The Below Questions relate to our Rossaveel Departures.

Please see the FAQs for our new Galway City Route HERE.

Where does the ferry from Rossaveel depart from?

Our ferries sail year-round to the Aran Islands from Rossaveel Ferry Terminal in Connemara, Galway. The ferry terminal is 37 kilometres west of Galway City centre. Please see a map of our ferry terminal here.

 

Is there parking available at Rossaveel Harbour?

Parking is available at the pier at a cost of €7 for 24 hours. It is not necessary or possible to pre-book parking as there is ample parking available. A second carpark opens during the high season, or at times when there is additional demand.

 

Can I take my car to the island?

There are no car ferries operating to the islands. Ferries to the Aran Islands are for foot passengers only. There is another company operating a cargo boat from Galway Docks three days a week. Contact 'Lasta Mara Teo' on 091 562900.

 

What time should I present for boarding?

If you are taking the shuttle bus you should present for boarding at least 90 minutes prior to the ferry departure time. If you are driving to the port we recommend that you present for boarding 45 minutes prior to departure.

 

Are dogs allowed on the ferry?

We do allow dogs on the ferry but they must be on a lead and remain on the outside deck at all times.

In addition, the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 places additional controls on the following specific breeds of dogs on board.

Dogs on the following list, or strains and crosses thereof, must be on a lead of no more than two metres long and be securely muzzled.

Controlled Breeds

 

Are dogs allowed on the shuttle bus?

The shuttle buses do not carry dogs unless they are guide dogs. We would kindly ask passengers travelling with guide dogs to contact us in advance should you wish to avail of the shuttle bus service, so we can ensure that you are comfortably accommodated.

 

Can I take my own bicycles on the ferry?

We have limited space for bicycles on the ferry so we recommend that you pre-book the space with us when booking your ferry ticket. The cost for a return transfer of a standard manual bike is €15.00 (€8.00 one way). We do not carry any Electric/Motorised Bike, or bikes that weight over 15kg. Passengers carrying bikes must sign a waiver when making their reservation for bike transfer. Please note that bicycles can also be rented on Inis Mór with Aran Bike Hire at a cost of €20pp per day.

 

Are bicycles allowed on the shuttle bus?

Unfortunately, the shuttle buses are unable to carry bicycles.

 

Where can I find a map of the Aran Islands?

Maps of all three of the Aran Islands are available on our website to download here.

 

Can I visit all three islands in one day?

Sadly, it is not possible to visit all three islands in one day. It takes a least 2-3 hours to even have a cursory visit of any of the islands, so one day would be too short to visit all three. We recommend doing a little research on each of the islands from our website and choosing one to explore extensively at your leisure. You can always come back to visit the others!

 

Do I need to print my ticket?

If you have purchased your ticket(s) online, you will receive a booking confirmation. As we are transitioning from paper to e-tickets please follow the instructions on your booking confirmation email, as they vary for the different services, and are continuously being updated during this transitionary period.

 

What happens if the ferry is cancelled due to bad weather conditions?

In such cases, we will happily change your ticket to travel on another day or issue a full refund.

 

What should I bring with me?

We recommend bringing a camera, comfortable shoes, a good rain jacket, sun screen (it’s Ireland but you never know!) and a little cash. Some businesses on the island do not accept card or have a minimum-spend policy in place.

 

Do any ferries depart from Galway City?

Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Galway City to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór. Our ferries depart from directly from Galway City seasonally and and sail to Inis Mór and the Cliffs of Moher from March to Sept. Please refer to our Galway City departures page here.

 

Can I buy my tickets at the pier/boat?

We strongly recommend that you pre-book your tickets, especially from April to October. Our ferries are regularly booked out. Depending on our pre-booking figures we can organise additional timetabled ferry crossings and have extra crew available however this is not possible if people just show up on the day of travel.

 

Where can I find more information on what do on the Aran Islands?

There are many attractions on each island to explore. Please refer to our information pages for Inis Mór (Inishmore), Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) and Inis Oírr (Inisheer).

 

Wheelchair Access

We operate from floating pontoons at Rossaveel and a solid pier on each of the three islands. As a result, passengers may have to disembark from a different deck from that which they embarked.

This means that we are not always able to carry wheelchair passengers depending on the tides at the time of travel.

Please contact us in advance of travel on 091-568903 or email us at info@aranislandferries.com so that we can assess the tides and advise you accordingly.

 

Where can I stay on the Aran Islands or Galway city?

Please refer to the following pages for a list of accommodation on Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr. Our links page displays a list of Hotels/Hostels in Galway and transport you can avail of around the country.

 

What is your refund policy?

We offer a flexible refund policy which can be found here.