We are delighted to announce that from early April 2026 passengers travelling between Donegal and Dublin will have twice as many options to choose from with McGinley Coach Travel.

From Tuesday April 7th, 2026, we will offer four new daily departures on the Letterkenny – Dublin City & Airport route, along with one new daily departure to their Inishowen/Derry – Dublin route. 

This gives more than 40 flexible new departures per week to the existing timetable bring 

We are happy to hear the news has been welcomed as a positive development for passengers including those traveling to and from Dublin Airport and those working or studying in both counties, or destinations in between. 

 It will also provide a boost to the local economy in job creation as well as help increase visitor numbers to the county as the summer approaches. 

The new additions will see an extra early morning and afternoon service to compliment our long established Dublin route times.

 From next Tuesday, April 7th 2026, the two new services will see passengers arrive in Dublin city at 9.30am or 5pm in the early evening – ideal for anyone catching early flights or attending concerts or other events.

The new additional return services to Donegal depart Parnell Square at 12.30pm and 3.30pm each day.

 The Inishowen/Derry services also sees the addition of a new daily service returning from Dublin each day at 3.30pm. 

To see the full schedule here.

Managing Director, James McGinley said the company simply acted in response to feedback from their loyal customers.

James stated: “For some time now our passengers have been asking for extra services.  We have listened to them and took their views onboard, which was very helpful, and we are delighted to introduce these new services. The aim is to offer a wider scope of flexible options to include services for those who need to arrive in the city earlier for work, college or airport flights, as well as those who wish to travel later in the day for events like concerts, sports games or the like. It will greatly enhance our timetable with four services going to and from Dublin daily, with additional services at peak times like Friday’s and Sunday’s.” 

The family-run company have invested significantly in their fleet of luxury range of high-spec (link https://johnmcginley.com/our-fleet/) coaches and buses in recent years, and this new announcement reaffirms their commitment to providing a top class service for local commuters and visitors to Donegal alike. 

 “This will have a positive effect in helping create employment in our communities in Donegal and we look forward to launching the service on Tuesday April 7th, 2026,” James added.

Founded by John McGinley in 1968, they have expanded significantly with an extensive range of purpose-built, top quality vehicles that meet the highest standards in passenger travel.

Watch the video here.

Over the last 50 years they have grown to become the gateway service provider for coach travellers between Dublin and the north-west of County Donegal bringing thousands of happy commuters in that time. 

They also operate a JMG Cruise offering customers an opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of a relaxing cruise holiday without having to fly to begin their adventure.

For more information visit www.jmgcruise.com

Summer travellers can look forward to sailing to Scotland in comfort and style with the return of the popular John McGinley Coach Travel Donegal to Glasgow route.

 

From May 31st, 2024, passengers can travel from across Donegal right to the heart of bustling Glasgow city’s Buchanan Station. 

 

From there they can easily connect to transport links across Scotland, England and Wales.

 

McGinley’s Glasgow service departs from most Donegal towns four days per week this June, July and August travelling across the Irish Sea via state-of-the-art Stena Line vessels.

 

These Stena vessels host a range of top class passenger facilities including great food and entertainment for all ages. They also now include spa facilities to make your trip even more relaxing than ever. 

 

Booking could not be easier at www.johnmcginley.com, which means when it’s time to travel all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your journey!

 

Managing Director of McGinley Coach Travel, James McGinley, said they are delighted to see this traditional route return again for the summer months and they look forward to welcoming everyone on board. 

 

He stated: “It’s great to be able to offer this service once again and now passengers can travel in more comfort than ever before. We have invested heavily in upgrading our fleet with a range of new Volvo coaches. This coupled with the comfort and facilities onboard the new Stena Line vessels makes for a great, relaxing way to travel between these two great destinations”.

 

This is a “Through Service” trip meaning once passengers board their McGinley’s luxury coach, they remain with the same vehicle throughout their journey until they reach their destination with no need for any changes or bus transfers enroute. A comfortable, convenient, way to travel between Donegal and Scotland for people of all ages.

 

All fares include bus transport and ferry crossing, as well as a healthy baggage allowance per passenger so there’s no need to worry if some holiday shopping requires an extra bag or two!

