Limerick Venue
The Limerick venue address is: Children’s Therapy Centre,
Stewart House, Lonsdale Road
National Technology Park
Castletroy
Limerick
It is a great location for getting out for lunch nearby and staying locally (check out Kilmurry Lodge nearby for low cost hotel accommodation, or the Castletroy Park Hotel for a bit more money and a touch of luxury!).
Ballymore Venue
The address is Slievenagorta, Ballymore, Co Westmeath. Ballymore is midway between Athlone and Mullingar and is about 7 miles from Moate. It is right in the centre of Ireland. The direct contact number is 087 6488149. The postcode is N91 CC65 – this is best bet for Sat Nav to bring you directly to the door.
I know that most students will travel by car but Ballymore is also accessible from just about everywhere by bus or train (e.g. the Sligo, Galway, Longford, or Mayo trains from Dublin all come to either Mullingar or Athlone. Lots of buses pass through Moate (and some come to Ballymore, but infrequently). There are some buses from Athlone to Ballymore – not very frequent so check times online. I recommend that students share transport when possible. If you want to share contact details for sharing transport and/or accommodation let me know.
Bus Eireann and Citylink both operate buses from Dublin Airport (and Dublin City Centre) to Moate, which is on the main Dublin to Galway route. There is usually a bus every hour or two. The express airport bus, and those not going into Dublin city first, are the fastest.
Directions to Ballymore village from N4 for people not going via Moate and who wish to bypass Mullingar
Take 3rd exit for Mullingar (and Castlepollard) on left of Dual Carriageway. This exit bypasses Mullingar and you just follow signs for Athlone – through roundabouts and right at final one. Take the left side at V in road (N392); this is signposted to Athlone and to Ballymore 20km. Ballymore is known as a village with ‘two ends and no middle’ so continue to the second section of the village, you will see Top Service Station (closed), and follow directions below.
Directions to Moate from Dublin
Take the M4 (main route from Dublin for Galway, Sligo and the West) at Liffey Valley and take Exit 11 after the toll plaza. This brings you on to the N6 for Galway. Remain on this until Exit 6 and follow signs for Moate.
Directions from Ballymore village:
In Ballymore turn down the road at the side of Cunningham’s Pub. This is just after the Top petrol station at the Athlone end of the village. This road leads from Ballymore to Moate and the signpost says Pitch and Putt. Carry on past The Pitch & Putt on the left (you may notice a large stone pillar), exactly 1 mile from village but easily missed, and take the first right immediately after it (This is actually the first right turn since leaving the village also). There is a bungalow on your left at this tiny junction (small crossroads – easily missed!). The Centre is ½ mile down this narrow cul de sac. It is the third building on the right-hand side. The house is painted white with grey trim and grey window frames and sills and with lots of space for parking open on to the road.
Directions from Moate:
At the Dublin end of Moate there is a signpost to Ballymore – 13 km (there is a ‘yellow box’ on the road at the junction). The turn is to your left if coming from Galway (just past garage on your right), right if coming from Dublin. Follow this road for about 10km. Less than 2 miles after a sharp bend to the left (sign says Ballymore 4km) you will come to a tiny crossroads that is easily missed as it is not signposted. (However there is a bungalow on the right, and a hydrant stone on the left, and you will know you have gone too far if you pass it and reach a large stone house and then the Pitch and Putt on your right.) At the tiny junction turn left down the narrow road. The Centre is ½ mile down this cul de sac. It is the third building on the right-hand side. The house is painted white with grey trim and grey window frames and sills and with lots of space for parking open on to the road.
Taxi from Moate:
Here are some taxi numbers for Moate area: Duffy’s 086 845 9373, Micky Mac 087 1359 466, Kieran Carroll 086 6000 666, and Ray O’Hara 087 227 2731
Accommodation:
There are loads of guest houses available in Athlone, Moate or Mullingar – all convenient to the training centre if you are driving. There is a B&B, with 3 rooms, on the Moate to Ballymore Road, Fairfield B&B, it is run by Louise Wynne and is highly recommended by students. Contact Louise at 087 6547686 or 09064 82866.
The Grand Hotel in Moate is very popular and reasonably priced. The Village B&B in nearby Mount Temple offers 2 fully equipped self-catering apartments for €50 – €55 per night, €250 per week. Pets welcome. Call Gael 0868257484, Email: thevillagebnb@gmail.com, www.thevillagebnb.com. Maura Hawkes (085 7137508) runs a luxury B&B called ‘Dun na si at The Lodge, Lake Road in Moate. Emal is info@dunnasithelodge.com
Janice Ransom, 56 St Anne’s Terrace, Athlone (approx 20 min drive to CTC) 087 6879782
This accommodation is in a family home in the heart of Athlone, 10 minutes walk from the town centre. There is full use of the house & garden including the kitchen – handy for those on special diets who need/like to prepare their own food. Breakfast is not included. Free high speed WIFI. Price used to be €20/€25 per night so probably still cheap. jransom@eircom.net 087 6879782
Helen Barrett runs Croí na hÉireann, (Hillquarter, Coosan Athlone) and has been recommended by previous students also. Her numbers are 090 6474999 and 086 0576957. Woodlands Farm Guesthouse in Streamstown has 6 rooms and also offers evenings meals. (Phone Mary Maxwell at 044-9226414) There is also a low cost hostel (summer) in Athlone (About €30 – €35), the Lough Ree Lodge (Phone 090 6476738. Website: www.athlonehostel.ie ) This has basic rooms (with en-suite and TV) and communal areas for cooking, playing pool etc. Best value of all if you come outside of college terms (i.e. summer) is any of the variety of student accommodation units in Athlone (check online): e.g. Wellmount Student Village offers rooms for very low rates. The number to call is 0906 491471, the main contact is John Tumulty. See www.croioige.com for details of more low cost student accommodation in Athlone, during June, July and August. It is located directly opposite the Athlone Institute of Technology on the Dublin Road in Athlone behind the Londis shop. Rent can be paid in cash or cheque. There is free parking available and all apartments are fully equipped and bed linen is provided. Sharon is the person to contact at 087-9184424 or croioige@gmail.com
There are a selection of self-catering houses and cottages to let around Moate and Horseleap that groups of students may be interested in sharing. The info is available on www.ireland.ie also. The three most convenient ones from that site are Julie Ann’s Cottage, St Martins, and Russagh Cottage. Although they refer to weekly bookings it is worth phoning and enquiring about renting for shorter periods if that is what you need. More self catering accommodation is available at Glasson Mews (near the golf course in Glasson); 3 bed houses for €125 + €6 electricity per night (may have changed rates!). Contact Fiona at 087 9106108. 3 bedroom chalets on the lakeshore are available from Owen Egan, Shannon Holidays, Portlick, Glasson (087 2265982) for €280 for 2 nights (2 double beds and 1 twin room plus futon) last time students stayed there. This includes the use of a boat! Coosan Cottage, Ireland’s 1st Eco Guesthouse (fully licenced), in Athlone comes highly recommended – contact Tom at 090 6473468/0868339116, info@ecoguesthouse.com, www.ecoguesthouse.com
Note: Prices above may be out of date!
Eating Out:
There is no restaurant in Ballymore, only a take-away. There are lots of restaurants in Mullingar and Athlone but best food is definitely in Athlone – wide range of restaurants. Grand Hotel, Old Shebeen, & Supermacs available in Moate.
