Ferry to Ireland

[Alan636]

Hi,

We have 2 dogs and are just thinking about touring around Ireland for a month in September next year.
We would be crossing from Cairn Ryan to Larne and coming back the same way, my question is what are the rules concerning dogs? I have tried to google it and get different results, pet passport required / no pet passport require, dogs require vet check and paperwork / dogs need nothing So can anyone tell me that has made the crossing recently with a dog what was actually required in order to make the crossing?

 

[Red Sonja]

Hi We did the Cairnryan to Belfast on the way out and Larne to Cairnryan on the way back in April. No checks on Dogs either way. Checks on people but not dogs. No AHC needed (technically yes) as they are not adhering to the protocol. If you take your dog to Europe I would get a pet passport over there as well.

 

[The Coops]

I went in June same route the only check on the dog was from a very friendly security guard who wanted a play with the dog, off to Co Donegal and now got an EU passport, no checks at all on animals and the only clue you have crossed the border are the fuel price is in euros and the bends have SLOW, SLOWER, SLOWER STILL on the approach to them! No even interested on the way back!

 

[ontheroadagain]

Currently no checks but Sept next year is a long time away. The situation may have changed by then.

 

[Terry242]

Hi We did the Cairnryan to Belfast on the way out and Larne to Cairnryan on the way back in April. No checks on Dogs either way. Checks on people but not dogs. No AHC needed (technically yes) as they are not adhering to the protocol. If you take your dog to Europe I would get a pet passport over there as well.

I went in June same route the only check on the dog was from a very friendly security guard who wanted a play with the dog, off to Co Donegal and now got an EU passport, no checks at all on animals and the only clue you have crossed the border are the fuel price is in euros and the bends have SLOW, SLOWER, SLOWER STILL on the approach to them! No even interested on the way back!

We're doing the same for September, where did you get the passport and did you book it or just rock up?

Thanks Terry.

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[The Coops]

We booked it , no problem and very good, used by other Funsters, Anne Scott, Tularee House Carndonagh Co Donegal Tel 00353 9374135 Its on a working farm and very easy to find, you just have to believe the directions!, From main square in Carndonagh and if coming from Londonderry you turn right, follow the road downhill to a sharp left hand bend with a fork running off to your right and take the fork on the right, go up the hill and there is a Presbyterian church on your right, the farm entrance is about 200 yards further on, turn right down to the farm, its an old Georgian Plantation type building and Anne is situated at the rear of the farm. Very nice lady and no problem with passport but she did ask if I was going back via Dublin as I would have to wait 5 days, not a problem going back from Belfast or Larne. (Makes a mockery of the whole thing really!)

 

[Pappy]

We booked it , no problem and very good, used by other Funsters, Anne Scott, Tularee House Carndonagh Co Donegal Tel 00353 9374135 Its on a working farm and very easy to find, you just have to believe the directions!, From main square in Carndonagh and if coming from Londonderry you turn right, follow the road downhill to a sharp left hand bend with a fork running off to your right and take the fork on the right, go up the hill and there is a Presbyterian church on your right, the farm entrance is about 200 yards further on, turn right down to the farm, its an old Georgian Plantation type building and Anne is situated at the rear of the farm. Very nice lady and no problem with passport but she did ask if I was going back via Dublin as I would have to wait 5 days, not a problem going back form Belfast or Larne. (Makes a mockery of the whole thing really!)

We also got it’s from Anne Scott, very helpful lady.

 

[Minxy]

We did it recently - out from Cairnryan to Larne on 12th July and back on 4th August (same route) however note that P&O do NOT allow dogs up into the ship so they have to stay in the vehicles (no kennels) whereas Stena do but the latter cost a fair bit more for the crossing.

We used P&O with our 2 doggies, no checks on them at all other than to confirm we had them on board as they load you last so that the dogs aren't stuck on the car deck for longer than is necessary.

However ... I know I probably shouldn't admit to it but what the hell I like to live dangerously (and I can't help if it I'm led astray by Northernraider! ) ... so ....having had a dog who had been seriously affected by a ferry crossing many years ago which blighted the rest of her life there was no way I was going to risk my pooches being frightened so I stayed with them in the MH and slobbed out in the bed in the back with a 'fleece' hung up to block the view of it from the front and the rear blinds closed. I'm pleased I did as they didn't like the banging, machine noise, alarms, beeping etc before we set off and when we docked and if I hadn't been there I think they'd have been quite fretful.

 

[Red Sonja]

We're doing the same for September, where did you get the passport and did you book it or just rock up?

Thanks Terry.

I would have gone to Anne Scott however she was on holiday. I got it done at Carn vets in Carndonagh. Only a few miles from Anne.

Sonja

 

[autorouter]

Another happy customer of Anne Scott of Carndonagh. However if for some reason you are heading straight south rather than west and north, I'm sure there are other good vets on the way to Dublin. We wanted to see Malin Head and the Wild Atlantic Way, and the rest of Donegal, really good, will go back there again I think.

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[Chockswahay]

We did it recently - out from Cairnryan to Larne on 12th July and back on 4th August (same route) however note that P&O do NOT allow dogs up into the ship so they have to stay in the vehicles (no kennels) whereas Stena do but the latter cost a fair bit more for the crossing.

We used P&O with our 2 doggies, no checks on them at all other than to confirm we had them on board as they load you last so that the dogs aren't stuck on the car deck for longer than is necessary.

However ... I know I probably shouldn't admit to it but what the hell I like to live dangerously (and I can't help if it I'm led astray by Northernraider! ) ... so ....having had a dog who had been seriously affected by a ferry crossing many years ago which blighted the rest of her life there was no way I was going to risk my pooches being frightened so I stayed with them in the MH and slobbed out in the bed in the back with a 'fleece' hung up to block the view of it from the front and the rear blinds closed. I'm pleased I did as they didn't like the banging, machine noise, alarms, beeping etc before we set off and when we docked and if I hadn't been there I think they'd have been quite fretful.

Minxy! I’m outraged!

 

[Minxy]

Minxy! I’m outraged!

Better go back to beating up bread mix then dough-boy!

 

[Chockswahay]

Better go back to beating up bread mix then dough-boy!

Haha, well actually I have a confession to make….. we were on a ferry somewhere a few years ago (I really can’t remember when or where it was) and we decided to rebel and stay in the van for the entire journey….. we had all the blinds down and made sure we could not be seen even with a light or two on…… no one saw us or caught us…… it was more comfy than spending time in the general public areas……however we instantly felt guilty and this marred the experience .

I am not suggesting it was right or proper or safe even tho the chances of being involved in an incident were pretty slim.

Thank you Minxy, I have unloaded my guilty secret and confessed my sin, I feel absolved now