 

For over 50 years McGinley Coach Travel has been a tried and trusted transport link joining Donegal to Scotland via Glasgow with thousands of tourists, students, seasonal workers and the large contingent of the Donegal Diaspora travelling with them each year.

 

To find out more about our Donegal collections points, time tables, fares and other information see our Glasgow routes timetable or call 074 913 5201

 

This family run enterprise was founded in 1968. It now provides travel for corporate, holiday and tour groups of all sizes, as well as daily coach services between Co. Donegal and Dublin City and Airport.

 

ONE of Ireland’s best-known independent transport companies, John McGinley Coach Travel in Magheroarty, Co. Donegal, have just taken delivery of 10 stunning new state-of-the-art coaches from Volvo on Saturday (April 13th).

The cleaner, greener, new fleet additions, worth over €4 million, made their successful maiden voyage from Volvo in Dublin to McGinley Travel headquarters based along the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal arriving in the afternoon.

Many well-wishers turned out at various locations along the route to greet the colourful convoy.     

Speaking on the arrival of the new coaches, Managing Director James McGinley said he was delighted to take delivery of them from Volvo and is looking forward to seeing them go into service soon.

He said their investment is a commitment to offering top quality travel for all their passengers, while still being environmentally responsible as they look to the future. 

James stated: “The think is to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone for their support. The arrival of our new coaches last Saturday 13th April, 2024, marked a milestone that our family will cherish for a long time! 

“Starting off from the Volvo Irish Commercials depot in Naas, our journey back to Donegal was nothing short of unforgettable!  As we hit the road with our ‘10 New coaches’, little did we know the incredible outpouring of support and good wishes that awaited us along the way. 

“From Dublin to Donegal, people lined the route to cheer us on as we passed by! The smiles, waves and good wishes made every part of the journey very special. From cards, to Facebook posts, videos and TikTok’s your support and encouragement is truly appreciated. 

“To the people of Donegal especially, we say a massive thank you to each and every one of you for making this day so special. Your continued support is very important to us and makes us even more determined to continue serving you with dedication and the highest standards in passenger safety and comfort. 

“Here’s to many more unforgettable journeys together. This video shows our journey home, enjoy!” James added.

  This was one of the largest individual custom orders Volvo undertook in 2023, and is a major commitment by the family-run firm to improving the standards of independent local and national transport services.

 The new additions will see McGinley’s expand their daily services to and from Dublin, as well as other services and private hire options.

 Offering the latest in style, safety and comfort, these new vehicles are among the most modern on Irish roads and  are a greener way to travel with significantly less emissions thanks to the modern technology used.                                                        “

Built on Volvo’s new B13R chassis to add fuel savings of up to 9 per cent, the order comprises seven 13.1m 4×2 and three 14m 6×2 models, with 55 and 61 passenger seats respectively. The 9700s are powered by the fuel-efficient Euro-6 D13K engine, producing up to 500 hp and a peak torque of 1,585 Nm, reducing running costs and CO2 emissions. The 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission combines smooth and precise gearshifts with high average speeds and outstanding driveability.

 The family run enterprise was founded in 1968. It now provides travel for corporate, holiday and tour groups of all sizes, as well as daily coach services between Co. Donegal and Dublin City and Airport.

 

John McGinley Coach Travel have just placed a major order for 10 new state-of-the-art coaches to add to their fleet.

 

Not only will they bring the best in travel comfort and safety to our valued passengers, but are much more environmentally friendly, cutting emissions by an impressive 9%!

 

This new deal, worth over €4 million, will see the family-run company add ten new custom built Volvo coaches to their fleet in the Spring.

 

It is one of the largest individual custom orders Volvo will undertake this year, and is seen as a major commitment by the Donegal firm to improving the standards of independent local and national transport services.

 

The new additions will also help McGinley’s expand their daily services to and from Dublin next year. They will also play a role in their regular Donegal to Glasgow Service (any links for this ?) as well as their highly popular tours and ‘no-fly’ cruise holidays.

 

Managing Director, James McGinley, said it is a signal of their commitment to offering top quality travel for all their passengers, while still being environmentally responsible as they look to the future. 

