Detailed below the steamer-routes from Great Britain to Ireland, from Part 2 of Ward’s “Thorough Guide” to Ireland of 1891, also see map , which also depicts railway lines. (extract below, full map at the end of this page.)
Extract of 1891 map showing shipping routes to Ireland from England, Wales and Scotland
Those running to the Northern part of the island are particularised in Ireland, Part I. Here we are concerned with those to the Southern part.
(1) Holyhead to Kingstown, 64 m. ; or North Wall, 70 m. There are four weekday express services between Holyhead and Dublin, running in connection with trains from London and England generally, and three of them in communication with express and-mail trains from Dublin to all parts of Ireland. Two of these services (1st and 2nd Cl. only) are performed by the boats of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, which carry the Irish Mails and run between Holyhead and Kingstown, for Westland Row station, Dublin (whence passengers going forward at once, must hire to their respective termini) ; the other two by the L. & N. W. Railway Company, whose boats run from Holyhead to North Wall, where, on the arrival of the night express boat, trains are in waiting to convey passengers to the termini of the various companies in time to proceed by the day mail-trains to all parts of Ireland. The steamers of both companies are unexceptionable in their appointments.
The approximate time occupied between London and Dublin is : by the Kingstown (mail) route, 10 ¼ to 10 ½ hours; by the North Wall route, 12 to 12 ½ hours.
Tickets (1st or 2nd Cl.), issued for the Kingstown route, are available on the North Wall boats (cabin) without extra charge, and by payment of an extra charge of 2s. on 1st cl., and 3s. on 2nd cl. tickets, 1st and 2nd class passengers with tickets by the North Wall route may travel in the 1st cabin of the Kingstown boats, or, without extra charge, in the 2nd cabin. Third-class through tickets are only available in the cabin of the North Wall boats on payment of the full cabin fare (8s.) extra. Beds are provided on board at a charge of 2s. and can be occupied over night for the morning boat to England.
There is also one slower service (6 hrs.; cabin, 5s. 6d.) between Holyhead and
North Wall.
The Route. After passing the magnificent breakwater at Holyhead and noticing the South Stack Lighthouse at the western extremity of Holyhead Island, we see no more land till the mountains of Wicklow loom in the distance, the Sugarloaf being the most clearly defined height. Then our course is near the Kish lightship, and as we approach Dublin Bay, we have the Hill of Howth, Ireland’s Eye, and Lambay Island to the north, and to the south Dalkey Island and a shore-line, dotted with villas, villages and towns, in which Kingstown is conspicuous. To the left of it is the monument on Killiney Hill. Passengers by the Kingstown route at once enter the train, and in less than ¼ hour reach the Westland Row station, which is within the sixpenny car-fare (see p. 3) limits, and has a fair-sized hotel, the Grosvenor, opposite to it.
North Wall passengers can enter the North Wall station (Refreshment room.; L. & N.W. Hotel, adjoining) by a covered way. For connection with other termini, see p. 1. The North Wall terminus is just outside the sixpenny car-fare limit.
(2) Liverpool to Dublin (North Wall), 138 m.; by the City of Dublin Company’s boats. This is also a good service, and will be appreciated by those who like the sea. The time of leaving Liverpool varies from about 4 p.m. to midnight according to the tide. Through-tickets are issued from the chief Midland stations by this route.
(3) Glasgow (and Greenock) to Dublin, 135 m., every weekday coming from Central (Caledonian) station, the voyage being timed to occupy 15 to 14 hours.
(4) London, Portsmouth, Southampton. Plymouth, and Falmouth to Dublin: British and Irish Steam Packet Co’s Steamers :
From London (Miller’s Wharf, Lower East Smithfield; 76 hours).
Sun. and Wed. mornings. Fares 22s. 6d., 16s. 6d., 10. 6d. ; return (two months) a fare and a half.
From Portsmouth (54 hours) Mon. & Thur. 8 a.m. {Fares as above but not return 3rd }
From Southampton (52 hours) Mon. & Thur. 2 p.m. { do. }
From Plymouth (36 hours) Tues. do Fri. 11 a.m. { do. }
From Falmouth (25 hours) Tues. & Fri. 5 p.m. { do. }
(5) New Milford to Waterford: Great Western Railway steamers. See p. 40.
(6) New Milford to Cork : City of Cork boats. To Cork or Passage according to tide ; see pg. 62.
(7) Liverpool (Nelson Dock) to Cork : City of Cork boats. On Tues.,
Thurs., Sat., tidal service. Fares : 17s. 6d., 10.s.; return (2 months) 25s., 15s.
(8) Liverpool (Clarence Dock) to Waterford : Waterford Steamship Company. On Mon., Wed., Fri., tidal service. Fares: 15s., 7s. 6d.; return (cabin) 25s.
(9) Liverpool (Trafalgar Dock) to Wexford. On Tuesdays. Fares: 12s. 6d., 5s.; return (cabin) 18s.
(10) Glasgow to Cork: Clyde Shipping Company. On Tues. and Fri. call at Greenock. Fares: 17s. 6d., 10s.; return (cabin) 2 mos. 25s.
(11) Glasgow to Waterford: Clyde Shipping Company. On Mon. and Thurs., direct.; on Friday via Belfast. Call at Greenock. Fares: same as to Cork.
(12) Glasgow to Westport. Fares: 12s. 6d., 5s.; return (2 mos.) 20s., 8s.
(13) Glasgow to Limerick. Clyde Shipping Company. On Mondays. Fares : 17s. 6d., 10s.; return (cabin) 25s.
(14) Bristol to Dublin. On Tuesdays. Fares: 20s., 7s. 6d. ; return (2 mos., available from Wexford ; from Cork for 3s. extra) 30s.
(15) Bristol to Cork. City of Cork boats. On Tues., Thurs. Fares : 24s., 10s. 6d.; return (2 mos.) 36s.
(16) Bristol to Waterford. Waterford Steamers, see Bradshaw.
(17) Bristol to Wexford. On Fridays.
(18) Aberdovey to Waterford. Fares : 10s., 5s; return (month), 15s., 9s. see Bradshaw.
Sketch Map of Routes From England and Scotland to Ireland (1891)
