Offaly

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Car Rental at Offaly

If you intend to tour The Emerald Isle by hiring a car at Enterprise, don’t just stick to the coast roads. You’ll be missing so much of this lush green island if you do. For example, the County of Offaly sits in the heart of Ireland between the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the east the famous River Shannon to the west.

At first glance it may appear that County Offaly’s only claim to fame is the 2% of its landmass which is made up of bogs, including the famous Bog of Allen. Or perhaps the fact that in 211 the then American President Barack Obama visited the tiny village of Moneygall in Offaly, reputed to be his ancestral home.

With a little digging, however, you’ll find Offaly offers so much more to those passing through the county, and even more to those who tend to stop a while. You could do far worse than decide to spend a day or three, enjoying the activities and sights this county has to offer.

Once settled into your Offaly guest house, hotel, or self-catering accommodation, collect your car rental, and prepare to explore. From fishing to golf, to skydiving and canoeing, there are outdoor activities for all tastes. Visit old distilleries, and even older castles. Enjoy watching local craft makers, and visit the Lough Boora Parklands.

Enterprise has branches at Athlone, County Westmeath, and Portlaoise, County Laoise, as well as most points of entry to both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Our Vehicles for Hire in County Offaly

For your convenience we have an Enterprise branch situated just off the M6 at Athlone, and another office just off the M7 at Portlaoise.

Our range of rental vehicles at both Offaly offices includes small and medium city cars. Ideal for day tripping into the countryside to explore those quaint Irish villages time seems to have forgotten. For longer trips we have large family saloons and top of the range executive vehicles, for those wishing to travel in style or mix a little business with pleasure. If you intend to get right off the beaten track to visit some of Offaly’s famous peat bogs, the four-wheel-drive option of our SUVs or 4x4s should ensure you don’t get bogged (pun intended) down.

Attractions in Offaly County

If your idea of a holiday is a mix of gentle – or strenuous – activity, combined with chilled relaxed evenings, then a stay in Offaly has to be on your to-do list. For anglers, there are lakes, ponds, canals and rivers to enjoy the sport. For ornithologists and wildlife photographers there are over 130 bird species to be seen around Lough Boora, Tumduff, and Turraun at various times of the year.

There are gentle walks to enjoy the flora and fauna, and strenuous hikes into the hills and valleys. Cycle hire and tours are available, as is horse riding. Is your forte hot air ballooning or skydiving? It’s all available somewhere in Offaly county.

The beauty travelling by car is that you can stop off whenever the fancy takes you. That lovely old village hotel will provide clean, comfortable rooms and excellent traditional Irish cuisine. After your meal, retire to the bar, sit in front of a roaring log fire with a pint of Guinness, and reminisce on the day’s activities, or plan the next day’s itinerary.

Places to Visit Outside of Offaly

Dublin is only about a 90-minute drive from Tullamore, the county town of Offaly, so consider planning a day trip to Ireland's capital. Here you can visit the Guinness Storehouse and learn about one of the country's most famous exports, or consider just mingling with the locals at any of the traditional venues. If you are in the country for St. Patricks day on 17 March, don't miss the festivities in the city.

To the west of Offaly is Galway, one of Ireland's larger counties and home to numerous picturesque lakes, such as Lough Corrib. For a particularly scenic drive, take the Wild Atlantic Way along the coast and stop off at great locations such as Doonagore Castle. Offaly is also bordered by the counties of Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare, Laois and Tipperary, all of which have their own cultural and natural attractions to explore.

Airport Car Hire

If you are flying into Southern Ireland, car hire is available at Dublin Airport and can get you to Tullamore via the M4 and N52. From Dublin to Birr via the M4 and M6, and from Dublin airport to Edenderry via the M5 and M4.

If you intend to fly into Shannon Airport on Ireland's west coast, Enterprise has a desk on the ground floor of the terminal building. To drive to Tullamore take the M7. If you’re driving to Birr, take the M7 and N52, for driving to Edenderry you need the M7. All are well signposted as you leave the airport perimeter.

Parking and Traffic Information in Offaly

The entire county only has a population of around 80,000, with 14,000 of these living in Tullamore; as such, the roads are light on traffic, but some rush hour traffic can be experienced. Tullamore has free as well as metered parking, the latter being more common in the town centre. Paid parking is affordable, with rates as low as €1 an hour, or even just a couple of euros for a 24-hour period. It is best to check up-to-date rates before travelling, however. With the rest of the county being small towns and villages, expect public parking to be found only at tourist or commercial sites.

Cheap Car Hire

With rental branches across the county, Enterprise offers cheap car hire from convenient, accessible locations. Our large fleet of new vehicles includes great value economy and compact cars, sporty SUVs and spacious people carriers. Whether you need a vehicle for a single day or longer, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has the perfect car to suit your needs. Book online from our Offaly branch to guarantee your choice of vehicle at the best possible price.

Moving house or just moving furniture? Enterprise has you covered with a range of vans from our Offaly branch. From smaller passenger vans to larger commercial vans, book online from our Offaly van hire page to reserve your perfect vehicle at an unbeatable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  1. Will I be allowed to cross into bordering countries?
    The essential items you will need to bring to an Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch when hiring a vehicle are a valid drivers licence, valid ID, and a credit or debit card. You will also need to prove you are over 25 years of age, and there may be additional documentation required for international drivers. Learn more about what you need when hiring here.
  2. Do I need insurance to rent a car or van?
    No. At Enterprise you don't need to purchase insurance as we provide a damage waiver within the cost of your hire. You can, of course, take option to purchase additional protection products to reduce the excess further to give you complete peace of mind. Visit our car hire insurance page for further details.
  3. How old do I need to be to hire a car or van?
    All drivers must be a minimum of 25 years old. Only drivers over 30 years old may hire full-size MPVs, premium vehicles/exotic cars and Luton vans. Learn more about age requirements for hiring a vehicle here.
  4. What are the driver's licence requirements for car hire in the UK & Ireland?
    All drivers must produce all parts of a valid driving licence. Non-EU licence holders are required to have an international driving permit if the licence is not in English. Domestic renters must produce photo id, passport or driving licence. International travellers must produce a passport, proof of return travel and residency information while in Ireland.  Learn more about car hire driving licence requirements here.
  5. Can I hire a car with a debit card?
    We accept payment by either a debit or credit card in the name of the renter. A credit card is required if you are renting a People Carrier, Compact Elite, SUV, Premium, Luxury or Executive vehicle. Learn more about our accepted card payment methods here.

For more FAQs, please visit our FAQ page.