You can fly into Dublin or Shannon airports, both of which are approximately an hour and a half drive to Athlone. We recommend only flying into Shannon if you're planning to rent a car as transport by bus and train is more difficult than it is from Dublin.

CJ's Aunt Lisa put together a spreadsheet for those who might want to coordinate to share rides from the Dublin Airport to Athlone and from Athlone back to the airport. If you're interested, you can add your name or look for others with similar travel times here.

Car rentals require a valid drivers license. Rentals in Ireland also have mandatory, local insurance requirements. Insurance is paid for when you pick up the car in many cases and a "hold” will be placed on your card equal to the coverage amount you choose (Usually €5000 or more). And while many credit cards offer insurance coverage, most do not cover rentals in Ireland. Some rental companies like NewWay offer insurance as an included upfront cost. Read more about considerations when renting a car in Ireland here.

Bus transportation from Dublin airport to Athlone is available via AirCoach and takes about two hours with a one-way ticket costing $17 (check for times here!). Train transportation is also available from Dublin, though a bus or taxi connection is needed to get to the train station from the airport (view the connection path here).

For groups or those who want less hassle, a private driver may also be a good option - check options here.

Please note that day of wedding transportation will be provided while Thursday's welcome drinks will be within walking distance of Athlone hotels.

Reminder that you must have a valid passport to enter Ireland!