Your chauffeur will be in the arrivals hall holding a name card when you land. They track your flight electronically and time the pickup around your actual arrival, with a full hour of complimentary waiting time included - so a slow bag carousel or a passport queue won’t put you under pressure.
The journey from Dublin to Leitrim takes around two hours in a Mercedes Benz E220 Executive Class. It’s a roomy, quiet car that fits up to 3 passengers travelling with luggage comfortably. Both the vehicle and chauffeur are fully licensed and insured under the Irish Government Transport Authority, and all fees, taxes, and tolls are covered in the price.
Leitrim is Ireland’s least visited county, which is a big part of its appeal. You’re heading toward good walking country, glassy lakes, and the iron-blue upper Shannon - well away from the main tourist trail.
Leitrim is a county of two halves, separated by a narrow strip of land that’s only about 4km wide at its thinnest point. The northern part, around Manorhamilton and Rossinver, feels different from the southern lake district around Carrick-on-Shannon. Tell your driver which end of the county you’re heading to when you book, as the drop-off points are quite different routes from Dublin.
Carrick-on-Shannon is the most common entry point for visitors and the county town. It’s lively for its size, with good restaurants along the main street and a busy marina where you can hire narrow boats or river cruisers for exploring the Shannon-Erne Waterway. If you’re arriving in the evening, most accommodation in town is within easy walking distance of the restaurants.
Pack a waterproof layer regardless of the forecast. Leitrim sits in a wet corner of Connacht and the landscape earns its greenness. That said, when the light comes out between showers over Lough Allen, it’s genuinely worth the trip. The Cavan and Leitrim Way walking trail passes through the county and is well signposted if you’re keen to stretch your legs on arrival.
The road from Dublin via the M4 and N4 is the most direct route. It’s a straightforward drive with no particularly awkward sections, and your driver will know the route well. If you’re visiting in July or August and heading to the Leitrim Design House or the Glens Centre in Manorhamilton, it’s worth checking their event listings before you travel.