Bus routes in West Cork failing to meet up or miss connecting with each other by minutes

Irish Independent

12-06-2025

There, Councillor Finbarr Harrington (Independent) put forward a motion calling for TFI (Transport for Ireland) and Bus Eireann to be invited to a meeting to better co-ordinate their rural services in county Cork; amid general acknowledgement that public transport in rural Ireland has improved significantly in recent years.
"Some timetables changed recently, so for example the 7.20am run from Allihies to Castletownbere stopped, which meant anyone getting the 8am bus from Castletownbere to Cork needed to resort to taxi or family again. Also a big issue with many routes is that they never meet, for example the Kilcrohane to Dursey route never meets the Mizen route to Skibbereen. So if we could bring about better co-ordination between all the routes, people could travel throughout Cork County," Cllr Harrington said.
"Many of the TFI routes miss the Bus Eireann routes sometimes only by minutes so if we could delay one to meet the other, people could get off one and onto the other. Many parts of West Cork don't have any bus routes, like Coppeen. It can be improved easily and with no extra cost if, for example, one or two days a week the Mizen run could travel through Durrus or the Kilcrohane bus go through Ballydehob one or two days a week. Then anyone on the Mizen [bus] could travel to Bantry, Glengarriff or Beara and vice versa, people on the Beara or Sheep's Head peninsula could travel to Schull, Goleen or Skibbereen and then further on to Clonakilty."
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has improved rural public transport with over 150 new and improved bus services launched in towns and villages over the past three years, according to TFI.
Cllr Harrington praised the plan, saying it has "changed the lives of many people for the better, especially those living in rural areas. It gives many people, especially elderly who don't have their own transport, an independence and an opportunity to attend appointments without relying on private transport, friends or family, which would have been the norm prior to the service. This transport is greatly appreciated and is great value for money. I think if this service is better coordinated, it has the potential to improve the lives of many people and better promote Cork as the great place it is."
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Daniel Sexton (Independent Ireland) agreed with the motion and said "more joined-up thinking" is needed. He pointed out there are currently no direct routes from Dunmanway to Clonakilty or from Skibbereen to Drimoleague.
Cllr Danny Collins (Independent Ireland) also spoke in support of the motion. He said the buses "finish up a little bit early. Nine or 10 pm would be better," which, he said, would also provide a boost for the hospitality sector. He added that "there are big problems with transport in Ballydehob."
After the discussion of Cllr Harrington's motion, the West Cork Municipal District agreed to send it forward to Cork County Council's Corporate Policy Group, which will then invite TFI and Bus Eireann to a meeting.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.