 

He stated: “We are delighted to have signed this deal with Volvo and add such top quality coaches to our fleet. Our investment will also help reduce emissions that will help contribute to cleaner air for all our communities, as well as an improved journey experience to our growing number of customers.”

 

Speaking from their company headquarters, based on the scenic Wild Atlantic Way, he said the deal shows their ongoing commitment to offering the very best in travel luxury and service.

 

“Donegal might be the forgotten county in some aspects but we want to make sure it’s not when it comes to the best in public transport. We regularly invest in new technology and want to ensure we play our role in road safety and helping protect our environment,” he added.

 

The 10 new additions will be maintained to the highest standards by the team at McGinley headquarters. See them at work here.

 

The news was also welcomed by the team at Volvo who said they are delighted to be partnering with the Donegal company once again.

 

Built on Volvo’s new B13R chassis to add fuel savings of up to 9 per cent, the order comprises seven 13.1m 4×2 and three 14m 6×2 models, with 55 and 61 passenger seats respectively. The 9700s are powered by the fuel-efficient Euro-6 D13K engine, producing up to 500 hp and a peak torque of 1,585 Nm, reducing running costs and CO2 emissions. The 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission combines smooth and precise gearshifts with high average speeds and outstanding drivability.

 

The family run enterprise was founded in 1968. It now provides travel for corporate, holiday and tour groups of all sizes, as well as daily coach services between Co. Donegal and Dublin City and Airport

 

Don’t forget that you can always book a ticket for your next journey online and we look forward to welcoming you onboard.

 

Happy travels!

 

Our Christmas Timetable is now available, click the link to Download Now.

Take the hassle out of your next holiday and book a No-Fly cruise from Ireland. JMG Cruise in conjunction with their cruise partners Ambassador Cruise Line are delighted to offer a range of No-Fly cruising options from Belfast. With complimentary coach transfers from parts of Ireland nothing could be more convenient. More details on www.jmgcruise.com

We are delighted to say we now offer special discount fares for young adults and full-time students travelling on our daily services from Donegal to Dublin and other local routes.

In order to avail of the YAC (Young Adult Card) fares you need to book your seat online on www.johnmcginley.com. Due to LEAP card conditions YAC fares are not available to buy on the coach.

The Young Adult Leap Card discount is available to all 19 to 23-year-olds right up to their 24th birthday. The Student Leap Card remains available to students in full-time education who are 24 years old and above.

It is welcomed as a major boost for college students traveling with us to colleges in Dublin such as Trinity, UCD and DCU, and Dublin students attending institutions such as Atlantic Technological University – Donegal Letterkenny Campus, formerly Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT).

The fare reductions for young people, in some cases as much as 50 per cent, was introduced by the Government in Budget 2022 as a permanent measure and it took effect from May 9th, 2022, but now it has been rolled out further to include private coach companies like McGinley Coach Travel.

Students and young adults have long been valued passengers at McGinley Coach Travel and we hope that our inclusion on this scheme will see a real benefit to them as they strive to continue their education.

Announcing the news Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, said it was important to include commercial coach operators to take part in the scheme to offer greater flexibility and access for students and young people across the country.

We look forward to welcoming all students on our daily Donegal to Dublin, Dublin Donegal Services and wish them well for the year ahead.

You can apply for a Young Adult Leap Card online today through www.leapcard.ie.

Happy travels!

To ensure our passengers always travel in comfort and safety we continually invest in our fleet and recently McGinley Coach Travel took delivery of four brand new high-spec Volvo buses.

 

These stunning new Plaxton Panther coaches are a welcome addition to our range of vehicles and have already hit the road on service routes from Donegal to Dublin, via Dublin Airport, our Donegal to Glasgow service, as well as a number of private hire engagements.

We are delighted with the feedback from our loyal customers who have already traveled on the new additions and we look forward to welcoming many more on board over the coming months! 

 

The new coaches are 12.8m long and built on Volvo B8R chassis. They are each fitted with 53 comfy seats, bathroom facilities, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and ample storage and finished to the highest standards.  

 

When we took delivery from our supplier Alexander Dennis Limited, the buses came in their standard white high-quality finish but we couldn’t wait to get them into our garage to add our own distinctive colours and branding. You can see the transformation here  and we are delighted with how they turned out. 

