Holidays from Knock Airport

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Holidays from Knock Airport

Knock, Knock?
Who’s there?
Eyewannagoeonholidaywithyoot
No, I’m not doing that, thank you.

Ireland West Airport Knock sits right in the middle of Connacht, making it the natural departure point for anyone in Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Roscommon or Leitrim who wants a holiday in the sun without the long drive to Dublin or Shannon.

Why choose Knock Airport?

Knock Airport is a cosy, efficient, airport that’s easy to get to from most of Connacht. Geographically, it's actually closer to a few other towns, including Charlestown or Swinford, but it was named after Knock because of the significance of Knock Shrine. Knock Shrine is a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site that attracts pilgrims from Ireland and all over the world in search of divine inspiration and spiritual reflection.

That explains why people fly into Knock Airport, but how about those flying out of it? Apart from returning pilgrims, many of the passengers departing Knock are locals looking to top up their vitamin D. We take beach-seekers from Connacht to sunny spots all over southern Europe. It might not be a pilgrimage, but there will be men in sandals.

Where can I fly from Knock?

Knock's route network is focused on the destinations that matter most for a beach holiday. Here's the headline list:

Short-haul sunshine – Algarve (Faro), Costa del Sol (Malaga), Costa Blanca (Alicante), Majorca (Palma), Tenerife (Tenerife South), Lanzarote and the Costa Brava (Girona).
City breaks – Bergamo (for Milan and the Italian Lakes) and Cologne are both on the direct-flight menu with Ryanair.

Airlines operating holiday routes from Knock include Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Ryanair runs the vast majority of the holiday routes, with around 54 scheduled departures every week during summer.

When you book here, we search across all of these airlines to find the best flight-and-hotel package for your dates and destination meaning you can just click, relax, and start thinking about what to pack.

And wherever you go, don’t forget the three creams. Suncream. Ice Cream, and Incremental Relaxation.

Holidays with the family

If you want to take the fam and get sunny, we’ve got the package for you. Whether you’re looking for a bustling resort where your kids can do soft play, ping pong, and a disco, all on the same day? Or something a little more relaxed where you can all slow down and just catch some rays? We’ve got more options for you than our Gran’ has jigsaws (and she owns a jigsaw museum).

Holidays with your partner

Everyones idea of a perfect couples holiday is a bit different. Some people just want to relax by spending days on the beach. Others want to go on food tours, boat trips, and pack each moment as full as they can. No matter what your ideal break in the sun looks like, we’ve got the moat for your sandcastle.

Holidays with your mates

You wanna take your bezzies away for a group holiday in the sun. Maybe someone’s getting married? Maybe you’re just having some time away with your mates? Either way, we’ve got a range of destinations to suit any budget and agenda. Wherever you go with us, we can promise two things: the beer will be cheaper than Dublin, and the sun will be much, much, hotter.

Knock Airport information

Knock Airport, like a lot of smaller regional airports, has a single terminal. This means there’s no need to worry if you’re getting to the right one in the morning because you definitely are.

Knock Airport also has a fascinating history. When plans were initially presented to the public in the seventies by local priest James Horan, there was a lot of scepticism, but thanks to his unwavering determination, it was eventually built. It opened in 1986 and has proved far more popular than people imagined. Knock has now served the West of Ireland faithfully for nearly forty years and might be the perfect departure point for your next holiday!

Getting there

Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) sits about 17 kilometres east of Charlestown in County Mayo, just off the N17. Getting there is easy by car from anywhere in Connacht, with the airport well signposted from the N17 and the M17 motorway. Bus Eireann and local coach services run from Galway, Sligo and other towns in the region, and there's parking on site.

For those of you who are driving, there are a range of car parking options available - pre-book online to get the best rates.

Airport Facilities

Facilities available at the airport include…

Shopping: Knock Airport has a duty-free gift shop selling everything from perfumes to pottery at travel retail prices.
Food and drink: The departure gate has a bar and a restaurant.
Lounge: Knock West has an airport lounge for those of you who just can’t start your day without a complimentary bag of Tayto’s.
Free Wi-Fi: Knock Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout, so you can post the Reel you’ve just filmed of you, at the airport, enjoying a cheeky pre-flight beverage, after all, the hol starts as soon as you’re at the airport!

*Please be aware that all departing passengers aged 12 and older will be charged a €10 Development Fee which contributes to airport infrastructure and services.*

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Ryanair runs the show here and keeps prices competitive on the main beach routes. The Algarve, Costa del Sol and Majorca tend to offer the best value, especially outside school holidays and mid term. Use the search bar at the top and filter by Knock departure, or check our cheap holidays page.

You can. Majorca, the Algarve and Lanzarote all have strong all-inclusive options on direct routes from Knock. Check our all-inclusive holidays page for the latest deals.

Ryanair is the main carrier, operating direct flights to holiday destinations across Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Majorca. Aer Lingus flies to London Heathrow. Between them, Knock connects you to 18 destinations.

By car it's just off the N17, well signposted from the M17 motorway. Bus Eireann and local coach services run from Galway, Sligo and other towns across Connacht. Pre-bookable parking is available on site.

Monsignor James Horan, the parish priest of Knock, campaigned for decades to build an international airport in the west of Ireland to serve both pilgrims visiting Knock Shrine and the wider community. The airport opened in 1986 and has grown every year since. The aviation gallery in the terminal tells the full story, and it's worth a look while you're waiting for your flight. Proof that one determined man in sandals can move mountains, or at least build a runway on one.