Tag: Limerick

What is there to do in Ireland this Spooky Season?

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Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!

The air is getting crisper, the leaves are getting crunchier, and pumpkin-spiced lattes are back in town. All of this means one important thing… Spooky Season is upon us! As the land of myths and legends, Halloween is a tradition that has been celebrated in Ireland for well over a thousand years.

Which got us wondering… what exactly are the origins of Halloween? Although wildly popular in America (as one of the best nights of the year), Halloween is filled with street decorations, on people’s houses and costumed kids running around. Some might think it came from Mexico’s Day of the Dead. However, the festival of Halloween actually originated in Ireland as a pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced saw-when). This was when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts before welcoming the darker months of the year.

In modern times though, Ireland is very similar to America in the tradition of good old trick or treating, not to mention the barmbrack tradition, bopping for apples and fireworks! Since this Halloween is the first without social distancing in two years, we imagine everyone will only be itching to get out and have some spooky-filled fun.

We’ve done you the favour of finding some of the best Halloween-themed events happening in Ireland over the next few weeks!

  1. THE NIGHTMARE REALM – DUBLIN
Image of scary clown creature. Text that says The Nightmare Realm. Be Afraid.

At Number One is The Nightmare Realm, known for being the ‘Most Entertaining Horror Experience’ and even awarded ‘No.1 Haunt in the world!’ 

From humble beginnings in Tralee, Kerry, back in 2009, to now having its 7th year in the Big Smoke (Dublin City), The Nightmare Realm set out to terrorise the people of Ireland. Each year is different to the last as they redesign haunt themes and mazes, switch up characters and update their most infamous rooms! Nothing is ever the same as it once was. It’s innovative, entertaining and, most importantly.. absolutely terrifying!

Sounds like a bit of you? Check them out here for more information: The Nightmare Realm 

Irish Citylink and Gobus have services from Galway – Dublin City up to every 30 minutes! As well as services from Cork City – Dublin City via Gobus!

2.CON MÓR, – MACNAS GALWAY  

Image of a child looking at a giants face that is made from straw like coppery maerial.

Known for their infamous Halloween Parades, Macnas are up to something very different this year. Instead of roaming the streets of Galway, you can find them at Macnas HQ at Fisheries Field, Galway, where apparently an ancient giant named Con Mór lives! Professor Marjorie Morrigan, an expert in Giants & Where They Come From, has said – “This giant seems to have been here for centuries. There is a very large iron nose, so big and rusty, you could park a car in one of the nostrils.” 

The word on the street is this big fella belongs to the legendary Tuatha De Danann tribe and comes from an ancient Island of Giants off the coast of Connaught. Con Mór was so famous across Ireland for his love of birds and nature that his friends called him The Bird King!

Perfect for the family and kids, or even those really big kids who just never knew how to grow up. You can see CON MÓR, The Giant, situated on the banks of the River Corrib from 12 noon on Saturday, 29th & Sunday, 30th October 2022. Keep an eye out and see if you catch the pop-up performances from the Macnas Drummers, Macnas Brass, Macnas Stilters and Macnas Youth Theatre across Galway city! 

For more information on this magnificent giant, click here: CON MÓR, – MACNAS GALWAY

Travel from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Kinnegad and more! Check out our website for more details at citylink.ie

3. LIMERICK CIVID TRUST HAUNTED HALLOWEEN WALKING TOUR  

Image of person dressed up for halloween in a graveyard.
?

This year, the Limerick Civic Trust offers the opportunity to take a walking tour of Limerick’s haunted medieval quarter in St. Munchin’s Graveyard and Bishop’s Palace, Church Street, Kings Island. Hear about all the tales of Limerick’s ghastly past with tales of ghosts that are said to haunt The Bishop’s Palace and the area of King’s Island to this very day!

You’ll get to hear first-hand about the haunting experiences that the Limerick Civic Trust staff and volunteers have experienced in the building. The tour takes you all around these areas where terrible murders took place. Where ghosts that warn of impending death live, such as the Delmedge ghost that is said to haunt the area.