 

By putting our passengers safety and comfort first, we always go the extra mile when it comes to adding to our fleet. 

 

Alexander Dennis Limited are a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, and we work with them to make sure each coach is manufacture to the highest standards and specifications tailored to suit our requirements

 

McGinley Coach Travel Director, James McGinley, said “We’re delighted to take delivery of these four brand new vehicles which will be welcomed by our customers I’m sure and will be an excellent addition to our already modern and comfortable fleet.”

 

Lee Gibson, ADL’s Regional Sales M

anager in Ireland, stated: “These are high-specification coaches and it’s been a pleasure working with the team at McGinley Travel to make sure they have the kind of modern, high-quality and reliable coaches they want for their operations.”

 

We look forward to welcoming you on board soon.

 

Happy travels!

Soap fans will have no problem spotting one of TV’s most recognizable characters when McGinley Coach Travel were joined by Coronation Street star, Mikey North recently.

Mikey is best known for his role as street bad boy, Gary Windass, in the ever popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

 

He has been in the role since 2008 but had no problem jumping behind the wheel of one of our executive coaches recently and he is welcome on the McGinley Coach Travel team anytime!

 

It was great to welcome Mikey on board and he is one of many famous faces we have carried as passengers over the years on

private hire journeys, as well as our daily services from Donegal to Dublin, via Dublin Airport.

 

We also run weekly return services from Donegal to Glasgow and have a full range of vehicles for private hire in our fleet to cater for groups of all sizes.

 

Of course it’s great to welcome famous faces on board, but the stars of the show for each and every McGinley Coach Travel trip are the passengers themselves and we look forward to welcoming you on board in the future!

 

Among the well-known guests include PGA and Open Winner Shane Lowry’s grandmother Emily Scanlon. Emily from Offaly became a star in her own right when she took to the airwaves after Shane’s epic victory in The Open in Portrush in 2019 and won our hearts with her warm character and quick wit.

 

Keeping with Sport we were proud to welcome TV sport presenter Tommy Martin onboard recently as well as Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley.

A number of years ago we also had the pleasure of transporting French Rugby legend, Sebastien Chabal, when he visited the country.

Lets not forget our very own Daniel O’Donnell who has been onboard many times and is a tremendous ambassador for Donegal all over the world!

To keep up to date on all our news follow us on Facebook.

 

Happy travels!

McGinley Coach Travel were delighted to see the return of the Rose of Tralee festival this year after a two year break.

We were delighted to sponsor local man Cillian Ó Gallachóir from Falcarragh who did a great job acting as escort to Perth Rose, Olivia Duffy.

 

Huge congratulations to Donegal Rose, Katie McAteer from Rathmullan, a Journalism and New Media graduate from the University of Limerick, who dazzled the audience in her stunning green evening dress. A proud Donegal woman, she recited a poem about her hometown as a short film she made to promote the scenic beauty of her beloved Rathmullan shown to the live and television audiences.

 

McGinley Coach Travel driver John Joe Gallagher (pictured above) even had the pleasure of meeting some of the contestants at this years event!

 

27-year-old Cillian was one of 33 escorts at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival. A skilled footballer with our local teams Cloughaneely GAA and Glenea United, he has a Masters degree in Cancer Research and currently works for a medical device company in Galway.

Cillian said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to ‘John McGinley Coach Travel’ for sponsoring me for this prestigious festival. Their support has been phenomenal.”

 

Everyone at McGinley Coach Travel wishes to say a massive ‘congratulations’ to Katie and Cillian on representing the county, and our company, so well and we look forward to welcoming you on board again in the future!

 

We love nothing more than supporting national and international events of all kinds with vehicles from our fleet range of top quality luxury coaches, modern mini-buses and executive cars as well as offering our daily services from Donegal to Dublin, via Dublin Airport, and our weekly services from Donegal to Glasgow.

 

If you are planning a special family event, tour, concert, sports outing or day trip, feel free to give us a call as we have private hire options for all occasions and groups sizes.

 

To keep up to date with all our travel news following us on Facebook.

Happy travels!