From the Car Hire desks, you take an elevator down one level to a Parking garage.  Just outside the garage is where the Shuttle Buses collect you.  There is a bus for each company.  The shuttle buses are CLEARLY marked so odds of taking the wrong one is pretty slim! 

BUT -- You may NOT have to take the bus --    

Last summer, I had two rentals through Hertz -- a 7 passenger van for the first part (when we had six of us) and a smaller car for the later section, when it was just my wife and I.

For the van, we had to take the Shuttle to the Depot -- which is a VERY large, shared area with ALL of the other Car Hire Companies -- to collect our vehicle.  But, for the Second rental, we actually collected the car from the Parking Garage that is downstairs from the Car Hire Desk at the airport.  The previous year, we collected a vehicle there (Garage) from Dooley, so there are at least SOME vehicles available 'on-site' -- though there probably aren't too many and they probably go out fairly early on.

Like Tony, I'm also a bit concerned as to how far (and Where) you are planning to drive on Arrival Day. 

One trip, on our Shuttle Ride to the Depot, our driver asked the assorted group THEIR destinations -- two men were setting off for Donegal (but had only flown in from England and were well-rested) and two girls from the US on their First-Ever trip abroad stated that they intended to drive to Cork.  As we started to depart the Depot (but were still IN the lot), the girls very nearly 'Took Us Out'!

I can only HOPE that they survived their trip. . .    

We try to never go farther than Kilkenny the first day, and even that can make for a challenging drive after flying all night.  I think we are almost to the point of staying near Dublin the first day, seeing the sites to stay awake, getting sleep that night, and getting the car the next day and taking off for wherever -- with some recharged batteries! 

That first day of driving can be a tough thing if you go too far. It's something first timers need to accept as gospel when they look for advice here! 

Geno

Lots of great advice! 

We are driving to Clonbullogue, and actually will have family meeting us at the airport. We will be following them to our destination. I am told it is about an hour drive. And we are arriving on a Sunday, so I am thinking traffic will be a bit lighter than if on a weekday?

I am just trying to think of all of the details. I like knowing exactly what to expect when I arrive so I can keep my thoughts organized and be prepared. 

tony2phones wrote:

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To be honest it was a little tongue in cheek, my humour button is a little off at the moment.. Clonbullougue is not too bad a drive,, you would though be amazed just how many get off a flight bleary eyed and drive stupid distances..

Like Shannon to Dingle via the Cliffs of Moher perhaps

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 I got the humor, no worries!

But the concerns are valid. Truth be told, I am not looking forward to that first drive. If I did not have my parents traveling with us ( who have been a few times and will have their own car) and relatives meeting us, I probably would spend the first night or two in Dublin.