Directions

(For interactive Google Map click here and then on Location: note link is external to this site). Written directions and illustrations below.

 

 

The N8 has been replaced in parts by the M8, i.e. a motorway now exists from a few miles north of Cashel to Fermoy. The section north of Cashel is gradually being extended towards Portlaoise. Some maps may show the old designation of N8: in the above map N8 and M8 refer to the same road- the new motorway. The section between Cahir -New Inn-Cashel (the old N8) is now designated R639, though some maps may show the New Inn-Cashel section as R687.

From the South travelling on the M8, take the Cahir exit (Exit 10) and follow the signs for New Inn - R639. (Note: on exiting the M8 at Cahir there are three roundabouts to negotiate: at the third and final roundabout the sign for New Inn-R639 (white background) is partly obscured by the green sign for Tipperary and Cahir). One mile/1.6km beyond New Inn, Rockwell College is located on the left. .

From the North travelling on the M8, take the New Inn exit (Exit 9) . It is roughly 3 miles/4.8km to the college. In daylight hours Rockwell is visible from the time one reaches Racecourse Cross (signposted for Rosegreen to the Left and Golden to the Right). It is a little over a mile/1.6 km from Racecourse Cross to Rockwell. The college is on the right hand side of the road.

From the East and via Clonmel, take the N24 west towards Cahir, and after approximately 3 miles/ 4.8 km turn right onto the R687 for New Inn. Entering New Inn, take care turning right across the R639 and drive one mile to find the college on your left. Note: if the R687 is closed or road conditions are poor, continue to Cahir and follow the signs for New Inn. N.B. If you do continue on to Cahir there is no need to enter Cahir itself: two miles/3km before you reach Cahir there is a new roundabout; left will bring you into Cahir; straight on (sign posted for N8 and M8) brings you onto a dual-carriageway which leads to the M8-Cahir-Tipperary Town-New Inn interchange. The New Inn- R639 is clearly indicated.

From the West and via Tipperary Town, take the N74 to Kilfeacle and Golden. On crossing the bridge over the river Suir in Golden drive for 70 metres and turn right for New Inn. (The most direct route is to continue to New Inn, but it is quicker to turn left towards Rosegreen (junction is reached after travelling roughly 3 miles/4.8 km from Golden); the road to Rosegreen leads up to Racecourse Cross, where, taking care, you turn right onto the old N8, now R639-and proceed a little over a mile/ 1.6 km to Rockwell College on your right.) If you follow the longer, but more direct route to New Inn, turn left on reaching a cross-roads with a mini-roundabout, the R639; it is one mile/1.6 km to the college, on your left.

If the road between Golden and New Inn is closed, continue on to Cashel. On reaching Cashel turn right and follow the signs for New Inn (initially you follow the signs for Cork, but signs for New Inn appear shortly) . In icy conditions one should consider travelling via Cahir (Caher or Cathair Dun Iascaigh on some maps). On exiting Tipperary Town (as yet there is no bypass) the road to Cahir N24 (via Bansha) is located at the same mini-roundabout where the N74 leads to Kilfeacle and Golden. The N24 to Cahir brings you, via Bansha, to a roundabout just outside Cahir: it is easily recognised because approaching it you see overhead the fly-over of the new M8 motorway. Turn left at the roundabout and continue a little over a mile /1.5 km to a series of roundabouts (the interchange for the M8 and the N24 coming west from Waterford) where the New Inn R639 is clearly indicated to the right.

From Dublin Airport

The exit from the airport grounds is marked by a roundabout with a stone column. The red line above indicates your general direction. Essentially, follow the directions for the M50 South. Once on the M50 South, continue on to Interchange 9.

 

Here you leave the M50 and take the N7; you are heading south on the Naas Road. The road signs you follow at this stage also indicate Limerick. Once on the N7 it is straight driving on a dual carriageway all the way to the motorway-M7- that ends at the Portlaoise/Cork exit (Exit 17), a journey of 50 miles/80 km. Take the Cork exit, and, following the signs for Cork, turn left at the roundabout at the top of the ramp onto the N8. Please note that you are now on a two-way, i.e. contraflow, system. It is a straight run now to the Cashel motorway stretch-M8, another 50 miles/80 km, which is described above under From the North.

A colleague has pointed out to me that once you are on the M50 heading south you only have to think of three figures to get to Rockwell: 9 (interchange 9 for Naas Road and N7 South), 17 (Exit 17 on M7) and 9 (Exit 9 on M8).