Due to the scary nature of the tour, apparently, participants are even asked to sign a waiver before partaking in the tour! Saying all those who manage to complete the tour will receive a certificate of completion will show just how brave you are.

Tours run every day from Wednesday, 25th October to Tuesday, 31st October, inclusive at 5 pm & 6 pm.

Reckon you are brave enough? Click the link here to find out more: Limerick Civic Trust Haunted Halloween Walking Tour 

Travel from Galway – Limerick on our Express services or Cork – Limerick!

4. DRAGON OF THE SHANDON – CORK

Image of the dragon of shandon in the streets of Cork.

This year marks the awakening of a giant and beautiful beast. Coming out of her slumber and calling out to her legion of otherworldly night creatures to celebrate Samhain. The moment when our human world and the other world, the unseen world of shadows, coexist freely. 

Welcoming its 17th year, the Dragon of Shandon Parade is the highlight of CCAL’s annual arts calendar. Working with local artists to create a cultural hub and provide a friendly and carnival atmosphere within the entire city on Halloween night. 

Some of the groups already involved in this year’s parade so far are the Cope Foundation, National Learning Network, YMCA, Aisling Cap, Joan Denise School of Dance, Cork City Samba, Circus Factory, The Tribe Dance Academy, UCC Film and Screen Media, Aatma Indian Dance Troupe and many more. 

It looks and sounds like it is NOT to be missed! For more information, click here: DRAGON OF THE SHANDON

Get from Galway and Limerick to Cork via Irish Citylink services OR from Dublin to Cork via gobus!

Have any queries about our services? All information about our services can be found on citylink.ie or gobus.ie

How To: Manage Your Booking

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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.

Other Citylink blogs that might interest you:

1. What are my rights if my flight is delayed

2. Citylink’s top 5 tips for stress-free airport travel

Keep up to date with Citylink via our socials:

Irish Citylink completes acquisition of GoBus!

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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.

Pride Month at Irish Citylink

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Around the world, June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrating the queer history and the steps taken to where the community is today. Pride Month and pride celebrations are celebrated across the globe in various forms – through music, street performances, parades, and parties. For many in the queer community, it is a highlight to the calendar as community members and allies come together and show the power of equality.

A little history of Pride in Ireland:

The first pride week to be held in Ireland was back in 1979 – 10 years after the Stonewall Uprising, which saw LGBTQ Protesters clashed with police in New York in 1969. The first pride parade to be held in Ireland was June 1983, and 10 years later, in 1993, homosexuality was decriminalized, which was a monumental step forward for Irish LGBTQ+ Rights. Since then, equality for the gay community has been gradual, with the 2010 Civil Partnership Act and the 2015 referendum to legalize same-sex marriage.

At Citylink, Pride is incredibly important, not just for the workplace but also for our customers. This is because we strive to provide an inclusive space for all. So the importance of Pride at Citylink is not just for the month of June but is key to the company ethos. We recognized that workplaces, especially over the last couple of years, have been going through many changes. With hybrid working, change of careers, back to the office – but the one thing that remains a constant, including here at Citylink, is the value of diversity, inclusion, and equality.

Citylink provides a whole host of services across Ireland – Galway, Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Limerick, and an array of towns and villages along the way. As a company that serves many communities and people, we must show our support in any way we can.

Limerick Pride, 2019.

Pride celebrations around Ireland continue to grow. We’re delighted to serve many towns and cities that celebrate pride and show their support to the LGBTQ+ Community. We were delighted to see Inishowen host the inaugural pride in County Donegal. We hope to see many more like it in the future.

Citylink is proud to support Limerick Pride (July 4th – July 10th). Limerick Pride has lots to offer, including drag shows, performances, and art. Keep an eye on our socials for fun and exciting Pride content. We will continue to show our support for the many festivities and celebrations across the country.

Best Spots for a delicious Lunch in Limerick

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At Citylink, we are proud to serve the city of Limerick. Limerick is a jewel along the Wild Atlantic Way and offers visitors some of the most scenic views and landmarks you can find across Ireland. Like King Johns Castle, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and some quality stores to do some shopping!

