Overview
The Dublin–Sligo line opened in full on 3 December 1862, the last leg of a Midland Great Western Railway push west that had already reached Mullingar in 1848 and Longford in 1855. It is still the only direct rail link to the northwest, run by Iarnród Éireann from Dublin Connolly to Sligo Mac Diarmada. Trains run up to eight times a day, fewer at weekends, covering 216 km (134 miles) in about three hours to three and a quarter.
Be honest with yourself about the view. For most of the midlands it is ordinary, flat and green and unremarkable, and the scenery only earns its keep twice: crossing the River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon, and in the last half hour, when Benbulben’s flat top rises ahead of the train into Sligo. The trains are the 22000 Class railcars, which this route received first, back in December 2007. There are power sockets and Wi-Fi, and a trolley comes through, though it is dear enough that most people bring their own.
A route steeped in history
The line was built by the Midland Great Western Railway, incorporated in 1845, and laid piecemeal: Mullingar in 1848, Longford in 1855, and the full run to Sligo on 3 December 1862, the day the first passenger train reached Sligo’s greystone terminus. Dublin Connolly is older still. It opened in November 1844 as the Dublin & Drogheda Railway’s ‘Dublin Station’, became Amiens Street, and was renamed Connolly in 1966 for the executed 1916 leader James Connolly. Sligo’s terminus carries the same kind of tribute, named Mac Diarmada after Seán Mac Diarmada. The line carried 1.4 million passengers in 2018. It is double track from Connolly out to Maynooth, then single track with passing loops the rest of the way to Sligo.
Along the line: towns and landscapes
The route works as a moving corridor through the middle of Ireland, with each stop offering a distinct slice of local history or landscape.
- Dublin to Mullingar: As the train pulls out of Connolly, Croke Park dominates the left-hand view, a reminder of Ireland’s sporting culture. The line soon skirts the Royal Canal near Maynooth before reaching Mullingar, a town woven into the Children of Lir legend. The nearby Lough Owel and Lough Ennell are still known for trout fishing and wildfowling.
- Mullingar to Ballymote: The train crosses into counties Longford and Leitrim, passing through Edgeworthstown and Longford (a name derived from the Norse words for “ship” and “ford”). At Dromod, railway enthusiasts note the preserved narrow-gauge heritage line nearby. The journey then crosses the River Shannon just before Carrick-on-Shannon, followed by Boyle, birthplace of actress Maureen O’Sullivan. In Ballymote, you can step out to see the monument to Brigadier General Michael Corcoran and pay respects to Brother Walfrid, founder of Celtic FC.
- Ballymote to Sligo: The final stretch passes through Collooney, site of a pivotal 1798 Rebellion battle, before the landscape opens up toward the Curlew Mountains. As the train approaches Sligo, the distinctive silhouette of Benbulben appears on the horizon, setting the scene for the Yeats-inspired northwest.
Sligo Mac Diarmada station is a restored 1862 greystone building, with historical plaques and photographs detailing the line’s evolution. Directly beneath the platforms sits the Bus Éireann depot, for onward connections to the town centre, Drumcliffe and the Lake Isle of Innisfree on Lough Gill.
Practical information
Timetables and booking
Services run roughly every couple of hours from early morning until late evening. The Irish Rail Journey Planner is the most reliable tool for real-time departures and tickets; you can book up to 90 days ahead. After purchase, tickets can be collected from any Ticket Vending Machine on the network or downloaded as a QR ticket for Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
Fares and passes
Dublin–Sligo is fare band ‘U’. For the full run, an adult single is €31.65 and a day return €34.95, with family day returns up to €60.00. Children under five travel free with a ticket-holding adult; those aged five to 18 need a child ticket, and Young Adult and Student Leap Card holders get discounted fares.
On board and accessibility
Each train has a limited number of wheelchair-accessible spaces. Because availability is restricted, passengers who need one must book it in advance through the Journey Planner. The trolley service can be pricey, so it is worth bringing your own water and picnic. Standard-class seating is comfortable, with power sockets at most seats.
Travel tips
- Book early for weekends: the service is popular with commuters, students and tourists, and weekends and school holidays see the highest demand, for seats and for accessibility spaces alike.
- Check for track works: engineering works occasionally mean temporary bus replacements. The Journey Planner carries live disruption alerts.
- Save the view for the end: the midlands stretch is workaday; the two windows worth watching for are the Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon and Benbulben on the run into Sligo.
Check the Journey Planner at least a week ahead if you are travelling in peak season, and save your coffee for the last half hour, past the Shannon and up towards Benbulben.