change the time and date of your booking but we cannot change the destination.
How to manage your booking:
If you need help with amending your ticket, check out our handy video tutorial below.
Or check out our step by step guide below:
How to manage your booking:
When you go to our website www.citylink.ie, click “Manage my Booking” in the top right corner as seen below:
When you click on the “Manage My Booking” section the following page will appear:
Enter your booking reference number which can be found in your confirmation email, or if you chose to have your ticket text to your mobile, your booking reference number can also be found here. You will also need to enter the email you used to book your initial journey.
Once you have submitted these details, you can proceed to change the date and time of your booking. Your new ticket will be sent to your email.
With the acquisition of GoBus, Irish Citylink will become one of the largest private land transport companies in Ireland.
Irish Citylink, a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro group headquartered in Singapore, has successfully completed the purchase of GoBus from its present owners. The acquisition marks a significant step forward for the company in expanding its network throughout Ireland.
On reviewing the market to identify companies that offer an excellent level of service, it was imperative to choose a company whose values and reputation aligned with the core values and level of service Citylink is known for. GoBus epitomizes these values that are important to our company and passengers.
David Conway, Regional Director of Irish Citylink, commented, “Having navigated the challenges of COVID-19 and as we are rebuilding and expanding the range of services we offer to the traveling public, the addition of the GoBus network will enable us to provide significantly more options to both Citylink and GoBus customers. This enhanced network of services will encourage more people to travel via public transport and support our greater green agenda of moving towards a sustainable public transport network”.
The acquisition of GoBus fits into Citylink’s strategy to become the largest operator of intercity coach services in Ireland. GoBus’ convenient services and fleet of modern and comfortable coaches, alongside Citylink’s premium and reliable services, provide major opportunities for the company to become the largest intercity coach operator in Ireland.
When asked about the acquisition, Frances Cahill, General Manager of Irish Citylink, commented, “This is just the beginning – The acquisition of GoBus brings so many new opportunities to the business in terms of employment, funding for local sponsorships, and the services we can provide for our passengers. We are absolutely delighted to bring two reputable transport providers together to provide an expanded network of routes and an even better customer experience for our current and future passengers!”
The stories behind Irish Citylink and GoBus
Irish Citylink first began right in the heart of Galway almost 20 years ago. The company’s distinctive blue and yellow coaches have become synonymous with high-quality, reliable, and affordable coach travel. In the beginning, Citylink ran up to 12 daily services between Galway and Dublin. Since then, they have expanded their business and network of routes to over 100 daily direct, express, and multi-stop services across all routes. Over 150 people are employed in the provision of Irish Citylink’s services in Galway, Dublin, Limerick, and Cork.
GoBus was established in 2009 and operates frequent and flexible coach services across three main routes serving Galway, Dublin, Cork, and Ballina. GoBus prides itself on offering flexibility and the best in comfort and safety on board.
Pairing GoBus with Citylink’s mission to connect Ireland’s towns, cities, villages, and airports across the nation by providing reliable travel is both ambitious and vital. Particularly as the need for public transport increases each year.
Irish Citylink operates a range of services in Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clifden, Loughrea, Athlone, Ballinasloe, and more. The company currently carry over 28,000 passengers per week across all routes which is forecasted to surpass 35,000 later this year. With these numbers in mind, it is clear that transport is an essential and vital service in today’s society. With this acquisition, Irish Citylink is determined to create a reality where transport is more accessible in Ireland than ever before!
For more information on how this acquisition will affect Irish Citylink and GoBus’ customers, please click here.
Irish Citylink has become Galway Camogie’s Official Transport Partner for the 2022 season.
This agreement means that Irish Citylink will be the transport provider for the Senior Camogie team with plans to extend to other teams in the new year. There will be no more waiting around for any old bus to get to the game as Irish Citylink will have a Galway-themed coach to whisk the girls off in style to matches.
“At the end of the day, Irish Citylink doesn’t just drive buses. We drive people. And people are where the heart and soul of the community lies. When we as a company realized that it was really the people and community that we are all about, we thought Galway Camogie was just the perfect fit,”
David Conway, Regional Director at Irish Citylink.
“To support Galway Camogie is to support women’s place within the sporting industry and the added value these teams bring to our communities. Citylink wants to help highlight these fantastic players to not only give them the recognition they deserve but to help work towards inspiring future generations too. ”
Nothing can make a trip more perfect than a beautiful viewpoint. Luckily for tourists in Ireland, many scenic points across the country offer some of the most iconic Irish landscape views and world-renowned ocean panorama. We provide transport to towns and cities across Ireland at Irish Citylink and take passengers to some of the most superb Irish locations. We think we should point out a few of these places that we’d recommend! (This list reflects our team’s favourite viewpoints across our routes)
Claddagh Viewpoint, Galway:
The Claddagh is a favourite spot in Galway. It’s the perfect place during the summer to sit with friends in the sun and enjoy the sights and sounds of Galway City. In addition, the Claddagh is a great place to get a view of the Spanish Arch, see out to the Atlantic, or walk out towards Salthill. It is a breathtaking viewpoint in Galway.
