Galway City – Dublin Road

By Air

If you’re flying to Ireland, choose the airport that best suits your travel plans. Each has direct connections to Galway by bus or taxi.

Shannon Airport

• Approx. 80 km via the M18
• +353 (0)61 712000
• www.shannonairport.ie
• Direct Bus: Expressway Route 51 (Cork → Galway via Limerick)

Ireland West Airport (Knock)

• Approx. 98 km via the N17
• +353 (0)94 9368100
• www.irelandwestairport.com
• Direct Bus: Bus Éireann Expressway #64

Dublin Airport

• Approx. 210 km via the M6
• +353 (0)1 814 1111
• www.dublinairport.com
• Direct Bus: CITYLINK

By Sea

Ferries from Britain and continental Europe arrive at:

• Dublin Port
• Dún Laoghaire Harbour
• Rosslare Harbour

Useful websites:

• www.directferries.ie
• www.stenaline.ie
• www.irishferries.com

By Road – Car

Approximate driving times to Galway:

• Dublin: 2.5 hours
• Athlone: 1 hour
• Limerick: 1 hour 10 minutes
  (Traffic and time of day may affect travel time)

By Road – Bus

Several bus companies operate daily services to and from Galway. The campus is a 10-minute city bus ride from the main Galway Bus Station. Many buses stop directly outside the Dublin Road campus.

Major Bus Operators

A Parking Management system is in operation on ATU Galway City Dublin Rd campus. 

Eircodes

The car park map for Galway below shows the zoned areas:

• Student parking in the Green Zone (student permit required)
• Shared staff and student parking in the Orange Zone (staff or student permit required)
• Pay & Display in the Blue Zone (available to everyone)
• Visitor parking in the Pink Zone (invited guests only – see below)

Downloadable Parking Map

Image description: Aerial map of ATU Galway City (Dublin Road) campus showing designated parking areas and entrances. Student parking is marked in green on the left around a sports field with 547 total spaces. Staff parking zones are highlighted in yellow near the main buildings. Pay & Display parking is shown in blue near the southern entrance. Entrances are labelled as ATU Northern Entrance, ATU Southern Entrance, and ATU “Galwegians” Entrance. Red outlines indicate restricted and service areas. Roads and surrounding residential areas are visible around the campus.

Loading Bay spaces are located within the service road area. Only vehicles with agreed deliveries and a valid loading bay permit issued by Building and Estates are to use these spaces.

Parking is also available at Galwegians Rugby Stadium Permit and Pay by Phone parking available

Invited Guests

Invited guests can use spaces in the Pink Zone, provided this has been pre-arranged with a ATU staff member and that reception staff have been advised using the visitor parking email address (visitorparking.galwaymayo@atu.ie). 

On arrival, visitors may use the call intercom and the barrier will be raised for entry.  For out of office hours an entry code can be arranged.  On entry to this area, only park in designated parking spaces.

If this area is full, the ATU recipient of visit can provide a code to allow issue a Day Permit which entitles the user to park in Galwegians. Otherwise, invited guests may use the Pay and Display spaces – the charge for this is €1.50 per hour.

Disability Parking

Disabled parking spaces are located close to the main entrances of the ATU campus. Users must display the EU Blue Badge. All regular disability users will be required to purchase an ATU parking permit for all spaces when available

Drivers unable to find a space within universally parking accessible bays may park in other available designated spaces, including Pay and Display, without display of a ticket. A valid “blue badge” must be displayed in this instance. Driver using these spaces displaying a Blue/Disability badge may park such that they are occupying more than one car parking space if disability requires.

A small number of pay and display spaces are reserved for visitors to the campus.

Visitors

Visitors on a business or courtesy visit can use the Pay & Display spaces. Charge is Euro 1.50 per hour. Pay by phone facility also available. All day parking is available at Galwegians for a day rate of two euros. Use of this facility is through Pay by Phone.  Where invited visitors may be allowed to park in directorate area car park, arrangements for this to be made with person visiting.  (note;  where available ATU staff,  even when visiting from other campus, should not use visitor parking.

Group or School Visits/Open Days

Event managers are required to give prior notification of at least 5 working days to carparking.galwaymayo@atu.ie. Event managers are expected to promote Public Transport and the use of parking at Galwegians

Clamping

Vehicles not having applied for the appropriate permit for the designated parking space are liable to be clamped.

Cars parked inconsiderately may be clamped at all times (including when permits not available)  Inconsiderate parking includes parking on grassed areas (including Galwegians)  and along roadways)

Parking to grassed areas or non-designated parking areas may be clamped at any time.

The release fee for clamped vehicles is €50. An additional call-out fee of €30 is charged after 8pm.

ATU is assisted with the clamping of inconsiderately parked cars – Clamping is carried out by a wholly independent company.

Clamped vehicle owners have the right to appeal. 

A permit system is in operation in the Galway City campus on the old Dublin Road (including Galwegians) and Castlebar, with a permit required between 08:30 – 18:00, Monday to Friday

Staff and students are required to apply for annual parking permits, these will be available from September onwards.

