Getting to a wedding in Stranorlar

[ProseccoThyme]

A good friend is getting married in Stranorlar/Ballyboffet in November.

I've managed to find cheaply Ryanair flights (coming from Edinburgh) - but have no clue how to get there from Derry airport.

Is there reasonable public transport? Not keen to hire a car due to cost.

Any advice welcome!

[HoosierDaddy]

If you get from airport to bus depot in the city centre, you can get a bus to Donegal Town (think it is the Derry-Sligo route), which has a stop in Ballybofey. Derry to Ballybofey is approx an hour on bus. From airport into city, I am not sure if there is a bus service/shuttle, but a taxi would be available. I had a quick google, I think the bus route is number 480, with Bus Eireann (they leave from main Ulsterbus depot)

[HoosierDaddy]

Sorry, when I say "city" I mean bus depot in Derry city centre (it is on Foyle St)

[ProseccoThyme]

Thank you so much! I'm Scottish & have never been to her home town, so that's a huge help.

And it looks like we can avoid hiring a car too, which is best of all.

[HoosierDaddy]

No problem. Car hire might not be much dearer if you have to get taxis and bus fares (is it for 2 of you?) Also, check the bus times, they might not be great. Ballybofey/Stranorlar are literally beside each other - one town runs into the other. It's a nice area to visit.

[TakeAChanseyOnMe]

Have you priced car hire? I put in dates for a random 3 day weekend and it starts at £30/day if you’re over 30 years old. The N13 is a good road, you won’t be driving down any rural lanes.

[ProseccoThyme]

Thanks! Turns out a friend & her partner are on the same flights so we'll split the car hire between us.

[TakeAChanseyOnMe]

Great news! I can guess where the wedding is and I'm sure I've had lunch there many times when I was on holiday as a child. It's very nice. Warning - Irish weddings are even worse than Scottish weddings when it comes to length and alcohol! It'll also likely be 6 euros+ for a spirit + mix so you might want to have something hidden in you room...

[HoosierDaddy]

Oh good! The car between 4 sounds a lot handier.

[ProseccoThyme]

All booked! It didn't cost much extra to add the car. Looking forward to it!

There'll definitely be a cheeky wee bottle (or 2) of Prosecco in my room!

[HoosierDaddy]

If possible, stop at a supermarket/off licence before you cross the border- drink is cheaper in NI anyway, but with the current exchange rate you'd pay a lot for plonk in Donegal shops. If you don't get to stop, there is a Lidl in Ballybofey