2. Diamond Hill, Letterfrack:
Out in Connemara, this trek offers some of Ireland’s most unique and stunning lookout points. It gives you a beautiful landscape to admire. Situated near the quaint village of Letterfrack, Diamond Hill is the second most popular walking trail after Crough Patrick. With many loops and off-trails, you’re immersed in nature and get some pretty spectacular views.
3. King Johns Castle, Limerick:
A really cool 13th Century castle on the banks of the Shannon in Limerick. Taking a tour around this structure will be excellent for getting amazing views of the Treaty City. The castle itself is a fascinating historic site, showing Ireland’s history with the Normans. If you get the chance to enter the site and get a bit higher, you may get a better glimpse of the city, which is really something unique.
4. Heartbreak Pier, Cobh:
Based in the small seaside town of Cobh in Cork, the Heartbreak Pier is an iconic symbol of Irish immigration. This pier is where hundreds, if not thousands, of Irish People left Ireland for a better life. Cobh is a beautiful coastal town that rises up to St. Colman’s Cathedral, which gives an awesome panoramic view of Coastal Cork.
5. Howth Head, Dublin:
Dublin has a few hidden points around the county that offer spectacular viewpoints, Howth being one of them. A stroll up Howth Head (don’t worry, it’s suitable for all fitness levels!) offers breathtaking coastline views. Don’t forget to stop in the village for some tasty seafood afterward!
Can you think of any other cool places we should check out? Let us know!
Here at Citylink, we consider coffee a way of life! Managing buses is no easy job – the only way we can do it is with a constant caffeine hit! Now that summer is kicking off, it is the perfect time to be sitting outside with an iced coffee in hand while enjoying the sights and sounds of Galway City. Taking some inspiration from Travel with David’s Post, we think it is our duty to share some of the top places in Galway City to take a cheeky Americano or Macchiato!
(This is not a definitive list but just some of our team’s favourite spots for coffee!)
1. Roastery Lane – Forster Street:
One of the newest additions to the Galway Coffee Scene is Roastery Lane. This boutique coffee shop, situated just around the corner from the Galway Coach Station, has already made an impact. Our team frequents this café most days and is always happy with the service and quality of the coffee – plus, they serve a complimentary truffle with the coffee! What’s not to love?
Available from 9am Monday to Sunday
2. Esquires Café – Eyre Square:
As you venture from Eyre Square to Forster Street, you’ll see Esquires before turning the corner. When you enter the café, you’ll be met by the friendliest staff with the biggest hello! The atmosphere here is just as good as the excellent coffee. They have an extensive menu of coffees to choose from. You can get some really delicious iced coffees, perfect for the scorching weather, and some tasty hot choco for when the cold is getting to your toes.
Available Wed/Thurs 8am-3pm, Fri/Sat 8am-5pm and Sunday 9am-5pm
3. Espresso 44 – Shop Street:
This quaint coffee shop is located at the top of Shop Street and is the perfect location for people passing to pop in for a caffeine fix while they shop. Espresso 44’s coffee is strong and tasty, and the vibrant colour of the shop is enough to entice you. As you walk up to order, you’ll see the various items and goodies they have on sale, like coffee grinders, sandwiches, and delicious kombucha drinks! For those on the road on the outskirts of Galway, Espresso 44 has just opened its second premises in Oranmore! How exciting?
Available Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, and Sunday 9am-6pm.
4. Jungle Café – Forster Street:
As you traipse down Forster Street, either on your way to or getting off a Citylink bus – you’ll immediately see Jungle Café across the road from the station. The impressive greenery lining in the laneway leads to an adventurous and unique outdoor seating area. Jungle Café serves an extensive coffee and tea menu, and it also serves gorgeous food! This is the perfect place for a quiet sit-down with a tasty coffee or to grab a bite to eat before exploring Galway City. The food is fresh, and the service is top-notch. They do a delicious oat milk latte too! And for those venturing out towards Salthill, the Jungle Café Kiosk serve equally as delicious coffee with exceptional ocean views.
Available Mon-Fri 8.30am-6.30pm, Saturday 8am-6.30pm & Sunday 9am-6pm.
5. Roots Café & Bistro – Multiple Locations:
Whether you’re in Galway City, Moycullen, Loughrea, or Oranmore, you’ll come across Roots Café and Bistro. An ever-expanding café chain that has locations popping up all over the country. If you find yourself in Shop Street or near Galway Cathedral, having a bite to eat and a frothy cappuccino in Roots is advised! Their interiors are very luxurious, and the food is immense!
Available Mon-Sat 8am-7pm and Sunday 9am-7pm.
These are five places to have some delicious coffee in Galway. If you have any you think need to be added to our list, get in touch with us on our social media. We’re always looking for new places to get our fix!
