The short answer: at Ireland West Airport Knock, containers of up to 2 litres can go through security, with no clear bag and no limit on how many, and electrical items do not need to come out of your hand luggage. Allow two hours, more in peak summer.
It sits on a hill, so fog can delay or divert flights. Check before you set off.
Knock is the airport people drive an hour to, and they’re usually glad they did. It’s small, it’s quick and half the car park knows each other. Here’s what’s worth knowing before you go.
Security
Ireland West Airport’s own security page says containers of up to 2 litres can be brought through security, there is no limit on the number, they do not need to go in a clear plastic bag and they can stay in your cabin bag. Electrical items do not need to be removed from cabin baggage.
The catch: the airport you fly home from may not have the same rules. Pack for the stricter one.
Where it is and how to get there
- Location: about 5.6km south-west of Charlestown in Mayo. Knock village is about 20km away.
- By car: the N17 links the airport with Sligo, Galway and Mayo. Driving from Galway or Sligo takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.
- Parking: the short-term and long-term car parks are opposite the terminal. Book online before you go.
- By bus: Bus Éireann runs services to the airport from Galway, Sligo and Westport. They are infrequent, so plan around the timetable.
- Taxis: they wait outside the terminal. Pre-book for early flights.
It’s an hour’s drive for half of you, so leave the extra time. Missing a flight over a slow lorry on the N17 is a story you’ll be telling for years.
The fog
Fog or strong winds can delay or divert flights at Knock, including to Shannon. Check your flight on the airline’s app before you leave home, especially in winter.
Where you can fly to
Many routes from Knock fly only once or twice a week, so check your days before you book anything else. This site covers Majorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Faro and the Algarve, Lanzarote, Malaga and Milan and the Lakes.
Seven things nobody tells you
- Check the day of the week before you book anything. If the flight is only on a Tuesday and a Saturday, that’s what you get.
- Leave extra time for the drive, especially from far away or in bad weather.
- Take a photo of where you parked.
- Fill a water bottle after security.
- Check the fog the night before an early flight. A hill is a hill.
- Bring a power bank. The sockets near the gates are a contact sport.
- Don’t assume the 2 litre rule works at the airport you fly home from.
Security rules checked against Ireland West Airport’s own page on 26 October 2026. Location, parking and bus details are from airport guides published in September 2025. They do change, so check the Ireland West Airport website before you go.
