Travel
Travel Note
International Guests - Recommendations
Welcome friends and family! We want your trip to be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. We highly encourage you to stay a few extra days to make the most of your time in Ireland if you’re able. Below, you'll find a few recommendations for travel and accommodations. If you'd like some help managing your arrangements, we highly recommend working with travel agent Brian Fitzgerald. Brian can handle all non-flight details for you - accommodation, transportation within Ireland, and organizing any activities while you're in the country. (Brian.Fitzgerald@special-ireland.com) Thank you for being part of our journey, and we can't wait to celebrate with you in September! -Carl & Hannah Air Travel & Transport: We recommend setting up an alert for flights in September 2025 - there can be good deals available through multiple airlines. In addition to Google Flights, we recommend using Going.com to watch for flights to Dublin - airline prices can change fluctuate but typically it’s advisable to book flights 3-5 months in advance for best deals and availability. For ease of travel, Dublin Airport (DUB) is about 51km (30 miles) from Louth and is the most convenient. While Ireland is small, it is car-centric and we recommend renting a car for your trip. Public transportation options in the area are limited. Having a car will make exploring the beautiful surroundings easier. The towns closest to the wedding venue are Dundalk and Drogheda. Dundalk is about an hour north of Dublin and 15 minutes from Bellingham Castle. Dundalk offers plenty of B&Bs, hotels and restaurants, and if you go closer to Blackrock, you'll find lovely views of the Irish Sea. A shuttle will run from the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk before and after the wedding. Drogheda is about 40 minutes north of Dublin and 20 minutes from Bellingham Castle. Drogheda has more limited options for accommodation but is closer to Dublin.
Rental Car
Dublin Airport - Car Rental
Hotel
Fairways Hotel Dundalk
We suggest staying at the Fairways, a lovely hotel in Dundalk, about 15 minutes from Bellingham Castle. Their bar and restaurant are excellent.
Hotel
The Gateway Hotel Dundalk
The Gateway is another excellent hotel in Dundalk.
Rental Car
Taxis, Cabs and Buses
Taxis can be found in most towns. The best source of information about taxis is at your hotel or B&B. The best place to get a taxi is at the airport, train and bus stations or at taxi ranks. Cabs (hackney) are a slightly different type of taxi. They usually do not have a sign on top and are not licensed to work from ranks or airports, train and bus stations. You usually have to call their office to order a cab. Taxis are metered. Cabs are usually not metered and the price is arranged beforehand. Again, your hotel or B&B will have all the information you need. There are also various taxi apps out there such as Free Now (https://www.free-now.com/ie/ride/), Uber (to a limited extent-https://www.uber.com/ie/en/), and Lynk Taxis (mostly Dublin and surrounding areas www.lynk.ie) Matthews Coach Hire offers daily bus rides between Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin: https://www.matthews.ie/
Shuttle
Shuttle from Dundalk to Bellingham
September 28, 2025 3:00 pm - 2:00 am
A shuttle bus to Bellingham Castle from the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk will be arranged for those needing transportation on and after the wedding day. More details will be provided closer to the date. Contact us if you wish to avail of the shuttle
Travel Note
UK Travel Authorization
Non-Irish citizens planning to visit Northern Ireland or any other part of the UK must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering. The application fee is £10. You do NOT need an ETA to visit the Republic of Ireland.