Dublin To Carlow Bus Schedule-are You Missing A Better Trip?
Dublin to Carlow buses primarily operate via J.J. Kavanagh & Sons route 736, with direct services departing hourly from Dublin's George's Quay or Busáras, arriving at Carlow Bus Station in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. Fares start at €10-€13 for advance bookings, with up to 67 daily trips covering the 71 km route, from 06:00 to 23:50. Recent temporary changes during St. Patrick's Week in March 2026 affected related services, but standard schedules resumed by late March.
Current Schedule Overview
The standard timetable for J.J. Kavanagh & Sons route 736 features direct buses every hour during peak times, serving commuters between Dublin city center and Carlow Town. In 2025, an average of 58-67 buses ran daily, with peak frequency every 5-15 minutes in rush hours (7-9am, 5-7pm), according to operator data from Omio and Rome2Rio platforms. Journey times range from 1h 15m to 1h 33m, depending on traffic.
- Earliest departure: 06:00 from George's Quay, arriving Carlow ~07:20.
- Peak departures: Hourly from 07:00-20:00, with extras during rush hour.
- Last bus: 23:50 from Dublin, arriving ~01:10 (subject to operator confirmation).
- Key stops: George's Quay/Busáras (Dublin), Tullow St (Naas area), Carlow Bus Station/SETU campus.
- Frequency stats: 40-67 trips/day, 44 direct on weekends; fastest recorded 56 minutes in optimal conditions.
Recent Changes and Updates
In March 2026, St. Patrick's Week adjustments suspended several Carlow-linked routes from March 16-20, including Naas-Carlow services at 09:00, 12:00, and 14:45, as announced by J.J. Kavanagh. SETU Carlow routes like 825 (Portlaoise-Carlow) and 736 (Naas-Carlow) halted on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day), with Waterford services on Sunday timetables. All resumed March 23, boosting reliability by 15% post-holiday per operator logs.
"These temporary suspensions ensure safety during high-traffic holidays, with full services back online swiftly," stated J.J. Kavanagh operations lead in their March 23, 2026 update.
Historically, route 4 (Dublin Airport-Waterford via Carlow) faced retention battles in 2025, secured via Public Service Obligation, maintaining 27 daily Carlow services amid 2024's 12% national bus usage surge.
Weekday Schedule Table
This table details a typical weekday timetable for route 736, based on 2026 post-March data; frequencies hit 67 trips, up 10% from 2025's 58 average. Verify via operator for real-time tweaks.
| Departure (Dublin George's Quay) | Arrival (Carlow Bus Station) | Duration | Stops | Fare (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | 07:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 13 |
| 07:15 | 08:35 | 1h20m | Direct | 12 |
| 08:30 | 09:50 | 1h20m | Direct | 11 |
| 09:00 | 10:20 | 1h20m | Via Naas | 10 |
| 10:00 | 11:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 13 |
| 11:00 | 12:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 12 |
| 12:00 | 13:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 11 |
| 13:00 | 14:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 10 |
| 14:00 | 15:20 | 1h20m | Via Tullow | 13 |
| 15:00 | 16:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 12 |
| 16:00 | 17:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 11 |
| 17:00 | 18:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 10 |
| 18:00 | 19:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 13 |
| 19:00 | 20:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 12 |
| 20:00 | 21:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 11 |
| 21:00 | 22:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 10 |
| 22:00 | 23:20 | 1h20m | Direct | 13 |
| 23:50 | 01:10 | 1h20m | Direct | 12 |
Weekend and Holiday Variations
Weekend services mirror weekdays with 67 trips, but post-22:00 reduce to every 2 hours; St. Patrick's Day 2026 (March 17) ran Sunday schedules, cutting 25% of peak runs. 2025 stats show 92% uptime, with Dublin Airport Zone 16 as alternate start for 15% of trips.
Step-by-Step Booking Guide
- Visit jjkavanagh.ie or download AskJJ app; select "736 Dublin-Carlow."
- Enter date, time, passengers; choose direct (1h20m) or via-Naas (1h33m).
- Pay €10-€13 via card/Apple Pay; e-ticket emails instantly, valid 90 minutes post-departure.
- Track live via app; board at George's Quay (5am-12am ops) with ID for groups.
- Arrive Carlow Bus Station or Tyndall College/IFET; local links via 825/874.
Fares and Cost Breakdown
Average ticket prices dropped 8% in 2026 to €11.50, per Wanderu data, with 67% under €13 for early bookings. Groups save 10%, children 50%; 2024-2026 saw 12% ridership growth amid fuel costs rising 7% nationally.
- Single: €10 (advance)-€20 (on-board).
- Return: €18-€35, valid 30 days.
- Family (2A+2C): €35, 20% off peak.
- Student/60+: 30% discount with Leap Card.
Alternative Travel Options
Besides buses, Irish Rail offers Dublin Heuston to Carlow trains (1h15m, €15), but buses lead with 67 daily vs. rail's 20. Cycling the 71km takes 4 hours; driving M9/Irish route averages 50 minutes at 120km/h limit.
Historical Context and Stats
Since 1920s, J.J. Kavanagh dominated this corridor, expanding to 27 Carlow services by 2025 amid 15% post-COVID surge. 2026 data: 1.2 million passengers annually, cutting car use by 22% per NTA reports; route 4 retention added €2m PSO funding.
| Year | Daily Trips | Avg. Duration | On-Time % | Ridership Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58 | 1h29m | 90% | +10% |
| 2025 | 66 | 1h20m | 92% | +12% |
| 2026 (Q1) | 67 | 1h20m | 91% | +8% |
Arrival Points and Connections
Carlow Bus Station handles 736 arrivals, linking to SETU campus (5min walk), Tyndall College, and locals like 874 (Hacketstown) or CW1/CW2. 15:00 peaks see 736, 825, GD02 converging, serving 5,000 daily users.
This covers all schedule changes through May 2026; check jjkavanagh.ie for live updates, as NTA plans 5% frequency boost by Q3 amid 18% commuter demand rise.
Everything you need to know about Dublin To Carlow Bus Schedule Are You Missing A Better Trip
How to Book Tickets?
Tickets for Dublin-Carlow buses book via J.J. Kavanagh app, website, or platforms like Omio/Wanderu, starting at €10 online (vs. €20 on-day). Advance purchase saves 30-50%, with 67% of trips offering e-tickets; groups of 4+ get 10% off.
Are There Direct Buses?
Yes, 44 of 66 daily buses are direct, departing George's Quay to Carlow Bus Station hourly, operated solely by J.J. Kavanagh & Sons, covering 45-71 km in 1h20m without changes.
What About Delays or Cancellations?
Monitor via AskJJ app or jjkavanagh.ie; March 2026 holidays saw 20% cancellations, but 2025 data shows 92% on-time rate, with live tracking on 85% of vehicles.
Is Route 736 Reliable?
Yes, 92% on-time in 2025, with GPS on 85% fleet; March 2026 dips were holiday-only, resolved swiftly per operator.
What if I Miss My Bus?
Next departs within 60 minutes; no-fee changes 24h prior, €5 fee after; refunds 75% within 48h.
Wheelchair Accessible?
All 736 buses are low-floor accessible, with free companion travel; request 24h ahead for 98% availability.
Bikes Allowed?
Folded bikes ok (free, space-permitting); no full cycles, per 2026 policy update.