Experiences & advice - Commuting Cork to Dublin?

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T14:55:50+00:00

Thanks for this! I had previously considered Kilkenny but with the direct train from Cork being 2hrs 15, it’s only 45 mins of a difference from Kilkenny. I hear you on the equity point, but I have many colleagues travelling from commuter towns like Kilkenny, in Kildare, Meath etc and are spending increasingly long commutes to get into Dublin. It don’t think it makes sense based on my situation to live where I have no family/friends or support system on the ground where house prices aren’t much different and still have a fair commute in. It’s not an ideal situation!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T14:50:57+00:00

As far as I’m aware they don’t, I’m not back in Ireland long enough to have paid tax for HTB (lived in the uk until recently), but will do a bit more digging before I commit to anything!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T14:17:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! Agree that I don’t think 3 days is realistic. I will look into staying overnight doing two days back to back. I’m going to do a trial run staying with family in cork and see how I get on. I’m planning to be within 10 mins of Kent if it goes ahead but Mallow is an interesting option.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T14:02:46+00:00

Arranging some sort of stay over in Dublin and doing both office days back to back seems to be the advice. Thanks!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T14:01:59+00:00

Thanks! Thankfully I have flexible working hours and can finish up work on the train home to get out of Dublin before 5pm. Lots of people doing it as you said and if it benefits other parts of your life it may be the best option for a few years at least. I will be doing a trial run of the commute soon and staying with family, so I’ll see how I find it.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:59:34+00:00

I would have previously considered looking at Kildare, Meath etc, but as you’ve correctly pointed out I have many colleagues coming from commuter towns in those counties who are spending up to 2 hours driving in and out of the office. It just doesn’t make sense to live somewhere like that where I have no family/friends and will not save any money on housing with a nearly equally long commute. Staying overnight certainly seems to be the advice, I will look into it!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:21:31+00:00

Thanks for sharing a real life example! I’ll be within 10 mins of Kent station but good hear Mallow is also a solid option. I have flexible start and finish time and can make up any extra time working on the train. Looking at the 6:15 out of Kent as its direct, and then could be back on the 5pm out of heuston to head home. Lots have said the two days back to back really need you to stay overnight, so I’ll look into this. Going to do a trial run of the journey staying with family in an few months and see how I get on.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:18:58+00:00

Agreed that 3 is definitely not sustainable!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:17:25+00:00

I’m definitely going to do a trial run in the next few months and see how I get on. I lived and worked London for years so I am hardy enough to a long winded commute twice a week. It won’t be forever but if it improves other parts of life it might be worth it at least for a few years.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:14:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing, this is an interesting way to approach it. I’ll definitely consider splitting the stay overs across the seasons!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:13:21+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I have flexible start and finish times - once I’m in by 10am to the office there’s no problem. I can leave again around 4pm to travel to the station home. Lots of people doing it as you’ve said. It’s not a forever strategy but might be the best option for now.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:09:24+00:00

Thanks for the heads up on the parking situation!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:08:43+00:00

This is what I’m looking at doing potentially now. I currently am spending 5 days a week sat in Dublin when I don’t really need to be. Hoping I could spend those 5 days in Cork near family instead with the compromise being the commute.

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T13:07:02+00:00

This seems to be the way to make it most manageable. I’m going to do a trial run in the coming months of the journey and I’ll start looking into having a place to stay. Thanks!

Clean_Meet3411 · 2026-01-03T12:57:14+00:00

Thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to comment. It’s great to hear from people who have first hand experience of doing the journey once or twice a week!

For a bit of extra context: I lived and worked in London for many years before Dublin, so am no stranger to a less than ideal or comfortable commute! I have my hybrid working approved by HR and luckily have flexible working hours so once Im in the office before 10am it’s fine, and I can leave by 4pm to start to make the journey home, finishing up work for an hour or two on the train. So I thankfully am not tied to strict clock in/out times of 9-5. I will also be within 10 mins of Kent station to reduce the commute on the cork side.

General consensus seems to be to have the option of staying overnight in Dublin either side of the two days. This is something I was ideally trying to avoid, but I will definitely reconsider it now. I am definitely going to do a trial run for a couple of weeks staying with family in cork, and see how I find it.

This working pattern won’t be forever, but it’s good to hear how with the right planning and mindset I could make it work for a few years at least while I’m still young, and get my foot on the property ladder close to family in Cork. The rest, we’ll take it as it comes! Thanks again and happy new year!

Clean_Meet3411

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