Travelling with a dog in Ireland: ferries, trains, cars and hotels

Dogs travel on all the main routes — Dublin and Rosslare to Holyhead, Pembroke, Fishguard, Liverpool and Cherbourg. Options are kennels on the car deck, staying in your vehicle on some sailings, or a limited number of pet-friendly cabins that sell out weeks ahead. Book the pet space at the same time as the car; it is a separate inventory.

Coming into Ireland from anywhere other than Britain, your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an animal health certificate or EU pet passport, and tapeworm treatment administered by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival, recorded in the document. Miss the tapeworm window and the dog is refused or detained at your cost.

Irish Rail allows dogs on most services outside peak hours, at the guard's discretion, with a small charge for larger dogs; small dogs in carriers travel free. Assistance dogs travel free at all times without restriction. Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus generally do not carry dogs other than assistance dogs, so plan intercity trips around rail or car.

An unrestrained dog in a car is a road traffic offence in Ireland if it distracts you or prevents proper control of the vehicle, and in a crash an unrestrained dog is a projectile. Use a crash-tested crate, a boot guard or a seatbelt harness. Never leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day — Irish cars reach dangerous temperatures at surprisingly mild outdoor readings.

• 🐾Stop every two hours for a toilet and water break.
• 🐾Feed two hours before departure, not immediately before.
• 🐾Carry water, a bowl, poo bags, a towel and a spare lead in the boot at all times.
• 🐾Keep the microchip registration and a recent photo on your phone in case of escape.

"Dog-friendly" ranges from a genuine welcome to one designated room beside the bins. Before booking, confirm the per-night pet fee, the size or number limit, whether the dog can be left alone in the room, and whether dogs are allowed in the bar or restaurant area. Self-catering cottages are usually the easier option, particularly in Kerry, Clare, Donegal and West Cork.

For a city break or a flight, a sitter in their own home is kinder than dragging an anxious dog across a country. Home boarding keeps the routine, the walks and the company, and costs less than most pet-friendly hotel supplements.