Best route for Limerick - Mullingar

cackhanded

So, as per thread title, have to drive to Mullingar and back next Sunday and just looking for advice on the best route. Seems I have 2 options:

1. M7 to Nenagh, then N52 to Borrisokane, Birr, Tullamore, Mullingar

2. M7 to Portlaoise, then N80 to Tullamore, N52 to Mullingar

Anybody travel up there regularly know which is the quicker / easier route?

sineadgalway

For what its worth I always go via route 1 but time wise I think there is very little in it. Depends on how much motorway driving you feel like doing...

ronanc15

I take option 1 when Im going to Mullingar

ninja_45

I would go route 1 but rather than turning off m7 at Nenagh, would keep going to Roscrea and turn off there heading for Birr. Not much different time wise but better road, Borrisokane to Birr not the best of roads.

Berty

I do this route once a week and option 1 is the only I'd use.

cackhanded

Thanks for the replies - N52 all the way it is so. How long does it take (leaving around 8am so shouldn't be much traffic)?

Berty

cackhanded wrote: »

Thanks for the replies - N52 all the way it is so. How long does it take (leaving around 8am so shouldn't be much traffic)?

2 hours at most.

Here's the route. It says 2 hours + but it has the speed limits wrong in some areas.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Limerick&daddr=Borrisokane+to:Birr+to:Tullamore+to:Mullingar&hl=en&sll=53.087426,-7.981567&sspn=0.884185,2.705383&geocode=FTGWIwMdq118_ykTUVQfYVxbSDEwczGXqccACg%3BFUWhKAMd3_qD_ynbe3fnxIxcSDFg4jGXqccACg%3BFeUwKgMdElCH_ykxlCdOKPhcSDHg4TGXqccACg%3BFTTlLAMdbKSN_ykJJrcOhqVdSDEAdTGXqccACg%3BFR65MAMddgiQ_ykh1xvKEcBdSDGAlDGXqccACg&oq=tullamore&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

rainbowdash

The routefinder has it 8 minutes longer via Gort but its nearly all mainly motorway or dual carraigeway except Gort- Loughrea which is relatively short.

Obviously if you want to chance it then you can 90mph it and be there quicker.