Student and staff permits are validated on campus after purchase for new applicants and can be arranged throughout the year. A permit costs €10 for students and €15 for staff, and can be amended during the academic year should applicants change vehicles or personal details. Validation is required to provide proof of being staff or student, this is automatic by use of ATU email address when setting up account,

The permit does not guarantee a parking space, but allows the bearer to park on campus if space is available.

Email will be sent to all with details of Permit Application Process.

Applicants will be required to provide proof of term time address, permits will not be issued for users with term time address within 1 km of campus.  Confirmation of distance required at time of application.

Validation is by visual verification and no capture of data provided is required. On application users confirm they are commuting distances greater than 1 km, start/end of week commuting not relevant. Type of information provided will be registered with application, change in circumstance to be informed, permit holders will be informed of cancelled permit if incorrect information given, no refund.

Permits are Electronic, this utilises an electronic permit using the car licence plate number. Each successful applicant will have their licence plate number logged to a database. No physical permit is issued, as your permit is virtual.

While a permit entitles the holder to park where space available, it does not guarantee the holder a parking space on any campus or at the overflow car park at Galwegians Rugby Stadium, or other campus areas.

Permits must also be obtained for parking at Galwegians.

Please note: 

• Parking Permits for 2025-2026 will be required, date for purchase will be informed in December 2025. Before commencement of sale, cars can be parked in permit car parks without previous purchase. Users are expected to park in correct zones
• Non Campus users using ATU car parks may have sanctions of warnings, clamp or Lift and Tow applied at anytime. Leaving campus and going elsewhere will be noted as being Non Campus Use
• If you park in a Pay & Display area the charge is €1.50 per hour.
• Electric Vehicle Charging is available in Pay and Display Area. Purchase of P&D ticket required at €1.50 per hour. Sign up to EV charging APP required, contact carparking.galwaymayo@atu.ie for details

Library 

The Dublin Road library is located on the first & second floor of the Learning Centre near the Café Foyer. The library includes: 

• Quiet Zones for individual quiet study spaces  
• Group Study Rooms & Pods – bookable by students in groups of two or more  
• Computer Workstations providing access to internet for research and study purposes only. 
• Training Rooms for group sessions  
• Careers Service (upstairs) 
• Maths Support Centre  

Study pods 

There are 6 study pods on campus. 1 in the Students’ Union, 2 behind Theatre 1000, and 3 outside the IT Centre. 

Student Enquiries  

• Reception Desk located near the Northern Entrance (Ballybane Rd) 
• Student Services Office located near Northern Entrance (Floor 1, Room 162) 

Student Social Spaces 

• Union Square provides seating areas, tables, and hangout spaces – located near the Canteen on the Northern part of campus. 
• Student Universe Café located off Union Square (Room 198). Provides a calm and inclusive area solely for student use including tables, chairs, puzzles, and games.  
• Café Foyer located on the Southern part of campus provides tables, chairs, café, and multi-purpose space.  
• Canteen located on the Northern part of campus 

Quiet & Sensory Spaces 

• Sensory Cubbie located outside Student Services Office (Room 162)  
• The Meditation Room is located near the Students Union for prayer & meditation sessions. 

IT Helpdesk 

Located on the lower ground floor IT Centre. 

Shop 

The Students’ Union shop is located near the Northern Entrance. Top up LEAP card and phone credit. Stationary needs, sweets & treats and daily newspapers. Materials for Science & Engineering courses and ATU-branded hoodies and t-shirts.  

ATM 

Located in the Canteen  

SU 

Students’ Union located near Northern Entrance (Floor 1, Room 185).  

Lockers 

Dublin Road has 682 lockers provided throughout campus. Students can rent them from the Students’ Union. Lockers cost €20 at the start of the year or €15 in semester 2 – €5 deposit will be refunded at the end of the year if all keys are returned. 

Microwaves/Kettles 

The SU Kitchen is located outside the Canteen and contains microwaves, fridge, sink and a hot water burko.

Sports 

ATU Galway hosts several sports facilities for GAA, rugby, soccer and athletics within and close to the Dublin Road campus.  A dedicated sports hall is available on campus with a high‑performance indoor sports gym that supports a wide range of sports‑related programmes. Astroturf pitches and a running track are available close by in Mervue Park – students can book these through the SU. In addition the GAA Pitch in front of the campus is free for students to use.  

ATU Galway City Catering Services
All Catering onsite is provided by ATU’s catering services.

The Food Zone is the main dining area on Campus providing fresh and when possible, locally sourced food for breakfast, lunch and evening meals.

There are two Barista style Cafes – The Barista & The Grumpy Mule.

The Grumpy Mule is located in the cafe foyer at the Dublin Road main entrance.

The Food Zone
The Food Zone is located in Block B.

The Food Zone includes a self-service cooked breakfast offering, a healthy fruit & granola bar, homemade scone variety, fresh baked pastries and muffins, freshly made to order sandwiches, wraps and paninis filled with a choice of hot or cold fillings, Homemade Gluten Free Soup, an extensive salad bar, sandwiches, a range of coffees/teas, minerals, confectionery and desserts, fresh fruit.

Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday:  8.30am -7.30pm 
Friday: 8.30am – 4.00pm

Find the Foodzone on Mazemaps
Find the Grumpy Mule on Mazemaps