404 Bus Timetable Galway: Oranmore to Eyre Square (2026)

If you rely on Galway’s 404 bus to get from Oranmore to Eyre Square or Newcastle, you’ve probably wondered if the timetable you’re using is still accurate. With a new schedule introduced in August 2026 and varying reports on punctuality, it’s worth taking a closer look at what the 404 actually offers. Here’s a fact-checked breakdown of the route, its reliability, and how it stacks up against the 405.

Route length: Approx 15 km ·
Number of stops: 25 ·
Weekday frequency: Every 30 minutes ·
First bus from Oranmore: 06:05 ·
Last bus from Galway: 23:10 ·
Operator: Bus Éireann

What is the timetable for the 404 bus from Oranmore to Galway?

Weekday timetable

On weekdays, the 404 bus from Oranmore to Galway (Eyre Square direction) begins service at 06:05, with the last departure around 23:10. Buses run approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day, according to the official Galway City Bus Services PDF published via Transport for Ireland (TFI assets route map PDF). The journey from Oranmore to Eyre Square takes roughly 24 minutes under normal traffic, based on third-party data from Moovit (Moovit transit tracking app).

Saturday timetable

Saturday service mirrors the weekday schedule: first departure from Oranmore at 06:05, last at 23:10, with 30-minute frequency. The same PDF confirms that Saturday and weekday timetables are identical.

Sunday timetable

Sundays see a later start — first bus from Oranmore at 08:10, but the same 30-minute frequency and last departure time of 23:10. Passengers heading into town before 08:10 will need to consider alternative routes or taxis.

Key stops along the route

• Oranmore
• Galway Clinic
• Castlegar GAA
• Merlin Gate
• ATU Galway (formerly GMIT)
• The G Hotel
• College Road
• Eyre Square
• Newcastle
• Westside

Stop listing from the official route PDF and confirmed by Visit Galway (Visit Galway bus travel guide).

Where does the 404 bus go in Galway?

Route map

The 404 is an east-west crosstown route that links the suburban village of Oranmore in the east with the western residential areas of Newcastle and Westside, cutting through the city centre at Eyre Square. The official Bus Éireann description labels it “Oranmore to Westside” (Bus Éireann Galway City Services page), while Transport for Ireland lists it as “Newcastle – Eyre Square – Oranmore” (TFI national route maps). The discrepancy is minor: the route terminates at the Westside/Newcastle area after passing through Eyre Square.

Major stops: Oranmore, Galway Clinic, ATU, Eyre Square, Newcastle, Westside

Key stops include Galway Clinic (a major private hospital), ATU Galway (the local university campus), and the G Hotel — a central landmark near the railway station. For full list of 15-25 stops depending on direction, see the PDF map.

Connecting services

At Eyre Square, the 404 connects with virtually every other Galway city bus route, including the 405, 401, 402, and 409. From there, passengers can reach Salthill, Knocknacarra, Ballybane, and Parkmore Industrial Estate.

The implication: For students at ATU and staff at Galway Clinic, the 404 is the only direct bus option from Oranmore — missing the last service at 23:10 means a long walk or taxi.

Is the 404 bus in Galway reliable?

Common delays

Peak-hour traffic around Eyre Square and the Galway Clinic roundabout often pushes the 404 off schedule by 5–10 minutes, according to local user reports on Galway Transport Info forums. The official on-time performance for route 404 was just over 63% over the 2023–2025 period, as reported in a Galway Advertiser opinion piece (Galway Advertiser local reliability analysis).

User reviews from Galway Transport Info

Contributors on Galway Transport Info note that the 404’s punctuality varies by time of day. Early morning and late evening services tend to be more reliable, while mid-afternoon runs from Oranmore often face delays of up to 15 minutes.

“Route 404 recorded on-time performance of just over 63 percent over the referenced period.”

Galway Advertiser local opinion column

On-time performance data

Bus Éireann monitors real-time performance through its fleet management system, but the company does not publicly release route-level statistics. The 63% figure from the Advertiser is the most recent independent estimate available.

The pattern: Riders who can shift their trip to early morning or late evening are likelier to experience the scheduled 30-minute frequency. Peak-hour travelers should build in an extra 10–15 minutes.

What are the bus times for the 404 bus from Galway to Oranmore today?

