Venue & Travel

The RDS is situated in the Heart of Dublin in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. It is located on a 42-acre site between The Four Seasons Hotel and Herbert Park on Merrion Road.

For further travel information, visit AA Route Planner Ireland.

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By Bus

The RDS is serviced by bus routes number 7, 5 and 45, which stop outside the Main Hall Entrance to the RDS on Merrion Road. These bus services can be availed of on Nassau Street outside Trinity College.

By DART

The nearest DART train stations are either Lansdowne or Sandymount and each are approx. 10 minute walk to the RDS Main Hall. Trains travel south to these stations from Howth through the City Centre and north from Greystones through Dun Laoghaire.

By Car from City Centre

Outside Trinity College, take Nassau Street (N11) for about 150 metres then turn right following the signposts for the R118.
Follow the R118 (also locally known Mount Street – turns into Merrion Road) for approximately 2km. The RDS Showgrounds will be situated on the right hand side.

From Dublin Airport

Travel time: 45 Minutes

Distance: 16 Kilometres

Leave the Airport and follow the Way Out signs until you reach a signalled roundabout.
At the roundabout take the 2nd exit signposted Dublin to join Motorway M1
Airport Interchange. At roundabout take 2nd exit signposted Dublin
Junction3 (M50) Follow Signpost towards City Centre
Keep in right hand lane for Port Tunnel (Toll €3 to €12 depending on time)
Continue Straight ahead through 2 sets of lights past Point Depot
Go through the East Link Toll Bridge (car €1.70)
Junction 80 (Dublin Outer Orbital Route); At the roundabout take the third exit signposted N11, N81
Irishtown (Junction 81)
Turn right then and turn immediately left at the traffic signals into Londonbridge Road R111 (Signposted N11, N81)
Junction 51 (R815) at traffic signals turn left R815, signposted Ballsbridge.
Proceed through the next traffic lights and The RDS is situated on your right

Arriving by Ferry

Dublin has two ferry ports – Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire. Irish Ferries and Stena Line – are the 2 ferry lines that operate at these ports.

From Dublin Port (City Centre)

Dublin Port is on the north of the city approximately ten minutes drive from the RDS.

Follow the signs for the Port exit, all routes along Tolka Quay Road Junction with R131
Turn left at the traffic signals, taking R131 signposted City Centre
At the roundabout follow the sign posts to Dun Laoghaire via Toll Bridge and cross the River Liffey (East Link Toll Bridge Tollbooths – car charge €1.70)
Take Junction 80 (Dublin Outer Orbital Route)
At the roundabout take the 3rd exit signposted N11, N81
Take Irishtown (Junction 81)
Turn right then, at the traffic lights turn left into Londonbridge Road R111 signposted N11, N81
Take Junction 51 (R815)
At the traffic lights turn left onto R815 signposted Ballsbridge
Proceed through the next traffic lights, the RDS Showgrounds are situated on your right

From Dun Laoghaire Port (South Co. Dublin)

Dun Laoghaire Port, south of the city, is twenty minutes drive from the RDS.
For great travel deals on ferries contact shanice@nutttravel.com

Useful Numbers

Dublin Airport	+353 (0) 1 844 4900	www.dublin-airport.com
Aer Lingus	+353 (0) 1 886 8888	www.aerlingus.com
Aer Arann	+353 (0) 1 814 1058	info@aerarannexpress.com
Ryanair	+353 (0) 1 609 7800	www.ryanair.com
British Airways	+44 (0)129 357 837	www.britishairways.com
Bus Eireann (Dublin)	+353 (0) 1 836 6111	www.buseireann.ie
Irish Rail (Dublin)	+353 (0) 1 836 3333	www.irishrail.ie

Name	Proximity to RDS	Transport	Transit Time
Dublin Airport	25km	Taxi/Bus	40min
Heuston Train Station	6km	Taxi/Bus	15 min
Connolly Train Station	4km	Taxi/Bus/Dart	10min
Busarus Bus Station	4km	Taxi/Bus/Dart	10min
Dun Laoghaire	6km	Taxi/Bus/Dart	15min