Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) to Galway, Westport and the west
Charlestown is 2.20 EUR from the terminal door, Westport 7.50 and Athlone 11.00, but the Derry Expressway is 15.50.
- Route 440 fares from the airport: Charlestown 2.20 EUR, Westport 7.50 EUR, Athlone 11.00 EUR.
- Expressway route 64 costs 15.50 EUR for an adult and 10.25 EUR for a child under 16, with a return at 31.00 EUR and 20.50 EUR, valid for a month.
- Tickets are bought from the driver.
- The bus stop is less than a minute from the terminal door, ramp and steps, so there is no shuttle to catch first.
- Two Bus Eireann routes serve the airport: Expressway 64 (Galway to Derry, via Tuam, Claremorris and Knock) and route 440 (Athlone to Westport, via Roscommon, Castlerea, Ballyhaunis and Claremorris).
- Departures are a few hours apart, not a few minutes. Check the timetable against your flight before you book anything at the far end.
- Galway is about 1 hour 30 minutes away, Westport about 1 hour 10.
- There is no railway station at the airport. Claremorris and Castlebar are the nearest stations, and both are reached by the same buses.
What the bus costs
| Journey | Adult | Child under 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Route 440 to Charlestown | 2.20 EUR | |
| Route 440 to Westport | 7.50 EUR | |
| Route 440 to Athlone | 11.00 EUR | |
| Expressway 64, single | 15.50 EUR | 10.25 EUR |
| Expressway 64, return | 31.00 EUR | 20.50 EUR |
- The gap between the two routes is the thing to notice. Route 440 is a regional bus with regional fares; Expressway 64 is a long distance coach and priced like one.
- The Expressway return is valid for a month, which suits a week's holiday.
- Tickets are bought from the driver.
What kind of airport this is
Ireland West Airport Knock sits in County Mayo, surrounded by countryside. It works well for Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Donegal, and it is not a city airport in any sense: the nearest towns are small and the transport runs to a rural timetable.
The buses
Two Bus Eireann services stop less than a minute's walk from the terminal, at a stop accessible by ramp and steps:
- Expressway route 64 runs Galway to Derry, calling at Tuam, Claremorris and Knock.
- Route 440 runs Athlone to Westport, calling at Roscommon, Castlerea, Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Castlebar and Westport.
Between them they cover most of the west, and the coaches have wifi, charging sockets and luggage space.
The frequency is the catch
- These are regional services running every few hours, not an airport shuttle.
- Galway is roughly 1 hour 30 minutes away and Westport about 1 hour 10, but the wait for the bus can be longer than the ride.
- Look up the actual departure that meets your flight before you commit to a hotel or a connection, and have a taxi number for the gap.
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