Carlow to Killarney, Best route?

[1997]

Hi, need to travel to Killarney early Fri afternoon from Carlow and was wondering if anyone could recommend what route would be best to take, through Kilkenny or Portlaoise, looked on aa route planner and theres about 10 mins between them but was wondering if anyone would recommend a the better route? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ollie323]

Take the R431 to Clonbrock which then becomes the R430 to Abbeyleix. Turn left onto the N8 and follow the signs to Killarney. Google maps is your friend!

 

[Yorrick]

The AA Routefinder recommends travelling south to Mitchelstown and on through Mallow. Mitchelstown to Malow is a poor road but on to Killarney then is not too bad as long as the Blackwater is not flooding

 

[Mpsox]

Personnaly, when we are going to Cork from Carlow, we go cross country to Abbeyleix via Spink and the Swan and then on from there, you'll have a motorway all the way from just outside Durrow to the Jack Lynch tunnel (toll bridge in Watergrasshill). Only issue is that given the weather, the Carlow Abbeyleix road may be seriously dodgy so may be best to head for Port Laoise. Personally I think you'll make better headway that way.

Alternative would be down to Waterford, Waterford bypass is open (toll bridge) but again, crap roads in Kilkenny and a lot of flooding down there.

Either way you can't win, at the minute, until the M9 is finished it's impossible to get out of Carlow without going on some bad road

 

[Eithneangela]

Would strongly advise maintaining a watch on the weather and the effect this has on the roads. You will be travelling through the bog of Ireland and at the moment, and with the weather forecast to continue as bad if not worse, you are very likely to come across flooding on the majority of your route. Good luck.