Airport taxi rank · ~25-35 min to Limerick city centre
Where they are
One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
ORK8.8+0.4
SNN8.4
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
ORK7.0
SNN7.0
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
Best for
ORK
Aer Lingus and Ryanair passengers for Cork city, West Cork and the Wild Atlantic WayPriority Pass holders who can use The Kinsale Lounge opposite Gate 7Travellers connecting onward by Bus Éireann 225/226 or Citylink 251
Watch out for
ORK
No rail — Bus Éireann 225/226 and Citylink 251 are the public backboneClassic 100 ml security rules (airport does not give free liquids bags)Kinsale Lounge walk-up (€45/€20) is capacity-limited with no online pre-book
ORK · Ireland’s compact #2 airport: one 2006 terminal, Aer Lingus + Ryanair UK/Europe grids, The Kinsale Lounge opposite Gate 7, and Bus Éireann/Citylink coaches instead of rail — easy to walk, weather still owns the single main runway.
SNN · Compact Atlantic gateway with full US CBP preclearance, a Priority Pass Ború Lounge before the US lane, and Ryanair’s densest Shannon grid — easy to walk, bus-not-rail to Limerick/Galway, and single-runway weather still rules the day.
ORK6.2+0.4
SNN5.8
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
ORK7.4+0.8
SNN6.6
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
ORK6.0
SNN6.8+0.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
ORK6.6+0.2
SNN6.4
Flyers hiring a car for Kinsale, Ring of Kerry or south-west Ireland loops
SNN
US-bound travellers who want CBP preclearance in IrelandRyanair / Aer Lingus passengers for west Ireland and the Wild Atlantic WayPriority Pass holders who can visit Ború before US preclearanceFlyers hiring a car for Clare, Limerick, Galway or Kerry loops
Primary runway 16/34 — Atlantic low cloud and crosswinds can pause the whole bank
SNN
No rail — Bus Éireann 343 / Expressway coaches are the public backboneUS departures need Irish security plus CBP time (use MPC when eligible)Ború Lounge is before CBP; Priority Pass hours can close earlier than the airport booking pageSingle runway 06/24 — Atlantic fog/wind stops the whole airport
Free passenger Wi-Fi
daa short-stay + Express Red / Holiday Blue parking
Classic 100 ml security — arrive earlier than a domestic mindset
Standard liquids rules apply; budget ≥90 minutes before STD on busy banks.
One 2006 terminal — airside is short, not tiny
Single modern terminal; lounge and most F&B sit airside on a short gate walk.
Bluebird landside, Craft Lane / Food Republic airside
Bluebird before security; Craft Lane / Food Republic / Roasted Notes after — lounge if you want calm.
SNN
US CBP preclearanceBorú Lounge (airside, Gate 7)CT security (≤100 ml liquids stay in bag)Free passenger Wi-FiDuty-free + regional F&B spineSensory Room & Sunflower programme
Pad for US preclearance — not just Irish security
US departures need security + CBP time; CT helps the first lane, not the second.
One terminal — then a hard split at US CBP
Compact single building, but US preclearance is a one-way door — plan lounge and shopping before you enter CBP.
Eat or lounge before CBP if you are US-bound
Fuel up or visit Ború before US preclearance; post-CBP choice is thin.
