Overview
Irish Rail’s Dublin–Sligo InterCity trains leave from Dublin Connolly and finish at Sligo Mac Diarmada. Direct trips usually take a little over three hours, covering 216 km (134 miles). Use the route timetable to check times for your date and to look for planned engineering works.
Be honest with yourself about the view. For most of the midlands it is flat, green and unremarkable, and the scenery earns its keep twice: crossing the River Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon, and in the last stretch, when Benbulben’s flat top rises ahead of the train into Sligo.
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 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. Irish Rail publishes the full stop list and station accessibility information, and you should confirm your train serves the station you want before booking.
- 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. 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. From the station you can find onward connections to the town centre, Drumcliffe and the Lake Isle of Innisfree on Lough Gill; check current bus options before you travel.
Practical information
Timetables and booking
Use the Irish Rail route timetable and journey planner for departures and tickets for your date. Service patterns, including weekend and holiday timetables, vary, so check before you go.
Fares and passes
Compare fares for your exact journey through Irish Rail. Child, Young Adult, Student and Leap Card discounts differ by ticket type, so check the current conditions when booking.
Accessibility
If you need assistance or a wheelchair space, check the operator’s booking guidance before travelling. Availability and on-board facilities depend on the train and date, so confirm them with Irish Rail.
Travel tips
- Book early for busy periods: weekends and school holidays are likely to be busier, for seats and for accessibility spaces alike.
- Check for track works: engineering works can mean temporary bus replacements, so check the timetable page for planned works.
- 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.