Real-time bus tracking

The Transport for Ireland journey planner and the TFI app provide real-time tracking for all Bus Éireann services, including the 404 (Transport for Ireland journey planning). For live departure times from Eyre Square, use the “next bus” feature in the app or check the electronic boards at the bus stop near the G Hotel.

Next bus apps

Moovit and Google Maps both integrate real-time 404 data, though timings may lag a few minutes behind the official feed. The Moovit schedule shows a single late-night departure at 23:40 in some views, but this conflicts with the official 23:10 last bus — double-check with the TFI app before relying on third-party times (Moovit schedule display).

Weekend and holiday schedules

Saturday follows the weekday timetable. Sunday starts two hours later (08:10 from Oranmore). Public holidays generally operate a Sunday schedule, but Bus Éireann advises checking the route page for specific holiday notices.

The catch: Third-party apps sometimes show an extra late run that doesn’t exist on the official timetable — always cross-check with Transport for Ireland for tonight’s last bus.

What is the schedule for bus route 405 in Galway?

Comparison of 404 and 405 routes

Route 405, also operated by Bus Éireann, runs from Gort na Bró to Ballybane via Eyre Square (Bus Éireann official 405 page). Third-party site Bustimes.org labels it “Rahoon – Eyre Square – Ballybane” (Bustimes.org community timetable service). While the 404 serves the Oranmore corridor, the 405 connects the western Rahoon area with the eastern Ballybane neighbourhood, both routes intersecting at Eyre Square.

When to take 405 instead

If you live in Rahoon, Shantalla, or Ballybane, the 405 is your direct link. The 404 does not serve those areas. For commuters travelling to the city centre, both routes offer similar frequency, but the 405 may be less crowded outside peak hours.

Frequency and coverage differences

Both routes run approximately every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and every 30 minutes on Sundays with a later start. The 405 has a slightly longer route (Gort na Bró to Ballybane is about 12 km) but covers more residential streets.

5 routes, one pattern: 404 and 405 share a 30-minute weekday beat but serve entirely different catchments — choose by destination, not frequency.

Pros & Cons of route 404

Timeline: key dates for route 404

• August 2026 – New timetable introduced; frequencies and first/last times updated (Bus Éireann Galway City Services page).
• 2023 – Previous timetable revision by Bus Éireann.
• 2020 – Route 404 extended from Newcastle to Westside, adding new stops.
• 2019 – Introduction of real-time tracking on TFI app for all Galway city routes.

Clarity check: what we know and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• 404 is operated by Bus Éireann and runs Oranmore–Westside via Eyre Square.
• Weekday frequency is every 30 minutes (not 20 as some older sources claim).
• First departure from Oranmore is 06:05 on weekdays/Saturday, 08:10 on Sunday.
• Last bus from Galway (Eyre Square direction) departs at 23:10 daily.
• Timetable effective 23 August 2026.

What’s still unclear

• Route-level on-time performance beyond the 63% estimate from 2023–2025.
• Impact of specific traffic bottlenecks (e.g., Galway Clinic roundabout) on punctuality.
• Exact frequency on public holidays — no official holiday schedule published.
• Whether the 405’s reliability differs from the 404 — no comparable data available.

Quotes from the ground

“Route 404 connects Oranmore to Westside, serving key destinations along the way.”

Bus Éireann official route description

“City buses never come in threes — but if they did, the 404 would be the one you’d want on time.”

Galway Advertiser local opinion piece

“The 404 is the lifeline for ATU students living in Oranmore — when it’s on time, it’s perfect. When it’s not, we’re late for lectures.”

Galway Transport Info online user forum contributor, paraphrased

Summary: what the 404 timetable means for Galway commuters

The 404 bus remains the spine of Oranmore-to-city-centre travel, but its 30-minute headway and sub-65% on-time record mean it’s not a “set your watch by it” service. For the ATU student arriving at 08:10 on a Sunday, the first bus is 08:10 from Oranmore — if it’s delayed by even five minutes, the morning schedule is off. For the Galway commuter, the choice is clear: plan around the 06:05 weekday first bus, use real-time tracking to beat the peak-hour uncertainty, and always have a backup (a Leap Card for the 405 or a bike share) when the 404 runs late.

Related reading: W1 Bus Timetable Waterford: Route, Times & Live Tracking · Dublin to Belfast Train: Timetable, Prices & Tips 2025

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