2024 Irish Museums Association Annual Conference

Travel

For detailed information on the venues, see the website for Carlow College and Carlow County Museum, located 200 metres from Carlow College on College Street. 

Carlow College is located in a town centre location, accessible by foot through College Street and the Old Dublin Road. However, there are two local route bus services operated by Carlow Town Bus Services. 

By air:

The nearest airport to Carlow is Dublin Airport,  which is 79.5 km away; located approximately 10km north of Dublin City Centre. Other nearby airports include Shannon (SNN) (135.2 km) and Cork (ORK) (153.1 km). 

By sea:

Regular, scheduled ferry services operate between Ireland and Great Britain, France and Spain bringing foot passengers, cars and other vehicles through Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, and Rosslare Europort in Co. Wexford.

By bus:  Approximate travel time from Dublin to Carlow: 1 hour, 15 mins. / from Waterford to Carlow: 1 hour.

Direct links are provided by Bus Eireann linking Carlow to Waterford and Dublin Airport, Dublin Carlow Waterford and from Athlone Portlaoise Carlow.

A regular services linking Carlow to Dublin and Waterford is operated by JJ Kavanagh & Sons.

Wexford Bus via their Route 376 from Wexford Town to Carlow.

Daily bus services that Local Link, https://locallinkckw.ie/, operate including Carlow to New Ross route, Carlow New Ross and the Carlow to Arklow route, Carlow Arklow.

By train:  Approximate travel time from Dublin to Carlow: 1 hour, 30 mins / from Waterford to Carlow: 1 hour, 15 mins.

Carlow Town is located on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford intercity route, Irish Rail Dublin Waterford Timetable . For information on train timetables and ticketing information visit the Iarnrod Eireann or Translink websites.

By car:  Approximate travel time from Dublin is 1 hour 30 mins; from Waterford: 1 hr; from Athlone: 1 hr 45 mins; from Cork: 2 hrs 15 mins; from Belfast: 3 hrs15 mins. 

There is ample parking available at the conference venue (paid and free parking), car park entrance to Carlow College via Old Dublin Road entrance: Carlow College Visual Entrance.  

Accommodation

Seven Oaks Hotel 4*, 600 m from conference venue. Conference Rate: €129.00 B&B. To avail of this rate contact the hotel by phone to book, telling them you are attending the museum conference.  

Talbot Hotel Carlow 4*, 2 km from conference venue and serviced by Carlow Town Bus Service, CW2 Route, (approx. 200 metres to bus stop). Conference Rate of €130.00 bed & breakfast for a double room and €120.00 bed & breakfast for a single room. To avail of this rate email reservation@talbothotelcarlow.ie or phone the Talbot Hotel quoting Irish Museums Association. 

Woodford Dolmen Hotel 4*, 3.4 km from conference venue, and serviced by Carlow Town Bus Service, CW1 Route, (approx. 350 metres to bus stop). Conference Rate Thursday 23rd May 2024: Single Occupancy B&B: €95 per room; Double/Twin Occupancy B&B: €105 per room. Friday 24th May 2024: Single Occupancy B&B: €140 per room; Double/Twin Occupancy: €150 per room. To avail of these rates use the code: IMC2024. 

Dinn RÍ Hotel 3*, approx. €90 per night, 350 m from centre (note this hotel operates a nightclub on selected week nights)