r/limerickcity • u/More-Worry-2717 • 2d ago
Cork to Limerick Road
I've recently accepted a masters in UL but live in Cork city area. From past posts, I'm gathering that the road is quite dodgy but am considering commuting each day. This is only for a year and though I don't have the timetable yet I know I'll be in class for at most four days of the week.
I am also waiting on getting my licence which means I'm considering public transport for at least the first three months or get accommodation until I pass.
What are people's experiences with the travel including the use of public transport and any advice for a student on a budget? Thanks
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u/MeaningForward5290 2d ago
I'd price the train and check if you can cycle either side maybe. Or else bus
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u/Samhain87 2d ago
The bus from Cork to Limerick is 2 hours. You then have to get a bus from the station to UL and that's about 20 mins depeneding when the bus leaves. You prepared to commute for 5 hours a day? Also you said that you don't have a licence. Cork to Limerick road is fairly dodgy for inexperienced drivers. If I was you I'd be looking at digs someplace.
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u/diapason10 2d ago
I would suggest getting the train if you can at all. It's €12 return with the student leap card. Takes in the region of 1hr 40 depending on the time. You have to briefly change at Limerick junction, but it's a far more comfortable journey and you could work/read on the train, instead of a drag of a journey on that road. Only downside is you'll have to get the bus out to UL, but there are plenty of them.
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u/TorpleFunder 2d ago
4 hours of commuting per day will be hell. Try and find accommodation if you can. I think your mental health is worth the extra cost of accommodation. I know I would be at risk of skipping lectures and dropping out if I had to commute that much daily.
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u/Feisty_Marsupial224 2d ago
Depends on the masters timetable. Realistically there would only be two or three days of class for half the year. Not financially worth renting
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u/Big-Work-2263 2d ago
My master's was 4-5 days a week, more with study allocations and trips etc. also in UL. It is very financially worth renting as opposed to driving or public transport due to the time spent, exhaustion you'll face, commute issues, social isolation from everyone on your course etc
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u/Feisty_Marsupial224 2d ago
Massive increase in students commuting, social activities have taken a hit. College life ain't what it used to be.
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u/Big-Work-2263 2d ago
I literally just completed my master's last year, community events are still very much happening and college life is different to what it used to be but that doesn't stop it being a social hub
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u/Feisty_Marsupial224 2d ago
Doesn't contradict anything I said. Let's give OP all the information.
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u/Big-Work-2263 2d ago
It kind of does directly contradict what you've said. No student who commutes says it's worth it financially or otherwise and they miss out on so many opportunities and things to do
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u/Feisty_Marsupial224 2d ago
Then why are the numbers of students commuting increasing?
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u/Illustrious_Pea_6455 2d ago
It's a big no no. It will cost you same or more in fuel and any tolls per week than digs. Plus you're gonna be exhausted and also miss out on any nights out or any bit of craic. Even parking up in ul is gonna be a pith some days.
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u/Automatic-Ask3466 2d ago
If you go via the N20 Mallow, Charleville etc you will question your life choices after a few days. The driving behaviour alone on the mad Mallow Road is appalling and lethal. Road crashes on the route are also statistically 4 times more likely to be fatal than all the other national primary roads. It’s statistically the 2nd most deadliest national road in the country.
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u/619C 1d ago
If you live near the tunnel in Cork then you can travel to Mitchelstown and then over to Limerick via Hospital etc.
Bad enough road but manageable.
It's a sad state of affairs and it shows how East Coast Centric Ireland is when the 2 largest cities in the Republic outside of Dublin are not joined by a Motorway.
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u/AscendedAO 2d ago
Cork to Limerick city will be about two hours driving, not sure on the bus itself.
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u/New-Objective5252 2d ago
You may be best getting digs mon-fri. That commute daily will be a slog and fuel costs will be high.
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u/ChefCobra 2d ago
I drove Mallow to Limerick for few years and it absolutely horrible. It's not just time, it's the road itself and the amount of absolutely donkeys on it that make it so bad. Make it from Cork to Limerick and it will grind you to the dust and will cost a fortune.
Mallow to Limerick you have no overtaking lanes. Road is very busy and if you are stuck behind 70km/h bellend, and one or two non overtakers, then you are pretty much stuck there all the way.
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u/FairDelivery769 2d ago
Use public transport if you can and then see if you can make friends with someone with a spare bed/sofa. There's the 304/304a/310 from the city centre to UL which run quite regularly unless its past midnight.
If you're going to be spending 2 hours travelling, you might as well be able to nap, read, scroll etc.
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u/Mein_Krafts 2d ago
It’s not the best, but not the worst. The biggest issue is there’s large sections of the road that don’t allow overtaking, and you can easily get stuck behind slow trucks and tractors. The worst section I find personally is between buttevant and charleville. Once you clear those heading in either direction it’s grand.
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u/No_Piccolo4431 1d ago
It's ok. I'm driving to youghal and charleville regularly and the youghsl road has had 7 deaths in a few years while the Limerick road hasn't had any AFAIK. Depends on what time you're travelling though.
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u/Honest-Bet-6828 2d ago
I drive from Glanmire region to UL every day for work, I avarage 1 hour and 22 minutes. You get used to it.
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u/OutRunTerminator 2d ago
Get accommodation quickly. Cork and Limerick are badly connected by road, bus and train.
The road is below standard ( way higher than average accidents and deaths) but the replacement road was blocked by the Greens in the last term.
I'd much prefer to be going from Limerick to Dublin everyday.
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u/hmmmmmmmbop 2d ago
Its a pain of a drive but its not awful, few bottlenecks along the way so use Google maps until you get used to it. Itd a road that you need to have your wits about you on, drive defensively....If using public transport- get the train