From Shannon Airport to Dublin
Take the Bus Eireann (which are like our Greyhound buses only in size. The Bus Eireann buses are much cleaner and more comfortable). They run Monday-Saturday 6 times per day, and on Sundays 4 times per day. The trip takes 4 1/2 hrs. Bus Eireann You must show your International Student I.D. card to get special prices. When you arrive at the Bus Eireann main terminal in Dublin, you will then need to either walk (another 20-30 minutes) to Trinity College or you can catch a taxi to Trinity College (**Lincoln Place gate at Trinity College, located at the south-east corner of the campus, is only open from 8am to midnight, 7 days a week). This method would be much cheaper than taking a taxi from Shannon Airport to Trinity College. It is imperative that you arrive on campus BEFORE midnight! Otherwise you will be locked out and will have to return the next morning! You might wish to go to Bus Eireann Student Info for free stuff, travel info, timetables, maps, etc..
From Dublin Airport
Once you come out of the Terminal, cross the street and look for the blue bus called "AIRCOACH". Purchase your "return (roundtrip)" ticket from the bus driver. The AirCoaches are air conditioned Luxury Coaches. Trinity College is the 2nd stop from the Airport coming into the City. There are a total of 14 stops on the way to the airport from the City. The round trip ("return") cost is about $14.00 per adult. Accompanied Children are FREE (under the age of 12 up to 2 children). Here is their web site Aircoach for more information.
The Aircoach bus runs every 15 minutes, from the Dublin Airport 24 hours a day every day, going to the City Centre and drops you off practically outside of Trinity College main entrance gate. They will put away your luggage for you inside the bus storage area and you collect it when you get off the bus. However, if you have many pieces of luggage, your might want to take a taxi from the airport for about $50-60+ straight to the Pearse St Gate East entrance and have the taxi drive you up to the Accommodations office.
. Aircoach departs from the City, 24 hours a day every day, back to the Airport every 15 minutes. Catch this same bus right next to the Irish Tourist Board that is located in the Old Church. Look for the sign for that bus right outside the Tourist Office walking up the street towards the Church, from the Molly Malone sculpture at the entrance to Grafton Street.
If you are staying at Trinity College and you do not have a lot of luggage, you can take the #16-A bus from the airport which will drop you off practically in front of Trinity College for about $4.00 each way.
If you are not staying at Trinity and you do not have a place to stay yet, after collecting your luggage, find the nearest Dublin Tourist booth. They will help you find a B & B for about an $8 reservation charge (plus you pay for the B & B).
Ferries
Stena-Sealink ferries arrive in Dun Laoghaire. The #46a bus will take you from Dun Laoghaire (pronounced - Dun Lear-ee) to Trinity College, (it's marked 'City Centre'). It will drop you off near the front gate.
B & I ferries dock at the mouth of the River Liffey; from there, buses 53 and 53A run by Alexandra Rd. and arrive near the Custom House (which is near the Bus Eireann main terminal), for about $7 and from there you can take a taxi to Trinity College, Pearse St gate entrance and have the driver drive you up to the Accommodations office or transfer to another bus.
Or the DART shuttles weary passengers to Connolly Station, Pearse Station (which is right behind Trinity College and about 1 1/2 block walk to the Pearse Street East entrance (back of Trinity College) then you would walk onto Trinity College campus towards the main entrance to the Accommodations office (about a 20-30 min walk) or a taxi can take you directly to Trinity College Accommodations office at the front of Trinity College) from City Centre for about $10. You should as the taxi to drive directly to the Accommodations office and drop you off. Remember to have your color map, that was provided to you in your acceptance package when you enrolled, handy, in case the taxi driver is not familiar with where the Trinity College Accommodations office is located.
Dublin Area Rapid Transportation (DART)
An electric light-rail train system serves coastal suburbs from Howth to Bray; fares about $4-$10. Buses and DART run 6am to 11:30pm. There is a DART station directly behind Trinity College. You can then walk up to the Accommodations office, but, with a lot of luggage, it is a long walk and will probably take you about 20-30 minutes to get there. Try and secure a taxi at the DART station and have them either drive you up to the Accommodations office through the Pearse St East entrance or drop you off at the main entrance (Dame Street) of Trinity College and then walk through the Arch and turn left immediately after you come out of the Arch and at the end of that walkway turn right and walk straight ahead to the Accommodations office. Remember, the Accommodations office is open from 8:30am to midnight only, 7 days a week. If you arrive after midnight, you will not be able to check-in and will have to find someplace to stay for the night and return in the morning.
NiteLink
NiteLink - services shuttle night owls back to the suburbs (Fri.-Sat. hourly, midnight-3am; no passes valid).
Among passes, choose between the One Day Travel Wide (about $8; Dublin buses only); the One Day Bus/Rail (about $10, valid on buses; DART, and rail service between Kilcoole, Balbriggan, and Maynooth), and the Four Day Explorer (about $15, 4 days; otherwise same as One Day Bus/Rail).
But since you will be there for 5-6 weeks, you should purchase a monthly bus pass from the regular city bus company, Dublin Bus (Bus Atha Cliath) office on upper O'Connell St, walking towards the Dublin Main Post Office, the Dublin Bus office is on the left hand side. This pass allows you unlimited travel within the city and some suburbs. This ticket will also allow you to take the #41, 41A or 41C bus to the airport when you leave. You will need to insert your pass into the scanner on the right side of the bus entrance as you get on. The face of the card should be up. Watch the readout message, at the top front of the scanner to make sure you have put your pass in correctly.
If you do not purchase a bus pass, remember that Dublin Bus (Bus Atha Cliath) fares can run as much as $7-$10 for a 1-way trip depending on where you are going, and that some buses require exact change. You must always keep your bus card with you in case Inspectors come on and want to see them. If you do not have it, you may be subject to a fine.
Remember: Pearse St East entrance at Trinity College is at the very back end of Trinity College. You will need to check-in at the Accommodations Office, which is at the very front entrance of the college. It is a very long walk to their office from the Pearse St East entrance. (It is not recommended that you walk from Pearse St East to the Accommodations office if you have any type of luggage that you cannot carry! (This is because most of the ground around Trinity College is "cobblestone" & not concrete.) Have the taxi drive you to the Accommodations Office for check-in, and then have them drive you to your dorm and help you with your luggage or ask Trinity College, if Trinity College's Shuttle is not available.