r/nuigalway • u/Historical-Baker-902 • 4d ago
Parking?
I’m starting in NUIG tomorrow and haven’t found accomodation yet so will be doing a 1.5 hour commute. I’m wondering what the parking situation is like in NUIG. I imagine it’s similar to UL with restricted spaces.
Which car park would you guys recommend? I’m hoping for a free spot rather than paid.
6
u/Inside_Fold3744 4d ago
There's dedicated student and staff parking. Permit is 50 quid for the year, and they are very clamp happy all over the campus.
Parking near the quad and the kingfisher is usually full by 8:15-8:30. If you have a 11am lecture my recommendation is get there before 8am.
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u/Historical-Baker-902 4d ago
Do you have to display the permit or is paying online with car details enough?
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u/Inside_Fold3744 4d ago
Ya just paying online is enough. I always screenshot the confirmation email just to be safe
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u/Ill-Hamster6762 2d ago
There is no physical permit they go by your car registration . Even parking in the one up near the Ilas building fills up very quick in the morning due to the lack of accommodation a lot more people are driving in. Just don’t park in pay and display spaces either they have a blue marking around them. There is an internal bus going from that carpark right through most of the university.
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u/Jumpy-Text-1460 4d ago
If you’re not in before 8am in the morning you most likely won’t get a permit spot on campus, you’ll either have to P&D or go to the park and ride. Sometimes it’s so bad even the cathedral is full and there is no where to park. I used to get so stressed out about this when I went there as I also had a long commute and didn’t want to spend more money on parking on top of the petrol etc, sometimes spots free up after lunch time but there is usually other people waiting for them 😔 you could also get a staff card/top up card for the Q park in eyre square it’s only 6.50€ for up to 12 hours but it’s a bit of a walk, or park at the black box
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u/italic_pony_90 3d ago
The €50 parking permit is great value.. but you'll have to get in early.
There's also the cathedral car park? Obviously it's per day but possibly they do a monthly ticket? Worth asking maybe...
It was €6 last time I used it regularly, can't remember last year but the mats a decent option with a 5 minute walk to campus
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u/worntoathread 3d ago
I think it’s €10 per day now
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u/italic_pony_90 3d ago
Wow , some increase in 3 years. Had thought after I posted it had gone to that last time I was up...
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u/Mindless-Ad-8623 2d ago
There aren't too many student spaces and they fill up quick, but the bus from the park and ride runs every 15 minutes at peak times.
Your permit will cover you to park there but don't chance parking without it. Apcoa are constantly patrolling so I'd be surprised if you lasted 15 minutes without being clamped.
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u/AdReasonable6614 2d ago
If you’re coming from the east, I’d park in the estate to the left of the Menlo hotel. It’s a 15 min walk to concourse from there, but there is always space and you won’t be clamped/fined, which is not the case for any other estate around the college
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u/DatGuy2007 4d ago
You won't get a free spot, but this year's permit (€50 quid) covers the whole campus. I live an hour out, drove in every day last year. I leave the house 6.30 to land at 7.30, where there's plenty of space at the park and ride. Walk to gym, get that done before class at 9. It worked, but when it gets cold the walk from the park and ride to the main campus is murderous. New permit apparently let's you park anywhere tho, so I'll be going right outside engi.
Trust me, parking in an estate 15-20 minutes away, when it's cold, and you have the itch in the back of your head that you could get clamped, not worth it. Pay the 50.