I don't know how convenient trains are in Ireland, eg if the speed is roughly equivalent to that in England (or hopefully, faster), but when I saw a nice house for sale in Northern Ireland a few miles from the Co. Monaghan border, I took a look to see if I could travel to Cork easily without driving.

Oh dear! what a shock. The map of the trains at http://www.myguideireland.com/trains-in-ireland is very strange - it seems that apart from the Belfast-Dublin line, there is almost nothing train-wise in the upper third of Ireland.

How do people in Monaghan or Donegal get to Dublin? There appears to be no train at all for them. And some other counties too are just not on the map.

How would people, say, in Galway, get to Belfast? By changing in Dublin? I thought EU money was designed to link up Europe rail-wise?

The network was more extensive formerly.It was chopped up Beeching-style in the 60s.Most EU money went on improving the existing lines.EG,continuous welded rail Dublin-Tralee,new bridges etc.But lots of places were never serviced at all.For me to visit my son in Galway by rail would entail a sort of 'Long march of O Sullivan Beare' -and I live in County Cork.Of course there are always buses.I can get one to Rosslare and so on to Wales and England,but no train,not even from Cork city.In theory you could go fron say,Drogheda to Cork by rail.

Then you would have ample time to translate 'Mo Sgéal Féin'into Latvian as you wait for a connection at Limerick Junction!

If you can understand British trains then Irish trains will be a doddle.

In terms of speed they seem to be roughly the same as in Britain, which I think is about 70mph on normal routes but there are a number of "high speed" trains, but I'm not entirely sure exactly how fast that is...I'm assuming not TGV rates.

In Northern Ireland trains are somewhat lacking, unless you're in Derry or Belfast...

They are quite regular and comfortable. It's not a big country and it doesn't have a lot of routes. I'm not sure why there isn't a Galway - Belfast line since it is basically flat between both cities.

I've never had much trouble with Irish trains, but that's because every time I have been to Ireland I go via Dublin or Rosslare and then make a bee-line to Tralee or Belfast...or just stay where I am

Of importance is that they are cheaper than British trains...then again, every countries rail is cheaper than Britain. I'm a poor student without a car...presently.

There is a new service -Limerick to Galway,in fairness to CIE.I think the plan is to link it up with Sligo and Cork,in time.

Donegal to Dublin: don't get me started!

We Donegal people either drive or get a bus to Dublin. Either way the journey is at least four hours and sometimes five or six, depending upon traffic and driving conditions. The road network has improved in the last few years and continues to improve, but it's still a long, dreary haul. We need a train link from Derry to Dublin first and foremost. A train from Letterkenny to Derry or Strabane would be a nice addition too. (And if Letterkenny gets one the Gweedore people will throw a purple hissy fit till they get one as well)

Derry to Sligo via Strabane would also be another good link.