This page looks at the signed motorway services in Ireland. They aren't given their own pages like the services in Great Britain as there isn't a lot to say about them, and they need to be kept separate from the list of British services.

1 Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Services in Ireland have been planned for many years. At first the National Roads Authority were reluctant to build them as they said people should be using local facilities instead, but as the motorway network quickly expanded they agreed that specialist facilities were required. Since then, there has been a number of funding problems which have led to the plans being scaled down and delayed. Only four of the planned service areas have opened.

M1

Lusk

View photos (1)

[Google Maps link]

Operator: Applegreen^[website]/SuperStop^[website]
Facilities: Burger King, Costa, aCafe, Car Wash, Children's Play Area, Coffee Machine, Fuel, Game Arcade, Off Licence, Picnic Area, Showers, Tourist Information, Truck Stop, Wi-Fi
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, with no public connection between them.

Notes: The southbound services features a Rear Access but the northbound side doesn't.

Balbriggan

At junction 6, County Dublin

Operator: Applegreen^[website]/SuperStop^[website]
Facilities: Car Wash, Coffee Machine, Deli, Fuel (with: Air1 AdBlue), Jet Wash, Off Licence, Picnic Area, Truck Stop
Services Type: Single site located at a junction.

Notes: none.

Castlebellingham

Between J15 and J16, County Louth. [Google Maps link]

Operator: Applegreen^[website]/SuperStop^[website]
Facilities: Burger King, Costa, aCafe, Car Wash, Children's Play Area, Coffee Machine, Fuel (with: Air1 AdBlue), Game Arcade, Off Licence, Picnic Area, Showers, Tourist Information, Truck Stop, Wi-Fi
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, with no public connection between them.

Notes: The services opened on 29th September 2010.

M4

Enfield

Between J9 and J10, County Kildare. [Google Maps link]

Notes: The services opened on 6th October 2010.

M7

Mayfield

At junction 14, Mayfield, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.

Operator: Junction14^[website]
Facilities: Texaco (with: Car Wash & AdBlue), Spar, Spar Restaurant, SuperMac's Fresh Express^[website], Insomnia Coffee Co.^[website], ESB ECars^[website], Children's Play Area, Picnic Area, WiFi, Tourist Information, Showers
Services Type: Single site located at a junction.

Notes: The services opened on 17th June 2011.

M8

Cashel

At junction 8, Cashel, County Tipperary.

Operator: Topaz^[website]
Facilities: McDonald's (with: Drive Thru & WiFi), Cafe, Children's Play Area, 'Grab & Go' Hot Deli, Showers, Car Wash, ESB ECars^[website], Topaz (Fuel)
Services Type: Single site located at a junction.

Notes: The services opened on 9th June 2011.

Other Planned Services

The following services have been talked about but any detailed plans have been postponed:

M6 Athlone
M9 Kilcullen
N11 Gorey

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has got by for 50 years without any motorway service areas on it's motorway network. Given the short distances in the province, coupled with the short motorways, this is not surprising.

In 2011, however, a Statutory Rule was made planning a service area on the M1 between junctions 3 and 6 (not to be confused with the 'M1 Service Area' (a petrol station and restaurant on the A4 south of Dungannon). While the statutory instrument exists, no plans to construct the slip roads or service area appear to exist.

But Finally, In January 2013, the Environment Minister Alex Attwood gave permission for the first two motorway service stations to be built in Northern Ireland. The first service stations will be located opposite each other on either side of the M2 motorway at Browns Road, Ballycraigy, about two miles west of the Sandyknowles roundabout and a the second service stations will be situated on the M1 opposite each other almost midway between Lisburn and Belfast about a quarter mile south of the Ballyskeagh Road.

Irish services

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