Citylink provides frequent services from Galway, Cork, and Dublin to Limerick, which gives a great opportunity to explore the Treaty City. Exploring any city cannot be done without sampling the local food offerings. So, we’ve created a list of our team’s favourite places to get some grub!

1. Freddys Bistro

This restaurant is located in a restored 19th-century building with a charming ambiance. The menu of Freddy’s bistro has a lot of delicate offerings. Still, their braised beef cheek and pork belly are mouth-wateringly good. All dishes are cooked to order, and the restaurant has a dedicated Coeliac and Vegan Menu. Bellissimo!

2. Café Rose

Café Rose in Limerick has something for everyone! They have a range of delicious light salads and meals to choose from, serving them in a casual dining atmosphere. They cater very well to vegan and vegetarian diners and have a delightful selection of cakes. Their macaroons are to die for!

3. Zest!

A top quality food production company based in Shannon with locations in the area, i.e., Limerick and Ennis, Zest! Provide excellent food items, including cakes, salads, and sandwiches. Located near People’s Park, this café is in a prime location for people touring around to get a sweet treat before having a nice walk in the nearby parks.

4. Fika Coffee

A multi-roasting coffee specialist based on Catherine Street in Limerick, which serves delicious coffee, including roasts by West Cork Coffee and Burren Coffee. This gem serves some top-quality coffees and pastries, which are perfect for anyone who wants a treat as they walk through the streets of Limerick. For non-coffee lovers, their iced tea is definitely worth the visit.

5. The Locke Bar

The Locke Bar is an award-winning eatery in the middle of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter. Open 7 days a week, The Locke Bar is known for its fresh daily special offerings and picturesque views of Limerick Harbour. Their website states, “It can be found on the original site of one of Limerick City’s oldest pubs dating back to 1724. Nearby are some of the city’s most historical landmarks such as St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle & the Hunt Museum.”

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy our post of our favourite cafe spots in Galway City!

Keep in touch! Check out our socials at:

Citylink’s Top 5 Tips for Stress-Free Airport Travel

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At Citylink, we recognise travel can be stressful, here are a few simple tips to help you along the way.

Travelling to Dublin Airport can often prove an anxious journey. Allow us here at Citylink to take care of the main guidelines you need to remember before embarking on your journey to Dublin Airport.

1. Give yourself enough time

Always allow yourself extra time when travelling to Dublin Airport, this cannot be said enough. It is impossible to predict what may come in your way or what the weather may be like, therefore allowing that extra time gives you that peace of mind. As a rule of thumb we advise 3 hours for transatlantic flights & 2 hours for all flights in Europe. That is to allow 3 hours for Terminal 2 and 2 hours for Terminal 1.

For your convenience, we have attached timetables of Galway-Dublin Airport & Limerick City-Dublin Airport.

2. Fast Track

Enjoy priority security with Dublin Airports dedicated Fast Track lane. Fast Track minimises any waiting time and gets you through Security in less than 10 minutes and also it gets you 10% off on Airport shopping. So if you’re tight on time or simply want more time to shop, grab a bite to eat or relax before your flight, the Fast Track service allows you make the best use of your airport travel time.

Fast Track access is priced between €5.95 – €7.99 and is dependent on date and time of travel. This may be worth your while especially if you plan to make a purchase in Duty Free.

3. Passports/Visas

How often do you get the reminder: Do not forget your passport! This happens far more often than you think on our eireagle and Citylink airport services. Keep a print and digital copy of your passport for further travel just in case.

4. Essential luggage tips

Don’t forget to pack an adaptor, battery charger, first aid kit, phrase book, insect repellent and sun cream if appropriate for your destination. If there is anything you’ve forgotten to include, don’t worry, you’ll find most travel essentials on sale at one of the many airport shops.

5. Check-in

There are two ways to check in. You can check in online 24 hours ahead of time and go directly through security or you can check in manually at the airport at a self-service check-in kiosk or the old fashioned face to face check in option. Always check your luggage allowance which can vary airline to airline.

Conclusion

We hope the following tips can act as a guide to helping you plan your trip away with as much ease as possible. If you have any additional queries in relation to any of our airport services, do not hesitate to get in contact with our Citylink team. We also have a FAQ section to answer any questions you may have.

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