You are obliged to pay the toll charge by 8 p.m. the following day, either online at www.eflow.ie or use call centre LoCall 1890 50 10 50 or through Payzone branded outlets nationwide.

From Cork Airport

Exit Cork Airport and turn left onto N27. Drive straight on to Kinsale Road Roundabout. You are turning right, so the rightmost lane is best. Note that the N25 (marked in red above at Kinsale Road Roundabout) coming from your left now forms a fly-over for traffic on that road. You pass under that flyover and follow the roundabout below to the right. Your exit is up a ramp which climbs up to and merges with the flyover traffic. You are now on the N25 heading east; this is also sign-posted as "South Ring East". Keep on the N25 all the way to the "Jack Lynch Tunnel".

The Tunnel has two lanes; the left lane is best as it lines you up nicely for Dunkettle Roundabout, beyond which is the N8. You are going straight ahead, taking the 2nd Exit (the first would bring you onto Lower Glanmire and into Cork); the 2nd Exit is signposted for Dublin. You are now on the N8; it is a straight run all the way to the M8 motorway and the Cahir Exit, where you follow the signs for New Inn . See From the South above. Journey time of roughly one hour-60 miles/96 km.

From Shannon Airport

Turn left on exiting Shannon Airport and follow the N19 to its end. At the roundabout turn right onto the N18: follow the N18 all the way to Limerick. Approaching Limerick keep to the left lane as you enter Coonagh roundabout: the N18 forks right, but you want to go straight ahead onto the N7.

Shortly after this there is a bus lane on the extreme left which you cannot enter until you need to turn left. Stay close to this lane and watch out for a cross-roads with traffic lights( first traffic-lights and 1 km after Coonagh roundabout ). This is a left turn onto the N7. Follow the N7 across Limerick. En route you will pass Thomond Rugby Ground, cross the Shannon at John's Castle and cross one last bridge that brings you to a mini-roundabout, where you turn left; you are still on the N7.

You are now on Clare Street, following the N7 to Parkway Roundabout, where you leave the N7 and turn right onto N21 on Childers Road. The approach to Parkway Roundabout is single line traffic, but as you near the roundabout three lanes materialise; take the extreme right lane.

Follow Childers Road all the way to Tipperary Roundabout (1 mile/ 1.6 km) where you turn left onto the N24. The N24 will bring you all the way to Tipperary Town. There is no by-pass, so follow the main road through the town and at the mini roundabout at the end of the town follow the directions under From the West above.

From Waterford Airport

Exiting the Airport, turn left onto the R708 and drive to the Airport Roundabout. The new outer ring road is in operation; it now links with a newbridge over the river Suir (proposed route above in red) and with the N24 (turn left onto N24 after crossing new (toll) bridge. At this time the approach roads to the new bridge lack signs for Limerick and Clonmel, but the bridge is visible. However, I suggest taking the Kilmeaden route, described below.

N.B. It is possible to avoid Waterford City and the new toll bridge by using the Kilmeaden route, which involves secondary roads but is faster. This is described below.

On exiting Waterford airport turn left onto R708. At the roundabout turn left onto the Outer Ring Road and proceed all the way through several roundabouts to the N25, i.e. the main road between Waterford and Cork. Turn left onto N25. The turn off for the R680 is reached after roughly seven miles. It is easily spotted as it is on the right a short distance (200 metres) after passing through the village of Kilmeaden Follow the R680 to Fiddown bridge (about 3 miles before Carrick-0n Suir). Ignore Carrick and turn right onto Fiddown bridge. Once across the bridge, turn left onto the N24. This will bring you to Clonmel (Clonmel may not be indicated on signposts but Limerick will be) , where you follow the By-Pass the entire way round Clonmel to the Cahir Road Roundabout and take the N24 towards Cahir (See From the East above). Note: the BY-Pass is the N24: at the final roundabout approaching Clonmel -there is a sculpture of flowers in the centre of the (Moangarriff) roundabout to mark it - the second exit leads onto the By-Pass, the first exit (straight ahead) leads into Clonmel. The right lane approaching the roundabout is best.

If the bridge at Fiddown is closed (an extremely rare occurrence) drive straight on to Carrick-on-Suir, turn right and follow the signs for the N24 and Clonmel and/or Limerick.