One flight, two worlds: Dublin to North Carolina and back
A new adventure is on the horizon. From spring 2026, our direct flight from Dublin to North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will make it easier than ever to swap Irish skies for Southern charm. Think buzzing food halls, world-class barbecue, live bluegrass, leafy college towns and easy escapes into the great outdoors, all just one flight away.
For travellers heading the other way, Ireland is now easier than ever to reach. Castles, coastlines, craic and culture (plus a smooth arrival with U.S. Preclearance at Dublin Airport) make it the perfect first stop in Europe.
Flights direct to the city of Raleigh will launch in spring 2026
This new connection is all about two-way travel: Irish visitors discovering the best of North Carolina, and North Carolinians feeling right at home in Ireland. We’ll show why North Carolina deserves a spot on the Irish traveller’s wish list, and why Ireland should be the first stop for North Carolinians eager to cross the Atlantic.
One flight, two worlds waiting: Dublin to North Carolina, bridging the Atlantic and beyond.
Why Irish travellers should visit North Carolina
With our new direct route into Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) launching in spring 2026, North Carolina is closer than ever. Land here and you’re right in the heart of the state’s “Research Triangle” region, comprising Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, where innovation, culture and Southern hospitality meet. It’s the perfect base for a trip that delivers big-city energy, small-town charm and easy adventures in the great outdoors.
Raleigh: culture, flavour and a dash of surprise
Raleigh is a city full of contrast. Known as the “Smithsonian of the South,” it offers free entry into museums like the North Carolina Museum of Art, where sculpture trails and leafy parkland bring the culture outdoors. The James B. Hunt Library draws design lovers with its glass walls, touchscreen displays and robotic “bookBot” that delivers books from underground. Families will find plenty of fun at Pullen Park, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, and the hands-on Marbles Kids Museum.
A leafy streetscape in Raleigh, North Carolina
Food and drink are a key part of Raleigh’s appeal. Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen has turned the city into a national dining destination with spots like Poole’s Diner and Death & Taxes, while the Morgan Street Food Hall and Transfer Co. Food Hall make it easy to sample everything from Carolina barbecue to fresh bagels.
The state’s barbecue tradition is well-known, and a hot and spicy subject, with Eastern-style vinegar sauce facing off against Western-style tomato. Beer lovers will be delighted: the Raleigh Beer Garden holds a world record with more than 350 brews on tap, and over 40 breweries line the Raleigh Beer Trail.
Music with an Irish influence
For many Irish travellers, North Carolina feels familiar for another reason: the music. Irish and Scots-Irish immigrants left a deep mark on Appalachian folk traditions, and their influence still rings out in the fiddles and banjos of bluegrass. Festivals across the state (including the yearly IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh) celebrate these sounds, giving visitors a surreal sense of hearing reels and jigs interpreted but recognisable on the other side of the Atlantic.
A bluegrass performance in North Carolina
Durham and Chapel Hill
Just 20 minutes from RDU, Durham’s restored tobacco warehouses spark with a creative energy. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University are a highlight, while the food and brewery scene rivals Raleigh’s. The city is also home to the Durham Bulls, whose stadium is one of the best-loved in minor league baseball. Chapel Hill, 30 minutes away, offers leafy streets, arts venues and the historic Morehead Planetarium, where astronauts once trained for the Apollo missions.
Major the Bull, a bronze sculpture in downtown Durham
Day trips and outdoor escapes
The state of North Carolina is famous for its outdoor adventures, but you don’t need to go far from Raleigh to find nature. William B. Umstead State Park sits just outside the city, with 22 miles of trails devoted to hiking and biking. The state’s epic Mountains-to-Sea Trail also runs right through the region, a 1,000-mile path that eventually links the Blue Ridge Mountains with the Atlantic Ocean. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is 30 minutes from downtown and offers boating, kayaking and family-friendly camping. Golfers will recognise Pinehurst, one of the sport’s most legendary names, just over an hour’s drive south.
North Carolina’s famous Blue Ridge Mountains
Festivals and flavour
Every Autumn/Fall, visitors will find themselves swept up in the North Carolina State Fair, the state’s biggest annual event and a showcase of local food, rides and music. Year-round, the Triangle region offers a wealth of concerts, theatre and live music — everything from bluegrass to big-name touring acts.
