Holidaymakers planning a self-drive holiday to Ireland can now save lots of time by travelling via Dublin Port and using the new tunnel which links direct to the M50 motorway.

The saving in terms of time – and frustration – is considerable, bearing in mind the fact that to reach the M50 via the traditional route involves more than 30 sets of traffic lights.

Said Declan Mescall, head of passenger sales for Irish Ferries: “In the past it could take as long as an hour to cross the city from Dublin port, a frustrating hold up for those heading across the country. By using the tunnel, the same journey takes around six minutes.”

Toll charges for cars range between €3 and €12 dependent on time travelling.

Irish Ferries operates sailings direct into Dublin port from Holyhead, with crossings either on the Dublin Swift – crossing time one hour 49 minutes - or the world’s largest car ferry, the Ulysses, which makes the journey in three hours, 15 minutes.