Free Buses to 2024 Christmas Retreat

We will have FREE buses going to the Youth 2000 Christmas Retreat 2024!

All buses will travel to Newbridge, Co. Kildare from across Ireland on Friday 6th of December and return on Sunday 8th December 2024.

To book a seat on the free bus:

  1. Look below to find the collection point which will work best for your location and schedule.
  2. Pre-register for the festival HERE, if you have not already.
  3. Send an email  to office@youth2000.ie including your name, date of birth and phone number requesting collection at your desired stop. (If you are U.18, the named legal guardian on your retreat booking must email to book your place on the bus)
  4. You will receive an email to confirm your place – your seat IS NOT reserved unless you have received this email. If you have any questions or have not received a return email please get in touch by phone on 01 675 3690 to ensure we have received it.
  5. In the last few days coming up to the retreat keep an eye on your email and text for a final confirmation of your booking and collection times or any issues or changes in the unlikely event they are necessary –  please REPLY that you have received it and understood all the details.
  6. On the day, have your ID ready to show the bus leader as you board ( and your signed booking form if you are u.18). Please be punctual and patient along the journey.

IF YOU WISH TO TRAVEL ON ONE OF OUR BUSES IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU PRE-REGISTER/FOR THE RETREAT BEFORE YOU BOOK A PLACE ON THE BUS. Your place on the bus is only confirmed when you receive official confirmation email.

All buses will be led by vetted and trained Youth 2000 volunteers.

We have done our best to prioritise a couple of stops on each route which are local or regional public transport hubs so as many people as possible can avail of the free bus from their part of the country to the Summer Festival. We have listed some of the connecting areas in brackets.

ULSTER

Route 1: Ulster/Leinster

Time of Departure Location
13:00 Letterkenny – Mr Chippy
13:45 Derry – Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty
15:00 Omagh – Spar Filling Station @ B 48 Roundabout off the A5
16:30 Monaghan (Includes a 45min break.Arrives at 15:45 and departs Monaghan at 16.30 sharp). Sam’s Diner opposite Four Seasons Hotel 
17:00 Carrickmacross – South by-Pass Bus Stop
19:30 Newbridge College

Route 2:  Ulster/ Leinster

Time of Departure Location
13.30 Belfast – Catholic Chaplaincy, Elmwood Ave
14.30 Newry – McDonald’s Car Park
16.00 Dundalk (Arrives at 15.00 for 45 min break. Departing Dundalk at 15:45 sharp) KFC Car Park
16.30 Drogheda – KFC @ Donore Road Retail Park
19.00 Newbridge College

Route 3:  Connaught/ Leinster

Time of Departure Location
14.30 Knock Ford’s Cafe Shop
14.45 Claremorris Bus Stop on Main Street (Connected to lots of public regional routes around Mayo / Connaught you can use to get here.)
15.15 Tuam N 17 Plaza
15.45 Oranmore Town Centre Bus Stop (Easy public bus connections from Galway City, Limerick, Clare you could use to get here).
15.50 Oranmore Train Station (Easy train connection Galway City, Athenry etc… you can use to get here)
17.20 The Galway Plaza -Kiltullagh (includes 50min break – arrives 16.30, departs 17.20 sharp)
17.55 Athlone McDonald’s Dublin Road, Kilmacuagh
19.30 Newbridge College

Route 4:  Munster/ Leinster

Time of Departure Location
14.30 Cork, Blackpool McDonald’s, Commons Rd
16.30 Waterford McDonald’s, Cork Road
18.30 Enniscorthy  Main Street, Ferns Lower, Ferns (Includes 50min break – arrives Enniscorthy at 17.40, departs 18.30 sharp) 
19.10 Carlow, McDonald’s, off M9, Rathcrogue, R93 N2X8
20.00 Newbridge College

Route 5:  Munster/ Leinster

Time of Departure Location
14.00 Tralee Manor West Shopping Centre (Public transport connections with Killarney)
15.15 Newcastle West , Bus stop opposite The Longcourt Hotel (Public transport connections with Tralee, Listowel etc)
16.45 Limerick , Castletroy Town Centre (includes 50min break. arrives at 15.55 and departing at 16.45)
17.45 Nenagh, Circle K, Limerick Road
18.20 Roscrea, Circle K, Parkmore Heights
19.05 Portlaoise, Applegreen, Dublin Road
20.00 Newbridge College