A warm Southern welcome
For Irish travellers (and those coming from the UK or Europe), North Carolina offers a mix of culture, adventure and easy-going warmth, all within one direct flight from Dublin. With our new route into Raleigh (RDU), you can dive straight into the South’s best experiences the moment you land.
Adventure awaits in North Carolina
Why North Carolinians should visit Ireland
With our new direct flight from Raleigh into Dublin, the island of Ireland has never been more accessible to the USA’s southeast. Dublin Airport is one of only a handful in Europe to offer U.S. Preclearance, meaning you clear American customs and immigration before departure in Dublin, arriving home as a domestic passenger with less queues to face.
A land of stories and history
Everywhere you turn in Ireland, history is not far away. Medieval castles loom over rivers and towns, monastic ruins scatter the countryside, and Georgian terraces line Dublin’s streets. Walk through Kilkenny’s medieval mile, tour Cork’s Elizabeth Fort, or explore the medieval lanes of Galway, complete with colourful shopfronts and lively pubs. Museums like the National Museum of Ireland and the Irish Emigration Museum (EPIC) tell stories that connect directly to the journeys many North Carolinians’ ancestors once made.
Dublin City’s Ha’penny Bridge
Cities full of character
Dublin is a city bursting with creativity. Its literary heritage, from Joyce to contemporary writers, is celebrated in cosy bookshops and at UNESCO City of Literature events. Pubs celebrate Irish trad music, while Michelin-starred restaurants show off Ireland’s modern food scene. Galway, on the Atlantic coast, is known for festivals and street performers, while Cork’s English Market draws the hungry. In the north, Belfast has transformed into a cultural hub with award-winning museums, vibrant nightlife and a proud music tradition.
Food and drink with a modern twist
Ireland’s food culture has evolved dramatically over the last two decades. Traditional dishes like Irish stew and soda bread are still well-loved, but contemporary menus built around local, seasonal produce are everywhere.
Coastal towns offer the freshest seafood, like oysters in Galway and lobster in Wexford, while cities boast acclaimed restaurants such as Chapter One in Dublin and Aniar in Galway. The pub remains a landmark: whether you’re sharing a pint of Guinness, tasting craft beers, or sipping whiskey on a distillery tour, it’s as much about the welcoming atmosphere as the liquid you’re sipping.
A colourful plate of food on the Aran Food Tour, Inis Mor, Co Galway
Outdoor adventures within reach
Ireland’s compact size makes it easy to experience a range of landscapes in a single trip. Within an hour of Dublin you can hike in the Wicklow Mountains and explore Glendalough, an ancient monastic site. Along the Wild Atlantic Way, dramatic cliffs plunge into the ocean, with surfing towns like Lahinch offering a dose of adrenaline.
For something gentler, follow the Waterford Greenway on your bicycle or explore the tranquil lakelands of Fermanagh by kayak. Golfers will feel at home too — Ireland’s courses, from Ballybunion to Portmarnock, are consistently ranked among the best in the world.
The epic beauty of Glendalough in Wicklow
Heritage and connections
For many North Carolinians, visiting Ireland is also about tracing family roots. With so many Scots-Irish and Irish ancestors shaping the history of the American South, there’s a natural urge to discover the landscapes and towns their families once called home. Genealogy centres across the country, along with heritage tours, make it easy to connect the dots between past and present.
A famously warm welcome
Southern hospitality and Irish hospitality share the same spirit: warmth, generosity and the pleasure of sharing time together. For North Carolinians, Ireland will feel both new and familiar — a land of rich culture and epic landscapes, but also of chats with passersby and friendly encounters. And with our direct flight from Raleigh to Dublin, the journey to that welcome has never been easier.
Fanad Head Lighthouse in Donegal
Time to cross the Atlantic
Whether you’re craving bluegrass and barbecue or Guinness and grand coastlines, our new route makes it simple. Our direct flight from Dublin to Raleigh-Durham and Raleigh-Durham to Dublin launches in spring 2026, bringing two destinations with shared warmth and character closer than ever. Book your seat and be among the first on board.
